How to Choose a Pilot Shirt

Choosing the right pilot shirt comes down to a short sequence: product line, airline, fit, fabric, and, for Tailored orders, a few finishing touches. The order becomes much easier when you make these decisions in sequence.

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Pick Your Line: Standard Fit or Tailored

BomCrewMall sells two distinct pilot shirt lines, and this decision comes before anything else because it shapes the rest of the order.

	Standard Fit (Ready to Wear)	Tailored
Fit options	Slim or Regular	Trim, Classic, or Comfort
Fabric choice	Lockheed or Super Bamboo	Pegasus, Super Bamboo, Miami, or Lockheed
Order speed	Fewer decisions, faster	More configuration steps, more control
Best for	Pilots who know their size and want a quick order	Pilots who want a wider fabric choice or finishing options

The rest of this guide covers both lines, calling out where they differ.

If you're comparing ready-to-wear and custom options specifically, see our Best Pilot Shirts guide for a broader look at fit, fabric, and uniform considerations.

1) Pick your line: Standard Fit for speed, Tailored for more control.

2) Select your airline. This determines your pocket configuration in most cases, so you don't have to choose it manually.

3) Know your collar size, using a shirt that already fits you or BomCrewMall's measurement/consultation option.

4) Pick a fit: Trim, Classic, or Comfort on Tailored; Slim or Regular on Standard Fit.

5) Pick fabric based on how you fly.

6) Tailored orders also offer finishing choices: pocket flap, pen slot, collar details with sensible defaults already set.

Selecting your airline determines the pocket configuration in the ordering flow, so in most cases you don't have to choose the pocket style manually; the system maps common carriers to a standard pocket shape for their line.

If your airline isn't listed, "All Other Airlines" is the default and lets you choose pocket shape yourself, including no pockets at all.

Every pilot shirt includes standard shoulder straps designed to accept commercial airline epaulettes. Epaulettes are sold separately.

For carrier-specific configuration details, read our Best Women's Pilot Shirts for Airline Uniforms guide.

Know Your Collar Size

Collar size is the number on the inside label of a shirt that already fits you, not your chest size and not a letter (S/M/L) unless that's all you have.

If you only know a letter size, it converts roughly like this:

Label	Collar (inches)
S	14–14.5
M	15–15.5
L	16–16.5
XL	17–17.5
XXL	18–18.5
3XL	19–20

Pick the lower number if your current collar feels loose, the higher one if it feels snug.

No label to check? Lay a well-fitting shirt flat and measure from the center of the collar button to the far end of the buttonhole; that number in inches is your collar size. If you're still unsure, select the closest size and provide additional measurements, or use BomCrewMall's measurement/consultation option.

Women's sizing works on a separate US/EURO scale, with a "Not Sure" option available while you check further.

For help with women's sizing and measurements, use our Women's Pilot Shirt Size Guide.

Choose Your Fit

On Tailored, three fits describe how the shirt sits rather than your body type:

Fit	Description
Trim	Trimmer cut, not tight
Classic	Balanced and lightly tapered
Comfort	Extra room through the torso and sleeves

If you're unsure which to start with, Classic provides a balanced middle ground; Trim and Comfort are there for a closer or roomier preference.

On Standard Fit, the choice is simpler: Slim or Regular. If you already know which one you wear comfortably in a dress shirt, this is a fast decision, and both lines let you flag torso length and shoulder width as optional notes if the standard proportions don't quite match you.

Women's shirts add an optional layer on top of fit: a standard or relaxed collar, plus a handful of further refinements (smaller collar, smaller pocket, added darts, extra buttons) that all default to skip unless you actively choose them. None are required; the shirt is fully tailored to a women's cut without them.

For more detail on proportions, shaping, and comfort, read our guide on how a women's pilot shirt should fit.

Shirt tail and sleeve length are set based on your height and available length options, rather than chosen as separate measurements; fit and width stay the same across the bands. If you're not sure, BomCrewMall can estimate from your height, weight, and fit details instead.

Long sleeve is the traditional full-sleeve uniform configuration; short sleeve is used where an airline permits it. This is a uniform-spec decision, not just a style preference.

Choose Fabric Based on How You Fly

Standard Fit offers two fabrics: Lockheed (basic, included) or Super Bamboo (premium upgrade). Tailored offers all four, grouped by care type: Easy Care (hand or machine wash) and Dry Clean.

Fabric	Wrinkle-free	Care	Best for
Pegasus	5/5	Hand or machine wash	Everyday flying, minimal ironing
Super Bamboo (aka Aerosoft)	4.5/5	Hand or machine wash	Hot, humid routes; long duty days
Miami	3.5/5	Dry clean	Crisp, pressed airline look
Lockheed	2/5	Hand or machine wash	Included standard fabric

Pegasus is rated 5/5 for wrinkle resistance and described as almost never needing ironing, along with resisting pilling and a less see-through finish.

Super Bamboo is positioned as the "Best Sweat-Wicking" option; it keeps you dry on hot, humid routes and offers a soft feel with natural stretch comfort.

Miami trades some wrinkle resistance for a more natural, cotton-rich feel and a crisper, more pressed finished look. It's dry-clean only.

Lockheed is the standard included fabric: a straightforward polycotton that needs more ironing than the other three, but doesn't require an upgrade.

If you'd rather not choose, BomCrewMall also offers a "Help Me Choose" option that matches you to a fabric before the shirt is made.

To compare fabric characteristics and care requirements in more detail, see our Pilot Shirt Fabric Guide.

Tailored orders also allow additional finishing choices: collar stiffener, inner collar band color, monogramming, pen slot, and pocket flap style, with sensible defaults already selected. These are personalization and comfort choices, and the available options can vary by product line. Standard Fit skips this step, which is part of why it orders faster.

For the current set of options and defaults, see the Custom Tailored Pilot Shirt product page.

Pilot Shirt Buying Checklist

Question	Your decision
Standard Fit or Tailored?	Speed vs. more fabric and finishing control
What airline do I fly for?	Usually sets pocket configuration automatically
What's my collar size?	Known number, or measure/consult
Which fit?	Trim / Classic / Comfort (Tailored) or Slim / Regular (Standard Fit)
What conditions do I fly in?	Fabric selection
Do I want additional finishing options?	Review Tailored customization

FAQ

Find answers to common questions about our products and services

How do I choose a pilot shirt?

Start by picking Standard Fit (faster, fewer choices) or Tailored (more fabric and finishing options). Then select your airline, enter your collar size, choose a fit, and select a fabric based on your flying conditions.

What's the difference between Standard Fit and Tailored?

Standard Fit offers two fits and two fabrics, and orders faster. Tailored offers three fits and four fabrics, plus finishing options like pocket flap style and pen slot.

What if I don't know my collar size?

Use the letter-size conversion table, measure a well-fitting shirt directly, or select "Not Sure" and provide measurements or book a consultation.

Which fit should I pick?

Classic is a balanced, lightly tapered fit and a reasonable starting point if you're unsure. Trim suits a closer cut; Comfort adds extra room through the torso and sleeves.

How do I choose the right fabric?

Start with how you expect to wear the shirt. Consider climate, duty duration, wrinkle resistance, appearance, and care requirements, then compare the available fabrics.

Does selecting my airline guarantee an exact uniform match?

Selecting your airline sets the pocket configuration used in the ordering flow. For an airline's exact current uniform specification, check with your airline directly.

What are the women's fit refinements?

Optional adjustments on top of the standard women's cut a smaller collar, a smaller pen-holding pocket, added darts, and extra buttons. All default to skip unless selected.

Can I reorder the same shirt later?

BomCrewMall can retain measurements and preferences to make repeat orders easier.