Beards...what gives?!

ChasenSFO

ChasenSFO

hen teaser
So I've always been told 121 US carriers don't let you have a beard since it interferes with the oxygen mask. Yet, pilots flying the same equipment in other countries can have beards. So what is the difference between a Cathay Pacific 747 Captain who can rock a beard and a United Captain who can't(other than the obvious testosterone)? When I've asked Alitalia, Cathay, and Iberia pilots who did have beards about it, they all pull the 9/11 card. That's obviously not true. I'm just curious to hear what some US 121 pilots have to say about it.
 
ChasenSFO said:
So I've always been told 121 US carriers don't let you have a beard since it interferes with the oxygen mask. Yet, pilots flying the same equipment in other countries can have beards. So what is the difference between a Cathay Pacific 747 Captain who can rock a beard and a United Captain who can't(other than the obvious testosterone)? When I've asked Alitalia, Cathay, and Iberia pilots who did have beards about it, they all pull the 9/11 card. That's obviously not true. I'm just curious to hear what some US 121 pilots have to say about it.
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Most will tell you that it's due to an O2 mask requirement. Couldn't be further from the truth unless you look like Grizzly Adams.

JetBlue pilots are allowed to have neatly trimmed goatees, and the company I'm about to go to work for flying Boeing aircraft allows them as well. Many other pilots will tell you that having facial hair with a pilot uniform is "unprofessional." I still haven't figured that one out, but I'm waiting for one of them to call me out in the terminal. Hasn't happened yet. :pirate:
 
My flight school made me cut my beard when I was a CFI there.

In most airlines in Europe they don`t care as long as you don`t look like an homeless,....in the US it seems a big deal

I had a beard in the military and I was wearing a C mask all the time, never had any problem.
 
...same reason the women can have long hair and the men can't. Grooming standard. They should just come out and admit it...
 
Bumblebee said:
...same reason the women can have long hair and the men can't. Grooming standard. They should just come out and admit it...
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Can woman have beards? :laff: FedEx had a no facial hair rule for all their crew members and even the delivery guys. A Punjabi pilot filed a lawsuit argued, among other facts, that India pilots have beards and have no problem donning an O2 mask. He won. However I have yet to see one FedEx crew member arrive at KOAK or KSJC with even one long whisker.
 
IMHO, it's because of the social stigma attached with a beard. According to the social collective, beards represent dirty, un-kept, un-professional behavior. I mean, after all, look at these guys

geico2.jpg


cavemen_2.jpg


cavemen.jpg



See, dirty and un-kept! They're right!



Seriously though, I think it's because of the social stigma attached to it.
 
mshunter said:
Seriously though, I think it's because of the social stigma attached to it.
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I'd agree, but with one difference: only in the pilot world. I grew a beard when I quit the hotel I worked at and started as a CFI. I got all sorts of compliments, and never had anyone say anything about looking professional except at the airport. Half the old guys who hang around gave me crap.
"Are you moving to Baghdad?"
"Should we start calling you Muhammad?"
The reaction blew me away. Apparently beard=terrorist to these guys.

Me on the American Barnstormers Tour. I don't think there's anything unprofessional looking about the beard. (The whole tour was in 20's clothes).

beardhn.jpg
 
mshunter said:
IMHO, it's because of the social stigma attached with a beard. According to the social collective, beards represent dirty, un-kept, un-professional behavior. I mean, after all, look at these guys



See, dirty and un-kept! They're right!



Seriously though, I think it's because of the social stigma attached to it.
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Un-kept...is that like "unkempt"? :D

I've never heard of such a social stigma. News to me. I've never had anything except a goatee, but I've tossed around the idea of the Russian Submarine Commander beard for a while. Maybe this winter. :bandit:

I will say that I have seen pilots with soul patches, and well, that does look unprofessional to me. A standard well-trimmed goatee or beard? Looks fine.
 
FlyChicaga said:
Personally, I'd like to grow a Sam Elliott horseshoe mustache.

samelliottlebowski.jpg
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He rocked that mustache on "Up in the Air" playing the captain. I must say I admire his mustache. :rawk:

Capt. Sullenberger has a mustache....do you think he caught crap for it?
 
When the leaves start changing there are lots of guys that grow their beards out at my 121 place of employment. Besides, to be a real airline pilot I thought you had to have a moustache-not hair gel and earbuds...
 
I always thought the beard-nogo thing was a complete crock. It's old school small-mindedness that says, "You can't look professional with a beard."
 
Wolfy said:
I'd agree, but with one difference: only in the pilot world. I grew a beard when I quit the hotel I worked at and started as a CFI. I got all sorts of compliments, and never had anyone say anything about looking professional except at the airport. Half the old guys who hang around gave me crap.
"Are you moving to Baghdad?"
"Should we start calling you Muhammad?"
The reaction blew me away. Apparently beard=terrorist to these guys.

Me on the American Barnstormers Tour. I don't think there's anything unprofessional looking about the beard. (The whole tour was in 20's clothes).

beardhn.jpg
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I think that looks pretty awesome. Really goes with the clothes well.
 
Wolfy said:
Me on the American Barnstormers Tour. I don't think there's anything unprofessional looking about the beard. (The whole tour was in 20's clothes).

beardhn.jpg
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First off, awesome beard. I've always been jealous of men that can grow complete facial hair, as mine comes in patches even at 30. Second, I'm digging the 20s style clothing, I'd love if this was the new wave of style, ala 60s style via Mad Men. One thing though, I didn't realize that Solo cups were prominent at 20s barnstorming events. :)


One other point, considering how much of aviation was derived from the nautical tradition, the no beard rule doesn't have a leg to stand on. Pilot's uniforms (especially double breasted blazers carriers like Delta have) are essentially derived from ship captains uniforms. Show me one classic picture of a schooner captain that doesn't have a full white beard and a pipe. In IAD I saw a foreign carriers captain strolling through the airport wearing a double breasted blazer, sporting a full white beard, and chewing on a pipe. He will go down in my manliness file as perhaps one of the 5 coolest looking dudes I've ever seen.
 
Route Irish said:
Can woman have beards? :laff: FedEx had a no facial hair rule for all their crew members and even the delivery guys. A Punjabi pilot filed a lawsuit argued, among other facts, that India pilots have beards and have no problem donning an O2 mask. He won. However I have yet to see one FedEx crew member arrive at KOAK or KSJC with even one long whisker.
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This guy works for Fedex.

images
 
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