Beards...what gives?!

I think the only reason its a no go here in the states, is because its easier to say no then to play beard police. Your idea of neat and trimmed may not be the same as mine. then you have some guy filing a discrimination lawsuit because he was told to shave and they didn't tell the other guy to shave!

You always have "that guy" who has to take it a little (or a lot) to far.

Sorry cavemen, it just looks nasty! As for the Titanic capt...that looks classy!
 
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"W 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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Lookin' good man!

I still remember when you were rockin' NJC with the "Wolverine" look! :)
 
mooneyguy said:
I think the only reason its a no go here in the states, is because its easier to say no then to play beard police. Your idea of neat and trimmed may not be the same as mine.
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I think that's the driving force here. The uniform standards at my (non-aviation) company say no to beards for this reason. Put another way, it's for uniformity's sake. :D Perhaps the "doesn't make a seal with the oxy masks" was just an easy to accept explanation that nobody actually took the time to test way back when?

I believe the Commissioned Corps of both NOAA and USPHS allow for beards in uniform, so their is precedent for them in a professional organization, but I don't know the specifics.
 
Polar742 said:
Most airlines allow sideburns to either mid-ear or to the lower lobe.

What was really appalling is that they appear to be in cruise, he still has his tie on at minimum. He maybe a freight dawg and that's just disconcerting.

What I noticed most was that his company spent some cash and invested in the glass instrumentation for the engines, and went way big-bucks on the EHSI.

Perhaps it is a NWA classic. We may never know.
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Omni Air DC10 sir.
 
Doug Taylor said:
Lookin' good man!

I still remember when you were rockin' NJC with the "Wolverine" look! :)
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I figured once I went to an airline (my goal back then) I'd have to clean up. Might as well have fun when you can.

Also:
Dear Diary,
Doug complimented my beard. *squeeee!!*
 
The Air Force used the "Professional Image" excuse to make us wear blues on Mondays and i still dont buy it. Who the hell are we looking professional for? No one freaking sees us besides other AF members. And theres no reason we shouldn't be able to have facial hair, plenty of other militaries deal with it. I could kind of understand down range but at home theres no valid reason other than some old guy with shiny crap dosent think it looks "professional" or "traditional".
 
ricecakecm said:
There's a controller at Kansas City Center that sounds just like Sam Elliott.
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Hmm, can't believe I haven't had the privilege of hearing him yet.

On the topics of beards...it seems as I get older the hair is moving from the top of my head and relocating a few inches down and the beard is thicker than ever. How does it make sense that I'm losing it up top but the beard is going strong? :dunno:
 
Probably just a throw back to the days when most airline pilots were ex-military.. the style reflected the public's interest in "experienced, military trained pilots".

Seems like a lot of regional pilots don't know what a razor is these days anyhow. Pity.
 
Doug Taylor said:
Lookin' good man!

I still remember when you were rockin' NJC with the "Wolverine" look! :)
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Agreed. Looking good there. I think you should figure out a way to photoshop the solo cup out of there and change it to a black and white photo. Then when you have kids you can show them this picture and really mess with their heads.


To the original poster.... I think a good beard is cool and I would rock one if it looked good on me. Especially if it was a cold climate where some frost could collect on it.
 
Firebird2XC said:
Probably just a throw back to the days when most airline pilots were ex-military.. the style reflected the public's interest in "experienced, military trained pilots"..
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to some extent. There are several issues here:

1. No matter how you cut it, you DO get a better seal with no hair (try a dive mask with hair in it). There is no rational counter to this, with the possible exception of adding silicone sealant to your beard! You have to get more leakage with hair than without, all else equal.

2. Oxygen masks are NOT only to give you supplemental oxygen, but, these days, more importantly, to protect the flight crew from toxic fumes in the event of a fire. A small "leak" is a big deal in that situation, even using the emergency flow position.

3. It is the company's prerogative to set their appearance standards.

4. It is the company's prerogative to establish their safety standards.
 
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
Click to expand...

Nothing unprofessional at all! You look quite dapper, and I like the clothing style. Now you just need to be smoking a pipe and the look would be complete.
 
It is what it is. Some countries permit it, some don't. Some lines of work they don't care if you have one, in airlines and most charter operations they have cared about it as long as I've been around. If you're suddenly realizing that beards are normally not permitted in most aviation jobs you're really clueless. What's up with this website? People sniveling about having to wear a uniform. People sniveling about being unemployed. People sniveling about the people who snivel about having to wear a uniform or being unemployed... oh. That's me.
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Just grew my goatee back. Anyone is more than welcome to kick me off their jumpseat. :)
 
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