Do Tattoos and aviation mix?

H

Hydroplanning_Boy

New Member
Hi everyone, I just wanted to see if anyone out there, (pilots, CFI, anyone) has a visible tattoo in any part of the body. I have one in my right forearm and I was wondering if this might affect me in the aviation world. Has anyone with a tattoo have had a negavite experience while in training or interviewing for a job. It's only one and it's a medium size tattoo. So please let me know if this is going to affect me for a job. Because I don't wont to train at FSA to then see my money go down the sink because of my tattoo.:confused:
 
Re: Does Tattoos and aviation mix?

"DO tattoos and aviation mix?" :) Sorry, little grammar policing.

I'd be interested to hear what FSA says on the matter. Depending on their answer, it might go a long way between painting them as a "get em and get their money" school or a school that honestly wants their students to succeed. Not an attack, just a curiosity.

My thoughts? If it's visible you're probably gonna have a harder time. That's just the way the industry is. It's all about image, and the passengers want the clean cut stereotype of a pilot. Heck, the 21 year old might have 1000 hours and 200 ME and CFId for two years, but the passengers are gonna see nothing but a "kid" in the cockpit. HR people have to take this into account when hiring. That being said, it is possible to just wear a long sleeved shirt all the time.

EDIT: Stan, get out of my head while I'm posting. :)
 
Re: Does Tattoos and aviation mix?

damn you kell and r2f!! y'all are in my grammar district! Find your own turf! :nana2:
 
Re: Does Tattoos and aviation mix?

kellwolf said:
My thoughts? If it's visible you're probably gonna have a harder time. That's just the way the industry is. It's all about image, and the passengers want the clean cut stereotype of a pilot. Heck, the 21 year old might have 1000 hours and 200 ME and CFId for two years, but the passengers are gonna see nothing but a "kid" in the cockpit. HR people have to take this into account when hiring. That being said, it is possible to just wear a long sleeved shirt all the time.
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:yeahthat:
My .02, CFI that I work with is tattoed and pierced, tats are visible (lots of them) and he keeps the piercings/rings in when at work....he also seems to have the least (read: ZERO) students. Could be becuase he's a poor CFI, or could be that people see that and think the above as well when they walk in.
 
Re: Does Tattoos and aviation mix?

Hydroplanning_Boy said:
I don't wont to train at FSA to then see my money go down the sink because of my tattoo.:confused:
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Your money may go down the sink anyways.

Common Sense should be telling you its an issue. The fact that you have to ask makes it an issue.

So you can pout about it being unfair, get it burned off, wear long sleeves the rest of your life, or something else. It IS a problem.
 
Re: Does Tattoos and aviation mix?

desertdog71 said:
Your money may go down the sink anyways.

Common Sense should be telling you its an issue. The fact that you have to ask makes it an issue.

So you can pout about it being unfair, get it burned off, wear long sleeves the rest of your life, or something else. It IS a problem.
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Actually at least if someone were to fly 121 it's a uniform. So when everyone else is wearing short sleves you can't as an indivdual be wearing long sleeves and vice versa.
 
Re: Does Tattoos and aviation mix?

Hydroplanning_Boy said:
Hi everyone, I just wanted to see if anyone out there, (pilots, CFI, anyone) has a visible tattoo in any part of the body. I have one in my right forearm and I was wondering if this might affect me in the aviation world. Has anyone with a tattoo have had a negavite experience while in training or interviewing for a job. It's only one and it's a medium size tattoo. So please let me know if this is going to affect me for a job. Because I don't wont to train at FSA to then see my money go down the sink because of my tattoo.:confused:
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If it's clearly visible outside of a summer uniform, I gather you're going to have a hard time getting hired for some of the "upper echelon" jobs because this is a highly conservative, paramilitary-attired profession.

Some people even take a sharpie to cover up the yellow on the stitching on Doc Marten shoes.
 
Re: Does Tattoos and aviation mix?

"I'd be interested to hear what FSA says on the matter"

I would be too. My guess is they would rather seperate him from his money than be negative about his tattoo.

To answer your question, I very rarely see a visable tattoo on a professional pilot and NEVER any kind of piercings. If it's not overly noticeable, then you'll probably be okay for the most part but it could cost you an interview or two. I'd say you're better off getting rid of it, if you can. At the same time, I wouldn't walk away from the career just because of your tattoo.
 
Re: Does Tattoos and aviation mix?

Long sleeve shirts my friend. Long sleeve shirts.

I don't believe in short sleeve dress shirts. Those just scream middle aged bureaucrat to me!

And yes, I know it gets hot, but let's get serious here. That long sleeve shirt ain't gonna be the problem if it's 120 on the tarmac. You're gonna be sweating like a pig even if you were naked.
 
Re: Does Tattoos and aviation mix?

tonyw said:
Long sleeve shirts my friend. Long sleeve shirts.

I don't believe in short sleeve dress shirts. Those just scream middle aged bureaucrat to me!

And yes, I know it gets hot, but let's get serious here. That long sleeve shirt ain't gonna be the problem if it's 120 on the tarmac. You're gonna be sweating like a pig even if you were naked.
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Keep in mind that some airlines don't allow long sleeves with the summer uniform.
 
Re: Does Tattoos and aviation mix?

tonyw said:
Long sleeve shirts my friend. Long sleeve shirts.

.....You're gonna be sweating like a pig even if you were naked.
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Come on Tony.....That's a flat out lie.... We all know pigs don't sweat. :sarcasm:

Why do you hate farm animals.....? ;)
 
Re: Does Tattoos and aviation mix?

Its all about the image with an airline. The dress codes are still for the most part very old school.
 
Re: Does Tattoos and aviation mix?

Forearm would be a definite problem.

Money spent on FSA would be better spent on a plastic surgeon, IMHO.

Get it removed.
 
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