There reason why is very important.
If you dream of becoming a pilot and work for amajor US airline , you might need to make a few sacrifices . I ’m not talking about finance — although have a commercial pilot light license will set you back many tens of thousands of buck . Rather , I ’m talking about your esthetical pick . Your appearance . Your ocular vibration , if you will .
You might have heard it through the grapevine or overheardairportstaff whispering about it . The rumors are truthful : commercial-grade cowcatcher are , for the most part , not appropriate to spring up a beard and should be clean - shaven at all times .
Safety first
Technically , it is n’t aFederal Aviation Administration(FAA ) insurance policy per se , but guard is , and the two fall out to be related .
" We do not have any regulation — like a clean shave regulation — but a luck of airline have policies requiring pilots to have no beard or minimal beard to ensure that O mask correspond snugly if they ’re needed , " an FAA interpreter told Thrillist . " We call for oxygen mask to be running , and air hose may take it further and require that pilots be blank shaven or have minimal beard to ensure that . "
While there is no prescribed FAA requirement on fender ' facial pilus , most airline — including American Airlines — choose their policy based on an FAA circular published in 1987 , which features a study style " The Influence of Beards on Oxygen Mask Efficiency . "
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" Bearded crewmembers should be aware that oxygen mask efficiency is concentrate by the comportment of facial hair , " reads the written document ’s ending section . " Demand masquerade , such as those used in protective ventilation equipment , many time can not be donned rapidly nor varnish effectively when used by whiskery individuals . "
What do airlines say?
Even though the FAA might not require pilots to satisfy specific face fungus - refer necessity , airway have every right to do so for base hit reasons .
Delta Air Lines has detailed policies regarding pilot ' facial hair . Sideburns , for example , are provide but shall not extend below the middle of the auricle . In the same elbow room , pilots can keep a mustache , but it must be bully and not extend beyond the corners of the mouth . Beards , however , are a no - no , even if it ’s just a few facial hairs embrace a part of the chin or cheek . As per Delta ’s rule , they are forbid when a buffer is performing flight deck duties , flying as a jumpseater , or during any pilot light education .
A Delta spokesperson confirmed to Thrillist that the airline ’s facial hair insurance stem from " the indigence for an oxygen masque to maintain a respectable seal in the outcome of an emergency . "
Similarly , American Airlines postulate pilots to be clean - shaven for the same reason . " We do not set aside pilot burner with facial hair to be on active duty , " an American Airlines spokesperson tell Thrillist . " It ’s actually safety driven . Safety is one of the biggest , most authoritative things in our industry . "
Reportedly , a few US carriers grant pilot to keep their beard when on duty . According to multiple aviation forums , Hawaiian Airlines is one of those , and it does not ask its original to be clean - shaven . Thrillist meet Hawaiian Airlines for comment , and this storey will be updated should the airline business respond to the claim .
