Agree 100%

it still amazes me that the No beard policy is still a thing at nearly all airlines.

The problem I imagine is that we’ve got a handful of jabronis that would try to show up looking like Duck Dynasty so it’s easier to just give it a blanket ban.

I really don't understand why some of you are so dead set on being allowed to sport a beard. Seems to me there's so many more important issues. I guess it's just another "me generation" thing. This seems strongly centered in the under 40 crowd.

But couldn't you say the same thing about the hair on our heads? Should we make everyone shave their head? Set guidelines such as facial hair cannot be longer than xx, mustache hair can't go over lips, must be tidy, etc. No different than saying hair can't go past your ears or whatever your respective FOM says.

Back in my regional FO days I flew quite a bit with a Captain that could be a bit of a prankster. One particular day we had a part 91 flight with a company mechanic in the jumpseat. Our clearance had us tracking to a VOR with a turn to continue on the airway. Captain discreetly de-selects half bank leaving the plane on auto-pilot. We're casually talking to the mechanic, neither of us are holding the wheel when we reach the VOR and the auto-pilot initiates a standard rate turn to follow the airway. In concert, we both freak out - acting startled. The poor mechanic thought we were going down!

On another occasion I was flying an older bird that had a PTT switch for the comms in the floor. One day a friend with another airline is riding with us in the jumpseat so I decide to have some fun with him. I have a brand-new headset and casually put my hands up behind my head and make my radio calls looking as relaxed as I possibly can. It doesn't take him too long before he asks how I'm able to transmit without keying the mike. I tell him its a brand new technology that reads brainwaves. Without missing a beat the other pilot plays along acting totally surprised that our friend hasn't seen these advertised yet. After a few demonstrations transmitting "hands free", he is down-right excited and absolutely must try it for himself. I hand it to him to put on (leaving it plugged in to my side of course) and proceed to key the mike with my foot, the whole time keeping my hands out where he could see them while he made a few transmissions. He can't decide whether to geek-out over the new tech or go full tin-foil hat "that thing is scary" and alternates between the two for the whole trip. The level of geek-out /freak-out was downright epic!

Some guys that cannot grow beards will try because no one has or will tell them it’s patchy and looks terrible. Then those that just don’t want to shave sporting a 2 day old shadow down their neck.

Having a shaved face is like being emasculated

imagine being this insecure 🤣

well, can’t the same thing be said about dudes with the same problem on their heads?