Shaving and general grooming
12-30-2008, 10:18 AM
#11
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Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,837
Originally Posted by rickair7777
Old wives tale...plenty of corporate pilots have beards. The Navy allowed beards in the '70s...the trick is to trim it carefully around the edges.
But I suppose a beard would burn quite nicely if it were O2 saturated...
But I suppose a beard would burn quite nicely if it were O2 saturated...
USMCFLYR
12-30-2008, 01:23 PM
#13
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Joined APC: Dec 2008
Position: RJ driver
Posts: 320
Originally Posted by USMCFLYR
You are correct - they did - but did that apply to aviators?
The problem with beards and O2 masks isn't the seal in the event of a depressurization, it's smoke entering the mask in the event of a fire.
12-30-2008, 01:25 PM
#14
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Joined APC: Dec 2008
Position: RJ driver
Posts: 320
Originally Posted by AZFlyer
I've seen some photos of Indian AF fighter pilots in flight....guys look like they have a wookie trying to escape from the mask. Apparently the need to be clean shaven for a good fit is less important? 
12-30-2008, 07:48 PM
#15
Line Holder
Joined APC: Sep 2008
Position: CRJ200, CRJ700, CRJ900, Left Seat
Posts: 71
Clean Shaven
Originally Posted by n287hg
Again I am new and young here so excuse the elementary questions. In my travels I have noticed that many pilots are clean shaven or have bairly any facial hair and very low hair cuts. Is this buy choice or airline standards? I am starting to realize that my college flight student facial hair might not fly with the airlines.
It recent years, the de facto standard has slowly morphed and somethings have changed but I believe the pilot community in general still support the professional image.
Personally, and I'm not speaking for everyone, I keep my uniform in good repair, hair neat, and though I hate it, I shave everyday when I'm on a trip.
Like someone pointed out, image is everything when you are a pilot.
Jeff
Almost the Speed of Sound
12-30-2008, 10:01 PM
#16
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Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: B777 FO
Posts: 416
Facial hair is fine when trimmed neatly. The trick is to do the nasty intermediate stage while on vacation. I have a goatee and we have guys will full beards. No mask is going to seal properly unless it is custom made for your face and the goatee doesn't interfere enough to make a difference. We even have a guy with the full white beard and the double breasted Captains coat (FOs have a single at CX). It looks like you just boarded the Titanic with Captain Smith. He's cool though so it works.
12-31-2008, 07:51 AM
#19
New Hire
Joined APC: Nov 2008
Posts: 5
not really sure how tight the seal needs to be ,without research,and only ever done it the sim ;i have known several pilots with well grommed beareds ,and also in the royal navy(uk)but what i intended to comment on ,is i believe there was a737?incident some years back .when during emergency descent f/o s oxygen and grease on his face {some sort of lip or skin moistener)caused combustion and combined with face hair burning;not helpfull when the work load is already high ;i ll see if i can find the report ;;,some other oldies may also remember it about 198? ish
Last edited by sooty; 12-31-2008 at 08:02 AM. Reason: spelling
12-31-2008, 08:16 AM
#20
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Joined APC: Jul 2008
Position: 747 Captain (Ret,)
Posts: 804
The time you need to worry about the mask seal is at a really high altitude when pressure breathing is required.
Some airlines, including UAL, do not allow beards on cockpit crewmembers, OR ON COCKPIT JUMPSEATERS. Mustaches are ok. True, some nice UAL Captains will simply fail to notice the beard, but the prohibition is in the FOM, so you can't count on it.
Joe
Some airlines, including UAL, do not allow beards on cockpit crewmembers, OR ON COCKPIT JUMPSEATERS. Mustaches are ok. True, some nice UAL Captains will simply fail to notice the beard, but the prohibition is in the FOM, so you can't count on it.
Joe
