Yes, regionals will have to wait for majors. Majors can actually specify requirements for their FFD pilots... they usually don't because they want to keep costs low, but insisting on a clean shave is actually zero cost to the major partner.

From my perspective I see essentially zero impetus for beard reform at the legacies... there's a tiny handful of young, junior folks who bring it up but most of the membership doesn't give a rats arse. If the company offered, sure. But if we had to expend negotiating capital... not a chance in h3ll, I'm not giving up even $0.25/hr over beards.

Maybe corporate or fractionals? I know some corporate operators are cool with it, might even convey some gravitas for the high-end pax...

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...d_J._Smith.jpg

Except the company is not going to offer because it’s a problem HR doesn’t want or need. Clean shaven is sort of unambiguous. Once you let beards in they would either have to let ANY beard in no matter how bizarre or have a subjective standard that would now mean getting out the calipers to monitor and control the few that would abuse it. On top of the other problems HR must contend with, it would be an annoying little issue that they really don’t need. Until/unless the majors get a shortage of qualified applicants who refuse to fly without their bird it ain’t going to happen.

Or the unions insist (and expend negotiating capital), but that's a very long ways off.

Honestly, if your personal identity is so deeply inter-twined with facial hair and other fashion affections that it impacts your employment options, you might want to try a three-year stint in the USMC. You get to rid yourself of all personal accessories (including hair), and learn about and develop the REAL you :)

I love the idea but I agree it would be short lived. We all know within a few months the policy would be abused & managements don’t want to be bothered trying to enforce it.

https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-conten...nderson-14.jpg

I for one, hate beards and love the current uniform. Never wore the trench coat though.
Seriously though, how many of you guys got married in your uniform? Or took baby bump pics wearing it? That is CRINGE!

No, it's real simple... something like "no extreme hair styles, beards must not be more than 1/4" in length and kept neatly groomed"


See how easy that is?



There really is no excuse for prohibiting facial hair. It's an antiquated BS prohibition that makes zero sense and is quite frankly insulting to us as professionals.

Bring out the calipers and the lawyers. Define “neatly groomed.”

The only reason this is an issue is cause some just can't grow a Robin Olds level stache.

Your “easy” solution is vague, subjective, and unenforceable.