Hi there new here. I’m 19 and want to start my flight school I have already purchased everything from books to knee pad and headset. But I’m concerned because I have a tattoo on my arm From a little above the elbow to about 2 inches above my wrist bone. (It’s clean and no vulgar or anything, don’t want to get it removed means a lot to me as I was homeless most of my young life). Of course I will cover it at all times while on the job. But will this stop me from being hired or hurt my application process? Is there anyway some of you current pilots could ask around and try and get an answer. I’ve emailed other airlines trying to get help with no luck. So I really want to know before I go spend all this money that I’ve worked hard on getting. Thank you all very much appreciate the advice

In the old days there would be a comprehensive physical exam, and they would not want to find any tattoos at all. If you've heard anything negative about tattoos and the airlines, that's why.

Today, nobody cares as long as it can be covered up completely with a long sleeve white shirt, buttoned at the color.

But it must be covered up at all times when in uniform, so you won't be wearing the short-sleeve shirt that most pilots wear, ever. Bottom line, you might be a little hot sometimes. If you're the CA you can turn up the A/C. Before you upgrade to CA, you'll enjoy flying with CAs who prefer the cockpit cold like a meat-locker.

Don't sweat it, plenty of other pilots have tats now.

I wouldn’t say “ever”. He’s 19, has 46 years until retirement. Lots can change. I personally know three pilots at regionals with arm tattoos who wear short sleeve shirts.

Anything's possible, but I'd bet on beards first.

But I doubt those regionals have policies actually allowing that, their major partners all have baseline uniform standards. Otherwise regionals would let everyone wear tracksuits to save money. Most likely they are just too short of pilots right now to make an issue over it.

Problem with tats is that once you allow them, then you end up having to censor and adjudicate the content of said tats. Lived through that in the military, tats had been a thing forever but they almost got banned because the mil was struggling with the appropriateness of many tats... southern pride and nose art for example go against the grain of political correctness and diversity. Then you had the gang tats...

When I was at Air Wis there was no policy against it. That was 10 years ago.
At another regional I don’t remember the verbiage in the FOM, but two pilots had multiple forearm tattoos.
I understand your points, and think the route of least resistance is just covering up all tattoos for what you mentioned.
Bottom line to the OP, you’re fine. They’ll never see or know about them until after you’ve been hire (not counting them looking at all your social media photos).

And who will likely STAY at regionals an extra five years until/unless reason overcomes their tat-pride and they START covering them. But everyone makes choices....

I've got a huge neck tat bro, hasn't affected me at all. lol