Wait, Commercial Airline Pilots Can't Have Beards?
There reason why is very important.
If you dream of becoming a pilot and working for a major US airline, you might need to make a few sacrifices. I'm not talking about finances—although getting a commercial pilot license will set you back many tens of thousands of dollars. Rather, I'm talking about your aesthetic choices. Your appearance. Your visual vibe, if you will.
You might have heard it through the grapevine or overheard airport staff whispering about it. The rumors are true: Commercial pilots are, for the most part, not allowed to grow a beard and should be clean-shaven at all times.
Safety first
Technically, it isn't a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) policy per se, but safety is, and the two happen to be related.
"We do not have any regulation—like a clean shaving regulation—but a lot of airlines have policies requiring pilots to have no beards or minimal beards to ensure that oxygen masks fit snugly if they're needed," an FAA spokesperson told Thrillist. "We require oxygen masks to be functional, and airlines may take it further and require that pilots be clean shaven or have minimal beards to ensure that."
While there is no official FAA requirement on pilots' facial hair, most airlines—including American Airlines—chose their policies based on an FAA circular published in 1987, which features a study titled "The Influence of Beards on Oxygen Mask Efficiency."
"Bearded crewmembers should be aware that oxygen mask efficiency is reduced by the presence of facial hair," reads the document's conclusion section. "Demand masks, such as those used in protective breathing equipment, many times cannot be donned rapidly nor seal effectively when used by bearded individuals."
What do airlines say?
Even though the FAA might not require pilots to fulfill specific beard-related requirements, airlines have every right to do so for safety reasons.
Delta Air Lines has detailed policies regarding pilots' facial hair. Sideburns, for example, are allowed but shall not extend below the middle of the ear. In the same way, pilots can keep a mustache, but it must be neat and not extend beyond the corners of the mouth. Beards, however, are a no-no, even if it's just a few facial hairs covering a part of the chin or cheek. As per Delta's rules, they are prohibited when a pilot is performing flight deck duties, flying as a jumpseater, or during any pilot training.
A Delta spokesperson confirmed to Thrillist that the airline's facial hair policy stems from "the need for an oxygen mask to maintain a good seal in the event of an emergency."
Similarly, American Airlines requires pilots to be clean-shaven for the same reason. "We do not allow pilots with facial hair to be on active duty," an American Airlines spokesperson told Thrillist. "It's actually safety driven. Safety is one of the biggest, most important things in our industry."
Reportedly, a few US carriers allow pilots to keep their beard when on duty. According to multiple aviation forums, Hawaiian Airlines is one of those, and it does not require its pilots to be clean-shaven. Thrillist contacted Hawaiian Airlines for comment, and this story will be updated should the airline respond to the claim.