Comments on: Why aircraft pilots cannot have piercings or tattoos?

By: ajmustee

ajmustee — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:15:55 +0000

This is BS! Just don’t show up to work drunk, and you can fly! (Also no other poor health conditions)

By: Teddy TheBear

Teddy TheBear — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:37:24 +0000

Well, I work with an airline company under their Aviation Security department. As far as it goes, most companies are very selective of their staffs/recruits. The biggest concern with that fellow you mentioned was probably his piercings and his addiction to drugs. I doubt that it was the tattoos because if the tattoos were hidden or discreet, it is absolutely okay. There ARE other concerns though, as those tattoos SHOULD NOT be obscene or representing any affiliation to gangsters, which could jeopardize the company’s image or security.

Oh yeah, I’ve got two tats on my shoulders too…

By: aviophage

aviophage — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:28:27 +0000

Airline passengers trust the flight crew on their airplane with their lives, limbs, and property. Tattoos and piercings are not consistent with the impression of competence, good sense, and strength of character that people expect to see in flight crew members; thus the airlines will not consider hiring people who carry these blatant signs of social disorderliness.

Next, it is very difficult for a drug addict to pass even the third-class medical test, and so an addict (including a “former” addict) will encounter serious difficulty securing pilot training at any level.

Also, many people would say “Oh, my dream is/was to be a pilot…” without serious reference to the requirements of such a career. He was probably just daydreaming out loud.

By: Anthony M

Anthony M — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:12:16 +0000

Tats and piercings are prohibited because the pilot’s appearance should inspire confidence in passengers. At the very least the appearance should not imply weirdness.

Many customers will react negatively to a tatted-up and/or pierced pilot.

By: walt554

walt554 — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 10:14:52 +0000

They can have both. Tattoos can be covered up whereas piercings are another thing.
When you fly you are a representative of the company and what company would want a person who is pierced and tattooed where it can be seen? If I got on a plane with any flight crew who was pierced and tattooed to a point where I could see it I would think again of flying with them.
Not too many intelligent people are pierced

By: Silver

Silver — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:01:00 +0000

Piercings can be dangerous.

By: Charles M

Charles M — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:24:59 +0000

I wouldn’t go with cannot. Pilots is a loose term. What about private pilots that own there own aircraft? The FAA has nothing to say against all you said. You will still be licensed.(Of course if you pass your check rides and tests)

Now if an Airline will hire you is a different ballgame. Drug addiction on you re record, you most likely ain’t gonna get hired. Tattoos- airlines argue that they kinda spoil the professional pilot image. Some airlines actually require you to cover you re tattoos. But there are airline pilots with them. Piercings – most airlines prohibit you wearing them.

Plus now you can remove tattoos.

By: Laurie B

Laurie B — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:33:22 +0000

I didn’t even know this. But, perhaps the reason that he cannot be a pilot is because of his drug issues. I’m sure he must have a bad history. No, they wouldn’t take anyone with a drug rap under there belt, at least I would hope not. As far as the tattoos and piercings go ~ if they are ‘loud’ and ‘all over’, I can understand why they would not want him. I want to feel ‘safe’ when I fly, and I’m sorry but someone with ‘loud’,'all over tattoos and/or piercings, kind of frightens me.

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:56:59 +0000

They can have tattoos.

By: rain

rain — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:45:25 +0000

BS!!!! I’ll find better friends if i were you!