Are pilots allowed beards?


Are pilots allowed beards? If you've ever wondered why you don't see too many bearded airline pilots, there's a reason for that. Some airlines have rules in place that prohibit pilots from having beards. There are exceptions to this rule, but for the most part, if you want to be an airline pilot, you'll need to be clean-shaven.


Do pilots get hair tested?

Some countries and airlines require pilots to submit to breath tests as part of reporting for work, while other countries use hair samples for drug testing in addition to urine.


Can a pilot smoke cigarettes?

While cigarette smoking is not prohibited by the FAA, it has several hazardous side effects and many health conditions caused by smoking are medically disqualifying. A smoker typically carries a carbon monoxide blood level of about five percent.


Do pilots have to be shaved?

There are exceptions to this rule, but for the most part, if you want to be an airline pilot, you'll need to be clean-shaven. So why the restriction? Well, it all has to do with safety. Beards can interfere with the proper seal of a pilot's oxygen mask.


How long does it take to become a pilot?

To fly as a commercial airline pilot, you will need 1500 hours of experience, which can be earned in two years. ATP's accelerated commercial pilot training programs provide a structured timeline and shorten the time it takes to gain experience and meet qualifications.


Can flight attendants sleep on flights?

Flight attendants on long-haul flights are provided with spaces to rest. Here's a photo of the crew rest area on a Boeing 787. Crew rest areas exist on all airplanes, but what these rest areas look like depends on the airline, aircraft and the length of the flight.


Can pilots smoke in the cockpit?

Pilots can and sometimes do smoke in the cockpits of business jets. These can be as large as airliners (see BBJ), but usually aren't. Even when a country and/or airline ban smoking in the flight deck, some pilots will ignore the ban and still light up. This was quite common with Asian carriers in the past.