tattoos and pilot training
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Rugged Island
Notwithstanding that this thread may be in the wrong place, because it relates to CPL training... May I offer some thoughts, as a recruiter:
It's hard enough now to find good candidates. Standards are lower than ever before and heading south.
Give me a hundred competent ex-NCO-aircrew candidates inked from torso to toe bar hands, face, and neck, and they’ll do very well. Public acceptance generally (and probably unlawfully) disbars the areas of the body mentioned.
I can comfortably accept a little self-expression when competence and professional standards are the upside.
I am also a fan of good tattoos. At their best, they can be amazingly artistic, deeply resonant, hugely significant, and seriously affirming. I often chat to people about their visible tattoos, and have never had a disappointing conversation (that said, I wouldn't enquire about ACAB across the knuckles). My last such conversation, with a young man serving me in a mobile phone store, led to my hearing a deeply touching story of father and son, war and service, and loss. I was left with a profound respect for the young man concerned. To those expressing a contrary view above, I recommend a much more open-minded approach to life in 2018.
Regarding cargosales’ post above, I’m not sure that the tattoos defined the outcome. I’ve flown with eminent single-seat FJ QFIs and QWIs with tattoos, who would have sailed through your processes, I’ve no doubt. That’s not to say they’re the crème de la crème but I hope you get my point.
So, if you’re in front of me, and inked, but your ink is not visible in business attire, you have nothing to fear. For the OP, you may wish to revise the location you have in mind for your own artwork.
Finally, I don't recruit for a sandpit airline; if you want to play in their sandpit, you play by their own daft rules. I wouldn't do that. The money is nothing like worth the misery, and I enjoy respecting my colleagues and employer too much.
It's hard enough now to find good candidates. Standards are lower than ever before and heading south.
Give me a hundred competent ex-NCO-aircrew candidates inked from torso to toe bar hands, face, and neck, and they’ll do very well. Public acceptance generally (and probably unlawfully) disbars the areas of the body mentioned.
I can comfortably accept a little self-expression when competence and professional standards are the upside.
I am also a fan of good tattoos. At their best, they can be amazingly artistic, deeply resonant, hugely significant, and seriously affirming. I often chat to people about their visible tattoos, and have never had a disappointing conversation (that said, I wouldn't enquire about ACAB across the knuckles). My last such conversation, with a young man serving me in a mobile phone store, led to my hearing a deeply touching story of father and son, war and service, and loss. I was left with a profound respect for the young man concerned. To those expressing a contrary view above, I recommend a much more open-minded approach to life in 2018.
Regarding cargosales’ post above, I’m not sure that the tattoos defined the outcome. I’ve flown with eminent single-seat FJ QFIs and QWIs with tattoos, who would have sailed through your processes, I’ve no doubt. That’s not to say they’re the crème de la crème but I hope you get my point.
So, if you’re in front of me, and inked, but your ink is not visible in business attire, you have nothing to fear. For the OP, you may wish to revise the location you have in mind for your own artwork.
Finally, I don't recruit for a sandpit airline; if you want to play in their sandpit, you play by their own daft rules. I wouldn't do that. The money is nothing like worth the misery, and I enjoy respecting my colleagues and employer too much.
Last edited by Father Dick Byrne; 22nd May 2018 at 21:19.
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Sydney
Not only acknowledging the criminal and biker lifestyle, but putting money into their pockets via their ownership of tattoo parlours.
Does any sensible, responsible person want to see these type of people obtain enrichment via a process that, in any case, displays the wearer of a tattoo as potentially demonstrating a measure of psychological insecurity("toned down" somewhat from a more "pointed" observation)?
A "lose lose" situation if ever there was one.
I won't even touch on Leviticus.
Does any sensible, responsible person want to see these type of people obtain enrichment via a process that, in any case, displays the wearer of a tattoo as potentially demonstrating a measure of psychological insecurity("toned down" somewhat from a more "pointed" observation)?
A "lose lose" situation if ever there was one.
I won't even touch on Leviticus.
Last edited by At ease; 24th May 2018 at 04:08.
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: UK
If they're visible then I guess it's not appropriate to be seen doing a responsible/professional job; pilot, doctor, lawyer et al. Just look at that BBC video shot of David Beckham in St Georges's chapel (at the royal wedding) last Saturday, he comes across as a thug dressed in formal clothing chewing gum. I personally do not like tattoos, I cannot understand why people wish to permanently mark and disfigure their bodies; but that's just me. I know many airline pilots who have discreet one's but well hidden from public view. Act in haste repent at leisure comes to mind.
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 191
Likes: 25
From: S England
Not just you PA. I cannot understand the wish for tattoos (or piercings), especially on women. If good looking why do they disfigure themselves and if ugly why do they want to draw attention to themselves?
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 440
Likes: 0
From: UK. East Mids.
I still don't understand why this is in the Cabin Crew forum...
Things which are related to CC often get deleted after not very long run in this forum, yet this is not related to CC and is still here...
Can the mods not move it to a pilot forum instead?
Things which are related to CC often get deleted after not very long run in this forum, yet this is not related to CC and is still here...
Can the mods not move it to a pilot forum instead?
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: United Kingdom
As a dispatcher I come across a lot of pilots at work and I have to say I’m surprised by the number of pilots with tattoos that I’ve seen. More notably one right behind a young FO’s ear and one wrapping around another’s wrist. Admittedly they were flying for the same airline (not exactly the most professional one at that) so maybe they just have more laxed restrictions on such things. I am soon to start my flight training and do intend to get a tattoo in a coverable position.
I must add that the bigotry in this thread has really surprised me. In such a modern time it’s shocking to see such intolerance to something many consider very beautiful pieces of art. I hope the industry can move along with the times so to speak and realise that tattoos aren’t just for those who break the law.
I must add that the bigotry in this thread has really surprised me. In such a modern time it’s shocking to see such intolerance to something many consider very beautiful pieces of art. I hope the industry can move along with the times so to speak and realise that tattoos aren’t just for those who break the law.
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 69
Likes: 11
From: WAW
I must add that the bigotry in this thread has really surprised me. In such a modern time it’s shocking to see such intolerance to something many consider very beautiful pieces of art. I hope the industry can move along with the times so to speak and realise that tattoos aren’t just for those who break the law.
Bigotry? It's your body and your career. It is not about what me, you and other people on the forum think. It is about what HR may think.
&
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: United Kingdom
Yes I agree that it is down to the individual and it is obviously then down to what HR think of it. I’m not implying people should make their mind up based on what some people in a forum are saying. But for those who do look to these threads for advice, seeing someone completely dismissing all tattoos as disgusting pieces of criminal and biker wear isn’t very helpful.
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 596
Likes: 37
From: France
Advice has been offered .... don't do it. Now it's up to the OP to decide how important his flying career is to him. And of course if airlines have policies on tattoos, this should be seriously borne in mind before committing to what is generally there for a lifetime ... art form or not.
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
From: Barbados
If you haven't got it, don't get it.
If you have to be one of the herd get a semi-permanent one.
You get it, it will trip you up one day.
There is no balancingoption - no one is ever going to hire you in a professional position because you HAVE a tattoo
If you have to be one of the herd get a semi-permanent one.
You get it, it will trip you up one day.
There is no balancingoption - no one is ever going to hire you in a professional position because you HAVE a tattoo
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: United Kingdom
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 32
From: In the back of a bus
believe that no tattoos anywhere on the body are allowed if employed in the sandpit.
Of course some get their tattoos AFTER joining (but still in a place normally covered by the uniform)
Qatar I think is the only one that doesn't like the tattoos, but again I think this is only for CC and on a case by case basis (they must submit a photo of the tattoo and mark on a diagram where it is located) Not sure what QR does about pilots
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: United Kingdom
Hi all.
Im in the process of doing my PPL and i will go on to do my full CPL later on but i was wondering,
I want to get a tattoo, only a small one on the underside of my wrist (no larger than 5cm by 5cm). will this affect my chances of getting with an airline in the future?
Im in the process of doing my PPL and i will go on to do my full CPL later on but i was wondering,
I want to get a tattoo, only a small one on the underside of my wrist (no larger than 5cm by 5cm). will this affect my chances of getting with an airline in the future?
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: Horsted Keynes, West Sussex.
Wowee,,,,,,,,,doesn't take long for threads to get fiery on here sometimes duzzit...? 
Accusations of intolerance , bigotry , cries of appeal to the moderators . Come along now guys . David , our OP puts a simple and straightforward question ! He's currently undergoing PPL training and has asked if having a small tattoo will jeopardise his recruitment prospects if he applies to the airlines . He could well apply as c/crew as a stop-gap while he completes his CPL training , so this post is as relevant here as it would be on any other area of the forum.
Is it a good idea ? Well , if it's about 2" x 2",,,,,, [sorry , don't like metric],,,,,he probably will get away with it . I'm not saying he definitely will ,,,but he probably will.
Would I have a tattoo ? Definitely no ! But if people opt for a small personal one which isn't likely to get the net-curtains twitching and doesn't encroach on bad taste [ and won't be seen at a job interview],, then that doesn't make them a bad person does it .
Good luck with the PPL training David and also with the CPL bit . Personally , I would raid the 'tattoo budget' and add it onto the flying budget . But that's just me..
Look at it this way David , if a certain bloke called Beckham had put his tattoo budget somewhere else , then he wouldn't look such a twerp would he ?..
Accusations of intolerance , bigotry , cries of appeal to the moderators . Come along now guys . David , our OP puts a simple and straightforward question ! He's currently undergoing PPL training and has asked if having a small tattoo will jeopardise his recruitment prospects if he applies to the airlines . He could well apply as c/crew as a stop-gap while he completes his CPL training , so this post is as relevant here as it would be on any other area of the forum.
Is it a good idea ? Well , if it's about 2" x 2",,,,,, [sorry , don't like metric],,,,,he probably will get away with it . I'm not saying he definitely will ,,,but he probably will.
Would I have a tattoo ? Definitely no ! But if people opt for a small personal one which isn't likely to get the net-curtains twitching and doesn't encroach on bad taste [ and won't be seen at a job interview],, then that doesn't make them a bad person does it .
Good luck with the PPL training David and also with the CPL bit . Personally , I would raid the 'tattoo budget' and add it onto the flying budget . But that's just me..
Look at it this way David , if a certain bloke called Beckham had put his tattoo budget somewhere else , then he wouldn't look such a twerp would he ?..
Joined: Mar 2008
Aviation Qualifications: Military
Posts: 265
Likes: 28
From: Bomber County
Read it again Sh, He is making the point that although visible tattoos may preclude you from getting a post, there is no balancing case of HAVING a tattoo being likely to swing a job your way.
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
Perhaps its a generational thing, bit as people age, what seems a good idea in your teens/twenties does become a real eysore when the belly flows over the belt and when old and wrinkly eugh!
If asked whether I like to see CC with tattoos, my response would be an emphatic NO
If asked whether I like to see CC with tattoos, my response would be an emphatic NO
Last edited by Ivan aromer; 29th June 2018 at 21:33.
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 1,938
Likes: 1
From: Manchester, UK
Yes, tattoos are more widely accepted than before and I have no personal dislike. But in the context of the OP's question, the answer is still a definite "NO". Some airlines and interviewers WILL view them negatively so it could well harm your prospects at some point. In my 29 year career I've only come across one fellow pilot with a visible tattoo.