tattoos and pilot training
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tattoos and pilot training
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?
Same with our company. Visible tats are a big no no. You will not get employed if it's visible at the interview. And as the company does it's own medicals, you wouldn't get away with hiding it. Anything that's covered by a short sleeve shirt is OK.
Don't do it.
Don't do it.
I was in the UK a while back and was listening to a very well-spoken etiquette expert on the radio. When asked his opinion on tattoos he didn't hesitate. In an accent that could cut glass he replied "I view them in much the same light as I do graffiti on the wall of a public lavatory." I formed the opinion that - on balance - he didn't approve. And nor do I. David, please try and remember that you will not be interviewed by a hip young guy who likes your 'tatt', but a grumpy old bastard like me.
Cover up paste, long sleeves or maybe a band aid for an interview
CBFd, personally.
CBFd, personally.
I have seen just a couple of pilots with tattoos in forty plus years of flying. I guess its no big deal in itself but the professional pilot community is in general, a very conservative one. My advice would be not to bother and concentrate on your flying.
It all has to do with perception in the public eye.
You see this in advertising on TV every single day.
People in uniform tend to be seen as trustworthy and reliable, such as doctors. They wear a uniform for their profession.
Anything that will conflict with that image in the public eye will get noticed.
For a career pilot these are simple things such as:
-Wearing sunglasses in the terminal
-Wearing earbuds while in uniform in oublic
-Foul language while in uniform
-Complaining about your company while in public
-Talking about boozing it up while in public
- Tattoos
I’ve met many pilots that sported tattoos while off duty, none of them showed in uniform.
I have a tattoo myself so it’s not like I’m against tattoos.
Besides your wrist is one of the most painful places.
As far as perception goes, who would you trust more?
You see this in advertising on TV every single day.
People in uniform tend to be seen as trustworthy and reliable, such as doctors. They wear a uniform for their profession.
Anything that will conflict with that image in the public eye will get noticed.
For a career pilot these are simple things such as:
-Wearing sunglasses in the terminal
-Wearing earbuds while in uniform in oublic
-Foul language while in uniform
-Complaining about your company while in public
-Talking about boozing it up while in public
- Tattoos
I’ve met many pilots that sported tattoos while off duty, none of them showed in uniform.
I have a tattoo myself so it’s not like I’m against tattoos.
Besides your wrist is one of the most painful places.
As far as perception goes, who would you trust more?
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First guy is an undercover cop and the second guy is a Mafia boss testifying.
Its all about perception.
I wouldn’t hire you if you had a visible tattoo.
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First guy is an undercover cop and the second guy is a Mafia boss testifying.
Its all about perception.
I wouldn’t hire you if you had a visible tattoo.
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Sailors, Bikers and Criminals has tattoos.
I have met one pilot that had an anchor with a heart on it, he is now in SAS. Never rolled up his sleeves!
What was his former profession?
PS
I have met more Criminal pilots then visible tattooed ones!
You figure it out!
I have met one pilot that had an anchor with a heart on it, he is now in SAS. Never rolled up his sleeves!
What was his former profession?
PS
I have met more Criminal pilots then visible tattooed ones!
You figure it out!
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... & guaranteed not to be seen by a grumpy old chap interviewing you
PM
Last edited by Piltdown Man; 17th May 2018 at 07:16. Reason: Spelling
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Guess it depends in which airline. In my last interview i was interviewed by a 22 year FO and 30 something cabin manager, applying as a captain. The rules still state that tattoos shouldn‘t be visible, but wearing a long sleeved shirt is fine, and anything that is covered by that. I have met quite a few tattoed pilots, including those wearing them pretty much on the full alrea covered by the usual long sleeved uniform. But then, i guess that some areas of the world are not as conservative as others.
I was once working in an airline that was in the process of changing its uniform and appearance manual to allow visible tattoos everywhere except on the face, following a marketing campaign with a heavily tattoed girl. The airline in question is now gone, but not really as a result of that campaign (which was, at least in its intended market, rather well received) but rather continued bad management over more than 10 year.
I was once working in an airline that was in the process of changing its uniform and appearance manual to allow visible tattoos everywhere except on the face, following a marketing campaign with a heavily tattoed girl. The airline in question is now gone, but not really as a result of that campaign (which was, at least in its intended market, rather well received) but rather continued bad management over more than 10 year.
de minimus non curat lex
Ex military (NCOs) may well have tattoos on their arms, but not visible when wearing long sleeved shirts.
Part of the culture whilst in the Services, and further more they make perfectly fine civilian pilots.
That is a different situation from that of the OP, and what is proposed.
What is in your psychi which has a need for a tattoo on your wrist?
On seconds thoughts don't answer that Q; probably best discussed with a trick cyclist.
Part of the culture whilst in the Services, and further more they make perfectly fine civilian pilots.
That is a different situation from that of the OP, and what is proposed.
What is in your psychi which has a need for a tattoo on your wrist?
On seconds thoughts don't answer that Q; probably best discussed with a trick cyclist.
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Not sure that it makes too much difference as for the most part the paying punters (SLF) do not come into close
contact with the flight crew.
Errrr....why are we talking about flight crew in a cabin crew thread??
Last edited by Planemike; 19th May 2018 at 15:36.
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To be fair to the OP, he's asked a genuine question and doesn't deserve knocking for wanting a tattoo. I don't have any but my OH does and it's quite nice actually. Just not visible under most circumstances. The bottom line is that it's the employers choice about how their staff look, dress and how they present the company to their customers... and that can, and should IMNSHO, include visible tattoos. And the higher the bar, the more high-profile the job then the higher those standards will be.
Years ago we did an interview with a potential employee. We were incredibly relaxed in our dress code (when customer-facing the normal get-up was clean jeans, trainers and the obligatory aircraft t-shirt). But when faced by a foul-mouthed person with unwashed, rancid looking, multi-coloured hair, facial piercings and visible tattoos, our instinctive reaction was "No, we don't want this person anywhere near our customers because those customers will run a mile". So we didn't employ her. Brutal, maybe. Simple, yes.
Just my 2p worth
CS
Years ago we did an interview with a potential employee. We were incredibly relaxed in our dress code (when customer-facing the normal get-up was clean jeans, trainers and the obligatory aircraft t-shirt). But when faced by a foul-mouthed person with unwashed, rancid looking, multi-coloured hair, facial piercings and visible tattoos, our instinctive reaction was "No, we don't want this person anywhere near our customers because those customers will run a mile". So we didn't employ her. Brutal, maybe. Simple, yes.
Just my 2p worth
CS
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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.