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.

...and that post perfectly epitomises the bigotry in this thread.

Fek me, there are some eejits about.

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.

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.

I just can’t agree with this. I’ve seen, first hand, so many pilots with visible tattoos on the job that this statement just isn’t true.

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

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.