I forgot to add something to this topic.

If a pilot walks into a hanger looking to get a job and has tattoos, but is a clean cut individual, they will have a better chance of getting a job than a pilot who doesnt have tattoos and is looking in rough shape

Tattoos, very rebellious in a conformist kind of way.

Matari, can you tell me how I can be conformist in a rebellious sort of way? 'Cos that's me :ok:

Cheers

Whirls

Rebellious conformity.

AdamFrisch:Well Adam, I never said I'd ostracize the freak, just fire him. Gone in 60 seconds. Or less. So take all the umbrage you want. Think it is deviant all you want. Too bad. We all make our choices. People who CHOOSE to "express" themselves with tattoos have to realize that there are consequences (although I admit that might change - but I wouldn't want to gamble my career on it). If you're not man enough to show your tattoos during the interview, then don't complain when something happens when you're found out afterward. Life is tough, deal with it. Getting fired from some cheezy, prejudiced helicopter company is not the worst thing in the world.

"And if I were a Chief Pilot and you came to me for a job and I saw your tattoos, I'd pick someone else. If I discovered them after the fact (like if you were successful at hiding them from me in the interview and got hired), I'd get rid of you at the FIRST opportunity. Gone. Why?"

FH1100,

Wow, you must have attended that middle management course....:ok:

Outstanding CP quality shining through :E

I would have thought that labour laws in the USA may be a little easier than our (Oz) laws, UL! Nonetheless, I would be a bit concerned about company image with ostentatious tats were I to have to use the pilot flying clients for whom they would be 'not welcome'.

A probationary period usually sorts out that sort of problem anyway, without the inevitable visit to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the $5k payoff :rolleyes:

Hmmmm interestig thread. Some companies want uniforms, huh as if that makes a Pilot? I have seen highly skilled grand master Pilot's dress like slobs but the skilled production of their flying ability was exemplary, And I've seen uniformed hmm (pilot's) struggle to simple put down the machine with a 5 knot tail-wind. Tattoo's like uniforms do not make or break the Pilot. If I were interviewing I would take the check-ride more into consideration than his/her appearance. Yes appearances are nice & gooey on initial contact but just like beauty is skin deep & a stunning blond may be the most boring pain in the a... to live with & an average looker, fun, positive & just great to be with. The proof in this pudding is the Pilot's ability, airmanship, safety & commercial maturity rather than a neat n' clean neck tied geek with 12lbs of gold on each shoulder who only knows where the wind is & how strong it is when he/she is actually passing it.....:{ :ugh: :p := :D :ooh: :eek: :yuk: :ok: :\ :8 :oh: :uhoh: ;) :E
this thread is about judging people at skin deep level, we humans go far deeper than just that & what & who we really are is deep below the surface of the skin/clothing level. Don't judge a book by its cover. I have never encountered any knock back based on my looks, clothes or all that shallow !!!!e, I got where I wanted to go by excelling at what I am capable of doing, committing to learning & doing my best, doing it safely & doing is consistently.

To me it's simple. Which is most important to you? The tattoos or a flying job. I'm not saying that the tattoos will stop you getting any future flying job, but is it worth the risk?

Exactly VF - and that is just what a customer does when he/she sees the pilot that will be flying them/their family/colleagues/associates. They have nothing else to judge the pilot on.

If I saw a tattooed, unshaven, shabbily dressed pilot there is no way I or anyone close to me would be getting in the machine.

This is what CP's have to consider.

And, IMHO, raise questions re judgment and maturity. Tattoos , body piercing, and earrings (on men) are the kind of "adornment" one expects to find among adolescents and certain pro athletes and entertainment types who for some strange reason find it necessary to exhibit a "look how nonconformist and daring I am" attitude to the world. May work in some circles but certainly not the norm in aviation. If one feels compelled to display one's "uniqueness," why not do it in a way that will be easily reversible when the day inevitably comes when one asks "What was I thinking!?"

Life is hard.....it is really hard when you are stupid!

Sgt. Stryker in "The Sands of Iwo Jima"....played by John Wayne as I recall.

Does that not apply here folks?

Why is it a surprise to anyone that others judge them by different rules than they themself use? Always has been....and always shall be that way.

You want to fit in amongst a group of people...then mimic the way the act, think, dress, and embrace the philosophy of the group. If you don't....and you don't get accepted....then whose fault is that?

If in time the "accepted norms" change and thus embrace you....fine....until then look somewhere else that will accept you.

That is life....deal with it.

I drive a car that has no branding decals or badges on, I drive a helicopter that also - coincidentaly - has no branding or major identifying decals/paintwork, I refuse to buy any form of clothing that carries a logo of any type. Why would I do otherwise. I do not need to advertise anything. So why the F"£$%^ would I brand my body????:ugh::ugh: If you are so desperate to identify yourself then I suggest you realy need to consider your insecurities.

UL paints a picture:

"I've seen a line of girls in a bar/restaurant, each one of them with teased hair, tweezed brows, glitter cleavage, crop top, navel piercing, tramp stamp, low-rise jeans, the lifting handles of thong underwear in plain view and 4" heels.
It's as if they've all come off an assembly line and through the same paint booth. It's like Chip Foose did all their design work."

UL, please post the name and location of this fabled wonderland!

Don't bother KJ only 4 inch heels:E

You can tats on your teeth?! Kewl!!

If I was looking for any individual to represent my business to an audience of new public faces, I would definitely find excuses not to hire the individual with visible tats (no quips about invisible tats, please :}). If you're fire-fighting in Canada, who cares? However, if you're ferrying fare paying pax then it's all about appearing to be professional in an orthodox sense i.e. conservative and compliant.

I'd love to have green hair (actually, I'd love to have hair of any colour), but I know my prospective clients would run a mile; like it or not, that's the way it is.

As someone said earlier, get a track record then make the decision to get a tattoo or not, because by that time, you may have outgrown your desire to have one anyway :ok:

500e, dunno how tall you are but in my case heels > 4" are likely to place runway above MSA.

I refuse to wear spike heels....they put holes in the waterbed!:oh:

What about a thong? This is something I really dont want to think about!

Arw jest go nude & be done with it with 4 gold bars on willie :eek: if I stay sittin' down they wont say the tatts on me arse :p