Tattoos' for Pilots?
 

Are Tattoos' acceptable for pilots or do they attract the scorn of management and Fleet Captains? Tattoos' are very fashionable these days so some of you out there must have some. What reaction have you had from employers? I haven't got any but have a design in mind for my upper arm. Will this affect my future employment prospects when word gets out?

Tattoos' ?????

Gordon Bennett!!!!!

[This message has been edited by capt waffoo (edited 16 March 2001).]

Yuk!! Don't do it!

Fashionable now......but what about when you are older?

You've got to be kidding?! I'm sure the first thing a passenger wants to see is a freak show in the cockpit. Why not go for some of those spikes the yabos stick through their heads - at least you know with them that it's not damaging their IQ any.

Seriously, this is a conservative profession and you need to look like what the public expects an airline pilot to look like - and that doesn't include making a freak out of oneself. Try the merchant marine if you want to do the tatoo thing. :)

Perhaps a small tatoo on the left wrist with ID & blood group might be acceptable.

But NOTHING on the Face!!!

Jeeeeeesus.....some people are actually scared of Flying, you know.......

I've seen far more cabin crew with tattoos than flight crew - and some of them were really rather attractive to look at! :)

The comment from "An Officer and a Gentleman" comes to mind when on his initial course entry his eagle tattoo is seen by the Drill Sergeant:-

"You be proud of those wings, boy - 'cos they're the only wings you're leaving here with!"

GB - putting the "Major Misunderstanding" & "I use 'Captain' as a title on my mail" reactionary replies to one side for a moment.....I don't believe there are any problems in terms of medical or professional exclusions from the role to be performed. Unless you got it for a 20 pesos from a stranger in Manila, or something like that.

However - you have witnessed a small handful of responses - something to bear in mind when considering the four horsemen of the apocalypse design across your whole torso....

Yet, unless you are going for an interview/to work in a singlet, or if you only have something small and out of view from, well, let's say, more critical eyes, you're unlikely to have any problems in that respect.

So why have one then, if it's going to be out of sight? I hear the baffled ask... well, for some it's a cosmetic choice (for display when desired) - like the classic comb-over or excessive nasal hair (some find this acceptable - some don't - same thing) - for others, it may have been a choice made in the past. Who cares? I can understand punters' reactions to a full scale Harley motiff across the arms, but I don't think we're talking about that....

Doesn't bother me, and it wouldn't bother me if my next skipper turned up with "I Love Doris" on his bicep. Long as he can fly and doens't say "b0110cks" too much on the PA.

Fill ya boots!

GB,

Even if it is on your upper arm it will still be visible through a white shirt, most PAX and employers probably wouldn't be happy about someone with visible tatoos. Why not have it on your back or somewhere less visible. Also you can get these "temporary" tatoos nowadays that only go into a couple of layers of skin and last between 2 and 10 years (ideal if you dont want one anymore in later life).

I personally wouldn't have a problem with tatoos and quite fancy getting one myself, although I'll probably get mine on my lower back where it can't be seen easily and it'll be quite small. Remember its hard enough to get a job flying these days without giving any additional objections to a potential employer. Unfortunately despite everything it is still a predjudiced world we live in and as the old saying goes "First Impressions Count".

Thats just my opinion anyway.

------------------
Aargh, that was the taxiway we landed on!

Hmmmmmmm

I've got a tattoo on my chest from my navy days. It is well hidden and not many people now about it. When taking a medical exam doc usually ask about it but thats it.
If you must get one don't take it where you cannot hide it if you have to.

JJ

I agree with the previous comments - we are a conservative profession and that is how we perceive ourselves and are perceived by the general public. Tattoos do not fit into that mould (nor for that matter do dyed hair, earrings on blokes, nose rings etc etc). It is not a moral issue but it is one of acceptability. The average passenger only wants to see a pilot with a dark uniform, short hair and no earrings or tattoos. You may not like it, but that is the reality of the situation. We are in the business of providing reassurance and not in the business of challenging society's attitude to looks and impressions. In terms of looks we are expected to be conformists for the sake of our passengers.

Added to that, most pilots are from a middle class background. Once again, whether you like it or not, it is true to say that people from that background by and large do not approve of tattoos, noserings, male hair dye and so forth. Just remember that it is these people who will be deciding your future in a very competitive industry for the foreseeable future. This is not meant as some sort of political view but merely a statement of the harsh realities. You would be very unwise indeed to ignore these realities.

Finally by way of anecdotal evidence, we have a great pilot in our company who is an ex-Royal Marine. I noticed recently that he had a fine set of tattoos on his upper arms and I made some joke about them. He was a bit sheepish that I had even noticed them and pointed out that he now feels somewhat embarrassed at having had these tattoos done and wishes he had been more sensible in his youth (his views not mine). Perhaps a warning for those with a short term view. Once you have them they are there to stay!

And thats a load of cr.p... Tattoo can be removed and thus is not there to stay.

The social acceptaility is an other matter. Do I really care? NO. Do I think that a pilot should have visible tattoos on him while on the job? No, I don't think one should.

Though if a person had a tattoo from good ole times in the servicethat was visible, unless you are Chief pilot or equivalent it is not your damned business. As it sure does not affect your ability as a pilot or professionalism. Seems that in every company there is that one person that thinks his holy duty is to enforce rules and regulations as he interprets them.

JJ

GB <<Tattoos are very fashionable these days >> : How 90s - grow up and join us in the new millenium!

Gordon Bennett's just doing a wind up so he can take the company to the European court of law for TATTOO discrimination. Nice try.

Isn't this a topic for Jet Blast? Next, are we going to discuss on this site how large FAs boobs should be before they are offensible to passengers?

Well now that you brought that up... Personally I am into about a C-cup but a firm D will do too... not too pointy so that a PAX wont pop an eye, that might be found to be offensive. :)

JJ

You tell 'em, JJ. Are you going to going to let her see YOURS tonight, or will you continue keep fooling her into thinking you actually are a gentleman?

You may laugh gentlemen...The new JAA regulations on penis size become effective next year. Think theres a pilot shortage now??? http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/frown.gif

No??? You mean - they've set a maximum????

Sorry to lower the tone, but the best tatoo I've heard was worn by a hostie, just above her front bottom. It read " CAUTION SLIPPERY WHEN WET" http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/tongue.gif