Hawaiian Airlines Pilots Must Shave Off Beards Later This Month As Alaska Airlines Overturns Rare Exemption Pilots at Hawaiian Airlines will be required to shave their beards by April 20 as part of the airline’s merger with Alaska Airlines. This change aims to standardize operating protocols under a single operating certificate, aligning the carrier’s practices with those of Alaska Airlines. The decision marks the end of a long-standing policy that allowed Hawaiian pilots to maintain beards, a practice rooted in cultural traditions and a differing interpretation of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines. For years, Hawaiian Airlines pilots have been permitted to wear beards, a policy that stood in contrast to most U.S. carriers, which typically prohibit facial hair for pilots. This exception was partly due to cultural sensitivities in Hawaii and a historical interpretation of FAA guidance. However, the merger with Alaska Airlines has prompted a shift toward uniformity in operational standards, including grooming and uniform requirements. The FAA has never explicitly banned beards for pilots, but an advisory circular from the 1980s raised concerns about the potential impact of facial hair on the functionality of special air-tight oxygen masks. The circular warned that beards might compromise the seal of these masks, which are critical for pilot safety during decompression events. While the FAA has not issued a blanket ban, many airlines have adopted this guidance to enforce facial hair restrictions. Hawaiian Airlines, however, had been an outlier in this regard. The airline’s policy allowed beards, a stance that faced scrutiny as the merger with Alaska Airlines progressed.#federal_aviation_administration #alaska_airlines #hawaiian_airlines #scott_day #dave_mets
Hawaiian Airlines Pilots Must Shave Beards Amid Alaska Integration Hawaiian Airlines pilots will be required to shave their beards this month as Alaska Airlines enforces new uniform and appearance standards during their merger. The policy marks a significant shift for the airline, which had previously allowed beards in the cockpit due to cultural reasons. Alaska Airlines has now extended its strict appearance guidelines to Hawaiian’s flight crew, ending the exemption that had existed since the airline’s merger with Alaska in 2020. The decision has sparked debate within the aviation industry, with critics questioning the necessity of the rule and its impact on cultural traditions. The new policy, outlined in revisions to Alaska’s Flight Operations Manual (FOM), mandates that all pilots under the merged airline’s umbrella adhere to a single set of appearance standards. While mustaches will still be permitted, beards are explicitly prohibited in the cockpit. Alaska’s system chief pilot, Scott Day, stated in an internal email that the rule is intended to “ensure compliance with FAA guidance.” Dave Mets, Alaska’s Vice President of Flight Operations, emphasized the safety rationale behind the decision, acknowledging the controversy but reiterating that the policy is rooted in compliance and safety protocols. “I fully understand that this is a policy decision many of you do not and may never agree with,” Mets wrote, adding that the decision was made to align with regulatory requirements. The FAA’s 1987 rule, outlined in Advisory Circular 120-43, prohibits beards in the cockpit, citing safety concerns related to oxygen mask use. Manufacturers have warned that beards can interfere with the seal of emergency oxygen masks, potentially leading to leaks during critical situations.#alaska_airlines #faa #hawaiian_airlines #scott_day #dave_mets
