Medical Waiver for a Beard??

[Timmy Tucker]

Here's my story. I have dermatitis on my face than flares up pretty bad on a regular basis (every 4-6 weeks). Medications tend to suppress it somewhat but it never really goes away. My dermatologist said that it's pretty much never going to completely go away and I will always have to deal with it until a proper cure is found. So, I usually sport a very short (1/8" - 1/4") beard to keep it covered up when it is active.

Since it could be considered unsightly to others, not to mention embarrassing to me at times, would it be unheard of to get a medical waiver to keep the beard?

If so, would the waiver really matter to an airline? (Would this question be better asked in another forum?)

Thanks in advance!

[My Flight Surgeon]

The only place I have ever seen waivers for beards is the military. As to whether or not you can fly with a beard, it will probably depend on the equipment you operate and whether or not you have to attend altitude chamber training (a beard is forbidden here).

[Timmy Tucker]

Thanks. I hope to end up at the majors in the future, preferably UPS or FedEx. I know that there is a UPS pilot that has a medical waiver for a beard.

I guess it's not as common as I though it was.

[WacoFan]

for some reason your story struck me. Nothing really to add - just keep positive and follow your goals.

[BobDDuck]

I hate to be a bearer of bad news, but you won't be able to fly anything that is pressurized due to needed to be able to get a mask to seal on your face. You may be able to get a SODA *if* you can get the mask to seal around the beard.

[Cptnchia]

Originally Posted by BobDDuck

I hate to be a bearer of bad news, but you won't be able to fly anything that is pressurized due to needed to be able to get a mask to seal on your face. You may be able to get a SODA *if* you can get the mask to seal around the beard.

Just don't use petroleum jelly. (Vaseline for you non nerdy types.)

[Polar742]

Originally Posted by Timmy Tucker

Here's my story. I have dermatitis on my face than flares up pretty bad on a regular basis (every 4-6 weeks). Medications tend to suppress it somewhat but it never really goes away. My dermatologist said that it's pretty much never going to completely go away and I will always have to deal with it until a proper cure is found. So, I usually sport a very short (1/8" - 1/4") beard to keep it covered up when it is active.

Since it could be considered unsightly to others, not to mention embarrassing to me at times, would it be unheard of to get a medical waiver to keep the beard?

If so, would the waiver really matter to an airline? (Would this question be better asked in another forum?)

Thanks in advance!

I don't know anything about medicine, but I do know I've seen VARIG (Brazil), Cathay Pacific, and JetBlue pilots sporting goatees or more.

If nothing else, be a freight dawg....

[LoadMasterC141]

He said he keeps a very short beard, as in trimmed just about as close as you can with clippers I would think.

I love the mask story...sorry but it really deserves a mythbusters episode....I can understand a big think beard, but stubble or very short beards? Come on.....
I had a shaving waiver in the Air Force due to extreme sensitivity on my neck. Therefore, I often had a very thin beard, basically a day to 2 days growth. In the altitude chamber, I purposely wore the beard rather than shave. My mask sealed at 100 percent with no problem.

[BobDDuck]

Originally Posted by Cptnchia

Just don't use petroleum jelly. (Vaseline for you non nerdy types.)

I've always wondered if wearing a lot of chapstick (or lipstick for the ladies or lads who are light in the loafers) would really cause the same problems.

[mikecweb]

Originally Posted by BobDDuck

I hate to be a bearer of bad news, but you won't be able to fly anything that is pressurized due to needed to be able to get a mask to seal on your face. You may be able to get a SODA *if* you can get the mask to seal around the beard.

I heard of some guys flying lears at night that have beards.

[Coop-814]

Goose in Top Gun had a mustache...

[Dorf]

Originally Posted by BobDDuck

I hate to be a bearer of bad news, but you won't be able to fly anything that is pressurized due to needed to be able to get a mask to seal on your face. You may be able to get a SODA *if* you can get the mask to seal around the beard.

Where is this written?

[BobDDuck]

I can't find it right now, but I think there was an Advisory Circular that the FAA pushed out a while back.

The only reference I have now is my company's FOM which says

Facial Hair

Beard.
Beards and goatees are not permitted.

Mustache.
Mustache must be neatly trimmed and may not extend beyond 1/4 inch below the corners of the mouth.

Nothing about the O2 mask there.

[TXaviator]

Originally Posted by BobDDuck

I hate to be a bearer of bad news, but you won't be able to fly anything that is pressurized due to needed to be able to get a mask to seal on your face. You may be able to get a SODA *if* you can get the mask to seal around the beard.

i think youre being a bit overreactive here....

in the altitude chamber at school, our flight surgeon asked the muslim students who keep facial hair to simply keep their facial hair close and neat, and then checked to ensure the masks sealed fine for them (which it did)

a big digusting bird's nest, maybe that wouldnt work, but a close beard should be no problem. if a mask is going to lose a seal over a couple facial hairs, that doesnt sound like a mask i would trust, would you??

your mileage may vary. good luck!

[minitour]

Originally Posted by Coop-814

Goose in Top Gun had a mustache...

Oh, grrrrrrreat example .

...look what happened to him!

-mini

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by mikecweb

I heard of some guys flying lears at night that have beards.

And mohawks!