<\/p>\n
Pilots at Hawaiian Airlines will have to shave off their beards later this month as part of the carrier\u2019s merger with Alaska Airlines, as they seek to standardize operations under a single operating certificate.<\/p>\n
Unlike many U.S.-based carriers, pilots at Hawaiian Airlines have been able to wear beards for many years. Part of the reason is due to cultural sensitivities in Hawaii, as well as a differing interpretation of guidance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).<\/p>\n
That, however, will change on April 20, when Hawaiian Airlines makes a \u201csignificant\u201d change to its Flight Operations Manual, with pilots at a Honolulu-based carrier transitioning to the same uniform and appearance standards as their coworkers at Alaska Airlines.<\/p>\n
The FAA has never banned pilots from wearing beards, but an advisory circular dating back nearly four decades warned that special air-tight oxygen masks used by pilots might not work properly with the presence of facial hair that might break the air-tight seal.<\/p>\n
Airlines have long used this guidance to ban pilots from having beards or other forms of facial hair, although the FAA has explicitly prohibited pilots from having beards.<\/p>\n
Hawaiian Airlines was a rare exception, but following the merger with Alaska Airlines, the combined carrier is standardizing operating protocols under a single operator\u2019s certificate.<\/p>\n
\t<\/p>\n
Although Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines will operate as seperate and unique brands, under the hood, everything will be the same, including uniform and grooming rules.<\/p>\n