The disturbing reason why some airlines don't allow pilots to have beards

If you're eyeing up a career as a pilot, be aware that you will probably need to have a razor at the ready once you get the job - as you wouldn't want to take to the skies unless you're clean-shaven.

Weird, we know...but if you stop and think about the last time you were on a plane, I'll bet the fella flying it didn't have any facial hair, did he?

Although they might also actually just prefer a smooth surface, it turns out that pilots tend to steer clear of thick stubble for quite the disturbing reason.

Unbelievably, the captain could be putting their life in jeopardy if they have got a lot of fuzz on their face.

A ton of social media users have been left in a spin after finding out about the strange rule which some airlines enforce, after YouTuber Zack D. Films shared a simulation of what could go wrong when a bearded bloke is flying an aircraft.

In the short clip, he explained: "When a pilot puts on an oxygen mask during an emergency, it forms a tight seal around the face. This is crucial for supplying the right amount of oxygen.

"But if a pilot had a beard, the facial hair would prevent the mask from sealing properly - causing the oxygen to leak and potentially leading to unfortunate consequences.

"This is why you typically never see a pilot with a beard."

So, it's less about their appearance and more about saving their ar*e if something goes wrong up in the skies.

According to aviation firm HRD Aero Systems, pilots, co-pilots and cockpit crew members use specialised oxygen masks rather than the ones which drop for passengers 'because they have additional responsibilities and risks'.

Those with the responsibility of flying the plane apparently also have to don the masks in some non-emergency situations too, such as when they are alone in the cockpit - as it could save a few precious seconds if they end up in a pickle.

HRD Aero Systems added: "They must also wear the mask continuously when the airplane cabin has a pressure equivalent of 10,000 feet.

"Pilots may also occasionally use their oxygen masks to improve night vision. The amount of oxygen in a pressurised aircraft is still below what we experience on the ground. At those oxygen levels, night vision can decrease. Pilots often use the oxygen mask to improve their visibility while preparing for landing.

"Oxygen masks for flight crew supply 100% oxygen in the first few seconds, immediately address any hypoxia symptoms, and can then be switched to a less-concentrated supply."

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also explained that although there isn't a written rule explicitly outlawing beards, a lot of airlines do not allow their pilots to grow them for these safety reasons.

A spokesperson previously told Thrillist: "We do not have any regulation - like a clean shaving regulation - but a lot of airlines have policies requiring pilots to have no beards or minimal beards to ensure that oxygen masks fit snugly if they’re needed.

"We require oxygen masks to be functional, and airlines may take it further and require that pilots be clean shaven or have minimal beards to ensure that."

It all stems from a study titled 'The Influence of Beards on Oxygen Mask Efficiency' that was conducted by the FAA in 1987, which found that 'oxygen mask efficiency is reduced by the presence of facial hair'.

"Demand masks, such as those used in protective breathing equipment, many times cannot be donned rapidly nor seal effectively when used by bearded individuals," it explained.

As I'm sure you're aware, if the pilot's oxygen supply is interrupted in an emergency, it could have fatal consequences for everyone on board.

Each aviation company is different though and has its own specific policies - such as Delta Air Lines, who don't allow pilots to grow beards but do permit sideburns which don’t grow past the middle of their ear and a neat moustache.

A spokesperson for the airline also told Thrillist: "The need for an oxygen mask to maintain a good seal in the event of an emergency."

American Airlines also follow a similar set of guidelines which require captains to be clean-shaven.

A representative told the publication: "We do not allow pilots with facial hair to be on active duty. It’s actually safety driven. Safety is one of the biggest, most important things in our industry."