Air Canada pilots no longer need to appear clean at work. The airline allows it, as a result of scientific research, to take place in the cockpit with a neatly trimmed beard.

Until now beards were out of the question in the cockpit, for fear that in case of emergency the oxygen masks would not connect properly to the faces of the pilots. A study by Simon Fraser University has now shown that wearing a modest beard does not hinder the functioning of the masks, CBC reports.

Reason for the investigation were complaints from Indian Sikhs, who basically do not shave their beards. Canada has a relatively large Sikh-population many of them employed by the airline.

Air Canada is now changing the regulations, but requires a maximum beard length of 1.25 centimeters, in order to ensure a well-groomed appearance of the pilots. The Canadian Air Force may also take measures in response to the research results.

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* Origin: AVIATION HQ (2:292/854)