India soon ban pilots from using perfume and cologne

Flight attendant and pilot uniforms have, over the years, been subject to constantly-changing and often arbitrary rules. During the rise of aviation in the 1950s and 1960s, airlines relied on creating a "glamorous" image of jet travel and required their flight attendants to be female, single and weigh under 135 pounds.

While some of the most sexist requirements were phased out sooner or later (Australian airlines Qantas Airways  (QUBSF) - Get Free Report stopped asking their female flight attendants to wear makeup in June 2023), most airlines still have strict requirements around grooming and appearance.

Related: A major airline has found an unusual way to reuse flight attendants' old uniforms

"The fit of the uniform must reflect a professional appearance," reads one uniform guide that United Airlines  (UAL) - Get Free Report issued to its flight crew. "Extreme styles are not permitted. Unapproved alterations, such as cuffs or tapering of the uniform pants, are not permitted."

'Mouthwash, tooth gel, perfume or any such product which has alcoholic content'

While the uniform guidelines for most major airlines include a note saying that any perfume or cologne must be worn in moderation, the Office of the Director General of Civil Aviation in India is thinking of banning all flight crew fragrances outright.

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As first reported by Indian outlet The Hindu, the country is looking to add a new clause to its Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) by-laws.

"No crew member shall consume any drug/formulation or use any substance such as mouthwash/tooth gel/perfume or any such product which has alcoholic content," the proposed clause reads.

The change has less to do with scents aboard the plane as much as cracking down on any product that could have even a trace of alcohol. India has some of the strictest pilot screening laws in the world. Both pilots and flight attendants have to do a breathalyzer test before boarding each flight while, according to the Director General of Civil Aviation, heavy use of perfume could potentially trigger a false positive test or even be consumed after the test.

The average fragrance is a concentration of approximately 20% perfume oil and 80% ethyl alcohol. Some heavier colognes can have more than 90% alcohol.

Real reason India may soon ban all fragrances for flight attendants and pilots

"Alcohol present in body even in small quantities jeopardises flight safety on several counts and is likely to adversely affect an aviator well into the hangover period," India's current CAR rules read. According to the agency's numbers, 41 pilots and 116 flight attendants in India temporarily lost their licenses after testing positive for alcohol content in 2022.

In the U.S., pilots and flight crew are not tested before every flight but are subject to random screenings throughout the year. Sometimes, suspicion around someone's behavior can also prompt a check. In June 2023, Scottish authorities arrested a Delta  (DAL) - Get Free Report pilot who was supposed to take 260 people from Edinburgh to New York for having an elevated blood alcohol content in his system.

In the summer of 2021, a United  (UAL) - Get Free Report pilot was sentenced to 10 months in jail for showing up to a flight while intoxicated. An alcohol check was prompted by a bargoer who observed him drinking heavily the night before, recognized him as a pilot and posted about the incident on Twitter.