Airline Does Sniff Test on Armpits of Potential Pilots

[DiamondSmiles]

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*I wish more employers did this!*

Hainan Airlines in China is looking for pilots with no body odor and makes recruiters sniff the pits of poential employees. China's fourth largest airline recently traveled to the Shanxi province to sniff out potential pilots. Literally.

Hainan Airlines stipulated that they would not hire pilots with bad body odor, and the recruiters put their noses up to the jobseekers' pits to make sure no odor went undetected, SZNews reported on Monday.

It might seem weird to raise a stink about a pilot's body odor, but one recruiter justifed the sniff test by explaining that airline staff works closely with the public.

"No passenger wants to smell a pilot’s armpits," the recruiter said, according to Oddity Central. "And if they can keep their cool in this test, they aren’t going to sweat in the cockpit.”

The requirement was really the pits for one applicant, who passed every other test with flying colors, only to fail the odor exam.

"I was doomed by my armpits, which are always a bit whiffy," the unidentified recruit said, according to OrangeNews.

Hainan Airlines' other requirements for prospective pilots include 20/20 vision, a maximum height of 6' 2", and the ability to communicate in English.

Cleanliness has become something of an obsession in China in recent years. Earlier this year, officials in Beijing laid down a "two-fly maximum" to limit insects in the city's public toilets.

*I like the "two fly maximum limit", as well!*

[Megamel29]

I'll admit I haven't been on many flights but I don't recall ever smelling the pilot. What about the flight attendants? Seems to me they would interact with the passengers far more than the pilot.

[Darkest Angel]

Couldn't they just make showering & deo a requirement prior to flight?

[DiamondSmiles]

IF they have to test people, apparently some people don't think to shower and deodorize each day, and clean their navels.

It's amazing how many people don't know any better.

I would be so embarrassed and humiliated if I had to be told to shower and use deodorant. We had a guy at my last job who had no common sense.

He was an auditer and one of the branch managers had to call him in the office to mention his scent and lack of personal interaction skills. When you're going out representing a company, you have to make a good impression.

He also never gave his first name. He'd say, for example, "This is Mr. Smith, the auditor", which makes it seem like he's more important than the person he was calling.

When I made business calls, I always gave only my first name and assured the person on the other end, I was the only one there. It made it easier to have people I spoke with call me back so they didn't have to explain everything to another person. I hate when I have to do that!

[Spiffyfable]

I'd be out! I'm 6'3" so 99% of the Chinese Population that bumped into me would get a face-full/mouth-full of my hairy man pits

[DiamondSmiles]

Originally Posted by Spiffyfable

I'd be out! I'm 6'3" so 99% of the Chinese Population that bumped into me would get a face-full/mouth-full of my hairy man pits

It's probably because most Asian people are small statured. It may be for your own comfort.

I'm never flown out of the country so I don't know if their planes are smaller than they are in other countries.

[ices]

Ok you get to smell my arm pits if I get to smell your fanny.

If your fanny smells like the tuna I had for dinner then I wont work for you.

If it is hairy and gnarly, I will not work for you.

[Rudebwoy]

Sniffing armpits. Best job ever!
/sarcasm