Does aviation MOSs have relaxed grooming standards?

When I was in Honduras, the female aviators didn't have long hair. All of them had short hair. That being said, I can see both sides to the issue. As others have said, if she wasn't on the Line yet, she should have had it up. But, it also appears that the Warrant was willing to take the sabot rounds for her. You did the right thing.

There are not relaxed grooming standards in Aviation (1 maybe 2 units in Aviation have it). That being said, female pilots do take it down to fly. Seeing as she isn't even on the apron yet....she should have it up.

Female pilots and crew chiefs wear a ponytail when performing flight duties because their heads do not properly fit in the flight helmet if it’s in a bun. We’re you correct for correcting her? “Sure.” I’m more concerned about getting out to the aircraft, pre-flighting, and making sure we have all of our required gear. So, would I call out one of my crew chiefs or pilots if they showed up with a pony tail if we’re scheduled to fly? Absolutely not. There are more important things.

She should at least be wearing a cover on her head like the others around her.

Interesting photo. My take, she has a flight helmet immediately in front of her. Years ago when I was flying, our helmets contained "poured" liners where a form of the inside of the helmet was fitted to our head, then filled with a foam that provided a protective layer between the head and the helmet. This would preclude hair piled on top of the head since it would decrease the amount of protective filler. All that said, I always had a cover of some sort shoved in my lower leg pocket of my light suit or shoved in some compartment of the aircraft.

Read through the comments. Here is the short answer for you. The HUG-56 is fitted a certain way. Female hair is not designed to be under the helmet. Does not fit correctly. It’s much more encompassing than an ACH. As far as the no head gear, not authorized around aircraft as a FOD issue. We never wear headgear on a flight line. And before someone mentions it. Boots are required to be un-bloused and over the boots for fire protection.

I was an USAF aircrew life support officer. Aircrew had custom fit helmets they were required to wear in some aircraft and some jobs. With her hair in a bun or on top of her head the helmet wouldn’t fit or provide the protection needed. The pony tail is a practical solution. Such long hair presents other safety issues. I think she should adopt a short hair style that meets regs all the time.

Nope grooming standards are Army wide. As far as flying though, yes, females are allowed to wear their hair down. The reference you seek is actually from a technical manual for the flight helmet.
TM 1-1680-377-13&P-1 Page 0026 00-1 Under the NOTE
• Operator/wearer with long hair should arrange their hair so that it lies flat against the head to allow the helmet and the helmet apex strap to lay flat against the head. Elevated hair styles, such as buns or French braids, will prevent proper fitting of the helmet.
HOWEVER, in the same NOTE
• During flight, long length hair will be tucked inside the Army Aircrew Combat Uniform (A2CU)or equivalent coat. If hair securing devices are used, it will be positioned below the nape strap with hair tucked inside the A2CU or equivalent coat and comply with the guidelines stated in AR670-1, Paragraph 3-2a(3)(e).
Now to this photo, if it is indeed a snapshot of the situation, you absolutely have the authority to make an on the spot correction. The intent for these guidelines are for safety and comfort WHILE PERFORMING flight duties, not while smoking and joking waiting to go to the flight line. I get it, my wife is in aviation as well, I’m sure it is a pain in the ass having to deal with your hair constantly, however laziness does not preclude you from adhering to the regulation.

SSG(P) (Join to see): Dear Cody, if I may indeed address you by your first name: in Basic Training, all of us young ladies got our hair cut really short.

Did you take time to ask why she had her hair in a ponytail or did you just jump to the conclusion she was deliberately breaking grooming standards? Did she have permission that allowed her to wear her hair this way? You are not at fault for correcting the solider but maybe you should have gone just a step further to see if her Commander authorized this when she is flying. Regulations can't cover everything as you well know.