In fact, individuals with full beards are able to obtain a better seal than those who shave, a fact which has been proven time and time again - by the Russians.
Yeah....I'm sold. Especially if the Russians say so. Sorry.....I'd rather buy into the "myth" my drill instructors taught me while in basic.
“In fact, individuals with full beards are able to obtain a better seal than those who shave”
This would certainly be news to the FAA. It is noteworthy that one doesn’t see any US airline pilots sporting a beard (it is the LAW). Beards have been banned, in the cockpit, for years precisely to ensure a seal to the quick donning oxygen masks. Oxygen is a nice thing to have in a depressurization. Most passengers don’t object to the policy, even if they’re Sikhs.
With regard to accomodations, you can see plenty of WWII pictures with beardless Sikh soldiers marching about. There is no doubt that Sikhs make great warriors (both men and women). The presence, or absence of a beard (especially in women) has no bearing on the worth of the soldier. ;-)
I know you didn’t make the quote at the top of the page. I just wanted to keep it in context.