Are we the only ones who clap?

[Chirimoya]

True, Chiri, but I was in a single engine Cherokee & I WAS the pilot (well 1 of 2) & I was too busy fighting the turbulence to be able to take my hands off the stick to clap myself!!
Hong Kong old airport was wonderful........I've flown in the cockpit of a 707 for a nighttime landing there, straight down the high street, mountains on one side. And no the Captain didn't let me do that landing, even though he broke every other rule in the book. But that was in the 1970s.......a bit different now! I don't think any of the British passengers clapped though.

The turbulence the pilots have to fight against on that runway is the bit the passengers are not aware of, and is probably more scary than the sea at either end or the 1,300 feet of sheer rockface a couple of hundred yards away. Just behind the cemetery, in fact. My brother in law is an ATC there and he showed me a thermal image of the wind currents. Good thing I usually end up flying from Malaga.

They didn't clap landing in Hong Kong? Maybe because everyone is locked in brace position? I marvel at the description of being able to see the whites of the eyes of the residents of the skyscrapers as the plane flies between the buildings.

I find it strange that people applaud at the moment of touch-down. I find those few moments when it is not yet clear that the plane is going to come to a safe halt almost the most hair-raising part of the flight. If I feel inclined to show my appreciation it would be at that point.

 

[Talldrink]

I took one of those 'Air Buses' (should be called Air Cars, although I think my Honda Accord has more headroom) from West Palm Beach to the Bahamas - and I clapped for about 5 minutes after we landed because of HOW scary that ride was.

It sounded like we were on a small plane that was propelled by fans and every once in a while, it seemed que se fue la luz. The pilots left the curtain (yes, the curtain) open and we were able to see the landing strip head on. The thing was gliding back and forth so much I thought we were going to land upside down at any point. NEVER AGAIN!!

Thats the first time I clapped with so much joy in a non-Dominican flight...

 

[Gregg]

only tourists clap

i've logged a few miles in my work and found that business flights on scheduled airlines rarely have clapping. this happens only if there is a predominance of tourists onboard. business travellers usually act a little embarassed by the clapping.

on the charter flights they always clap.

 

[Talldrink]

i've logged a few miles in my work and found that business flights on scheduled airlines rarely have clapping. this happens only if there is a predominance of tourists onboard. business travellers usually act a little embarassed by the clapping.

on the charter flights they always clap.

I could not see myself clapping arriving in Atlanta or Chicago! :nervous:

 

[Lambada]

The turbulence the pilots have to fight against on that runway is the bit the passengers are not aware of, and is probably more scary than the sea at either end or the 1,300 feet of sheer rockface a couple of hundred yards away. Just behind the cemetery, in fact. My brother in law is an ATC there and he showed me a thermal image of the wind currents. Good thing I usually end up flying from Malaga.

They didn't clap landing in Hong Kong? Maybe because everyone is locked in brace position? I marvel at the description of being able to see the whites of the eyes of the residents of the skyscrapers as the plane flies between the buildings.

I find it strange that people applaud at the moment of touch-down. I find those few moments when it is not yet clear that the plane is going to come to a safe halt almost the most hair-raising part of the flight. If I feel inclined to show my appreciation it would be at that point.

No they didn't clap in HK........it was a British Caledonian schedule flight, full of Brit. business travellers! Flown by an ex WWII pilot, very used to seat of pants stuff, he flew a 707 like it was a Spitfire, biggest thrill for me, I just loved every minute!
To be honest, I know the clapping is quasi-cultural but it has always seemed like a bit of an insult to the pilot to me, like it is almost a miracle he got it down when it is his everyday job!!

 

[liam1]

when we land in the DR, everybody claps, when we land back in toronto hardly anyone.