Do you "wave"?
06-17-2009, 08:36 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2006
Posts: 585
I wave, open hand, it's the only one not used as a gang symbol.
And it's easier for the little kids to see. Some of them just light up when a REAL PILOT waves back to them or waves first, and the parent points out to the kid who is waving to them.
When I am not about to grab the controls to save life and property, I'll wave, full arm open hand, at the controllers too. A corporate pilot started me on that one and it always seems to be a hit with the controllers.
I will wave at ops, the fire guys, the airport police, and the EMTs. Those guys are the ones that'll be scraping my butt off from the runway should things go wrong, I want them to be motivated to doing so.
And it's easier for the little kids to see. Some of them just light up when a REAL PILOT waves back to them or waves first, and the parent points out to the kid who is waving to them.
When I am not about to grab the controls to save life and property, I'll wave, full arm open hand, at the controllers too. A corporate pilot started me on that one and it always seems to be a hit with the controllers.
I will wave at ops, the fire guys, the airport police, and the EMTs. Those guys are the ones that'll be scraping my butt off from the runway should things go wrong, I want them to be motivated to doing so.
06-17-2009, 08:57 AM
#14
Flying Farmer
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: Turbo-props' and John Deere's
Posts: 3,160
I'll wave when someone looks my way, we're crossing, etc..
Same as the "biker-wave." Although I never understood it completely. I do sometimes, other times when they are across a 4-8 lane interstate, I just laugh. Are these guys just looking for people to associate with? Some "hardcore" types won't wave at me when I'm on my sportbike(geared up) or even on my cruiser because I wear full-face helmet, ballistic(nylon) jacket, and gloves 99%+ of the time
Same as the "biker-wave." Although I never understood it completely. I do sometimes, other times when they are across a 4-8 lane interstate, I just laugh. Are these guys just looking for people to associate with? Some "hardcore" types won't wave at me when I'm on my sportbike(geared up) or even on my cruiser because I wear full-face helmet, ballistic(nylon) jacket, and gloves 99%+ of the time
06-17-2009, 05:37 PM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2008
Posts: 999
I got two points on this...
1) Anyone ever notice that if you're in the cockpit that initiates the wave and the other cockpit just stares or doesn't even see, the series is followed up by "A-hole"
2) I've only really noticed this at ORD, but I think it has something to do with the inbound and outbound ground freqs. Anytime there is another airplane converging with yours on the ground, opposite directions, or converging at intersecting taxiways or just taxing somewhere in general, the captain always sees them and says almost verbatim, "Aw, whats this a-hole doin'?"
1) Anyone ever notice that if you're in the cockpit that initiates the wave and the other cockpit just stares or doesn't even see, the series is followed up by "A-hole"
2) I've only really noticed this at ORD, but I think it has something to do with the inbound and outbound ground freqs. Anytime there is another airplane converging with yours on the ground, opposite directions, or converging at intersecting taxiways or just taxing somewhere in general, the captain always sees them and says almost verbatim, "Aw, whats this a-hole doin'?"
06-18-2009, 04:37 AM
#17
Moderator
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: ATP, CFI etc.
Posts: 6,056
I'll wave when someone looks my way, we're crossing, etc..
Same as the "biker-wave." Although I never understood it completely. I do sometimes, other times when they are across a 4-8 lane interstate, I just laugh. Are these guys just looking for people to associate with? Some "hardcore" types won't wave at me when I'm on my sportbike(geared up) or even on my cruiser because I wear full-face helmet, ballistic(nylon) jacket, and gloves 99%+ of the time
Same as the "biker-wave." Although I never understood it completely. I do sometimes, other times when they are across a 4-8 lane interstate, I just laugh. Are these guys just looking for people to associate with? Some "hardcore" types won't wave at me when I'm on my sportbike(geared up) or even on my cruiser because I wear full-face helmet, ballistic(nylon) jacket, and gloves 99%+ of the time
My understanding is that it means "keep the wheels down and keep your head up". Bikers have a special imperative to watch out for their safety. It is a downward open-handed wave, not the upward wave a pilot or firefighter does. It has nothing to do with bike, age, sex, or any other classification other than being a biker. I quit riding sport bikes because I realized it would eventually impact my flying career, but I remember getting those waves all the time.
