Clapping on landing

[Spitoon]

I've just done what I would call a couple of holiday flights as opposed to the usual sort of trips that I do.

Haven't done a holiday flight for many years......but what's with the clapping on landing????? (From the passengers, I mean.)

[Eagle402]

The clapping on landing is common place all over Europe but especially Poland and Italy. Possibly Catholic superstition ?! Not just charter either - happens on scheduled too.

Eagle402

[Nightstop]

:D We received a round of applause after landing today in Funchal following a typically lively approach. I'm not sure if it was directed towards my performance or just an expression of relief that everyone had arrived safely! It was nice anyway and much appreciated, always a pleasure to have such customers on board and to have been of service :).

[vapilot2004]

Has anyone ever been booed? :p

[bucket_and_spade]

I got a taking-the-p**s applause after a particularly, erm, "positive" landing at Fuerteventura a few weeks ago :D

I blame the slope in the runway!

The good news is that the company are covering the crew's physio and many will hopefully return to duties over the coming months...

[John Hill]

It is common enough at Wellington, NZ, which is a city blessed with a never ending supply of quickly moving fresh air. Landings in a stiff northerly can be very interesting!:)

[dicksorchard]

Being a very regular pax i have experienced the clapping on arrival syndrome on numerous occaisions and at times i have been scared sh..less by its furiosity .

I personally believe that there are a combination of factors behind a pax going into orgasmic clapping mode .

1/ They are still in awe of pilots & salute your incredible wit & tenacity & superb flying ability and that like a god the fact that you got your your wings means you shud be worshipped .
( if only they knew that you sometimes have a snooze at 35,000 ft while the auto-pilot continues flying the plane )

2/ They are so happy to be as far away as possible from the local ferals/chavs that on landing a wave of euphoria takes over and they cannot believe they have actually managed to escape .

3/They truly believe that their life is in your hands but they are are scared ****less by flying and the thought that the 2 up front in the cockpit might actually be human and therefore not so perfect ( we all make mistakes ) so when rubber hits tarmac its time to celebrate survival .

4/ It could be they are all pissed ?

5/ That they are all in fact aviation experts and as such know a good landing from a dodgy one which dos'nt really matter as you will get a loud round of applause for either !

6/They love you for just being you and want to show their apreciation .

the list is endless just like the bleedin clapping in my ears .
it annoys me and i dont know why ?

[Bullethead]

Another odd reaction at the instant of touchdown, according to the C/C, is to barf. Apparently the nervous fliers suddenly find release.

Rgards,
BH.

[grumpysnail]

I've noticed this as passenger on some flights, seems to me to be cultural though with my limited sampling I may well be wrong. Lots of clapping on internal flights in South America though I've also noticed it through mainland Europe and China.

Oddest one was an Singapore A380 flight SYD-SIN the day after world youth "day" finished. A couple of nuns at the front of main deck economy started clapping and it took about two seconds for the remainder of the cabin to join them. Don't usually get much applause on that flight but perhaps the faithful were still in party mode...

[Rainboe]

I was startled on a Polish flight as passenger when everyone around me started clapping. If they are going to clap, then the converse is true, they should boo a hard landing. I'd rather they did nothing but frantically crossed themselves (if they think that will be of any help, good for them!).

[grumpysnail]

(snip) ...they should boo a hard landing. (snip)
After reading about the reasons behind positive arrivals on the 737 I'm not sure what qualifies as good/bad. I guess as long as we get off via the airbridge it's a good 'un.

[Grasscarp]

One night after a particularly hard landing at Heathrow a young boy went "aaaaggggghhhhh". Caused a lot of laughter.

[Fantome]

Years ago in the days of a curtain, of sorts, sequestering the cockpit of the DC-3, my captain pulled off his usual greaser on return home after a long charter. When he heard the applause he languidly picked up the blower and said, "Don't bloody well clap . Throw money." Legend has it was he who said over the PA on descent into Charleville, and scanning the barren, drought afflicted landscape, "We'll be landing in ten or so minutes. Don't know why anyone'd be interested, but if you're sitting on the right you might just make out Blackall. If you're on the left, you'll see fark all."

[Kolossi]

A couple of months back I was on a FlyBe from LGW to Belfast City. During pushback, those who werent reading a magazine, plugged into MP3s or finishing their phone conversations heard the female Captain introduce herself, to no audible reaction from the cabin (why should there be! :ok:).

Shortly before passing over the irish cost, we pitched down with speedbrakes/spoilers (sorry, just slf so don't know the correct terms) deployed. They stayed out until just before passing over the airport fence! The plane was rocking and rolling on final and flaps were deployed late (I think last position change again just before going over the fence).

To use a quote above it was a very "positive" landing (hardly surprising following the less-than-stable approach) and followed by hard braking, a scratching sound as if we'd locked up the brakes (is this possible, aren't there anti-lock systems?), thrown back in seats as brakes released, back forward as reengaged, obvious rudder/nosewheel action until finally at taxiing speed. :eek::eek::eek:

In fairness I guess the late descent may have been an ATC issue, but I figured it must be very gusty to cause the rocking and rolling and swerving, but in fact on leaving the terminal it was the stillest of still nights.

Never felt so much like clapping after a landing - but in relief, not in honour of the pilot flying!

Anyway, the only audible reaction in the cockpit was from a late teenager behind me, with perfect comic timing some seconds after it had all calmed down - "Woman driver"!!!!

PS - I don't defend the remark, but it did make me laugh. And yes, I realise that it's quite likely that the captain would not have been the pilot flying the landing but it would have been the (presumably) male f/o.

[Dupre]

I get applause every now and then in my job as a piston single driver :D:D:D. I really get a kick out of it and usually give the pax some sort of bow :)

The funniest was landing a 206 one day... was a little bit fast and while the flare was at a perfect height, it was quite long. Shortly before touchdown the front RHS pax said with her american accent "Oh, that was a great landing".

I couldn't resist turning to her and chirping "Don't congratulate me yet... we're not actually on the ground!"

Needless to say the touchdown was smooth (as always:E )

[EI-CFC]

Flying on an EI flight from AMS - DUB the other week, with particularly rough weather coming into DUB which made for a bumpy descent. We touched down and one passenger broke into rapturous applause. Only one passenger. Everyone else just kind of looked at her and it turned into "clap..clap...clap....clap.....clap......clap.......clap *silence" from that passenger :D

[slip and turn]

One night after a particularly hard landing at Heathrow a young boy went "aaaaggggghhhhh". Caused a lot of laughter. ... and that was just on the flightdeck? :p

[Kerosine]

"clap..clap...clap....clap.....clap......clap..... ..clap *silence" from that passenger

Lol, I can just imagine that :}

Can the pilots on jets even hear the clapping anyway?

[Rainboe]

No. But you can hear tantrums, and that from the flight attendants!

[DingerX]

About a decade ago, I was in an A320 into FCO that initiated a rather abrupt go-around (allegedly due to another aircraft on the runway). #1 stalled and good, with flames shooting out the front and the whole airframe shaking as if it'd been smacked with a bat. The left side of the plane broke out into spontaneous applause. No, I don't know why they did that.

[skydiver69]

A domestic flight with some Iranian airlines often starts with a religious blessing invoking the name of Allah to provide a safe flight!

[Eagle402]

Skydiver69

If my experience as pax with PIA many moons ago is anything to go by, the cockpit briefing is concluded with an 'Inshallah" to conclude the "We will be arriving at London Heathrow/Paris at 1500 local"! Always amused me that Boeing and Pratt & Whitney's finest required a blessing to get us there safe and sound.

Having said that I flew LHR - KRT once (having been bumped off a BA VC10!) on a Sudan Air 707 and the blessing was certainly a good call !

Eagle402,

[G SXTY]

My landings are generally followed by a hushed silence . . .

[Glamgirl]

My view on landings...

If I know the pilot well, I might take the mick if it's a bit "positive".

Most of the time though, I defend our pilots and/or don't make smart alec remarks about landings, purely because I don't know how to fly a plane, so who am I to criticise (sp?)

Gg

[frequentflyer2]

Last month we flew with Thomas Cook from Belfast to Palma. We landed in glorious sunshine but there were one or two very minor bumps during the approach which were enough to cause gasps and nervous laughter among some of the less frequent fliers. Applause broke out in the cabin following one of the smoothest landings I've ever experienced.
Ten days later, during the return flight, there was some more 'positive' turbulence as we approached Aldergrove over Newtownabbey. Indeed it was violent enough to throw a flight attendant who was just about to sit down from one side of the galley to the other. On this occasion, however, there was no applause when the wheels made contact with the runway. Perhaps people returning from holiday feel less inclined to clap.
Last Monday we flew from Belfast City to Newcastle with Flybe. The pilot warned us about bumpy conditions and although they were by no means the worst we had ever experienced the seatbelt sign remained on for the duration of the flight which was indeed a little rough at times. Despite the conditions the crew managed a very smooth touchdown but this remained unacknowledged by the Monday morning business travellers.
The cabin also remained resolutely silent following our safe arrival back at BHD last Thursday.

[Say again s l o w l y]

An old family friend who's no longer with us, was telling a story about how he'd done a miner's charter back in the early 70's. He was with Dan Air.

At the end of the utterly uneventful flight, the lead chap from the union stood up, whipped his cap off and shouted "C'mon now lad's. Whip round for the driver!"

He tried to tell them it was utterly unnecessary, but they were having none of it, so he donated the money to the miners welfare charity instead.

Why don't we get pax like that now. Now we NEED the money up the front!

[dicksorchard]

One of the funniest things that i have ever seen whilst on an aircraft was during one of my regular flights to Gerona .It was on a Ryanair special return out of Liverpool .

We call them Special's because the flights are usually packed with Ciggy smugglers !

I had the misfortune to have a gang of 6 very noisy , slightly inebriated , chavtastic ciggy smugglers sitting directly in front of me . Twas all in good spirit but just a bit noisy . These where big guys who looked & acted like real hardcase's .

As the flight progressed towards the Pyrenee's we encountered some light air turbulence and said hardcase's where making jokes , doing roller coaster rider impressions , arms up in the air etc etc

Everyone onboard was getting peeved with the noise & boisterous behaviour out of this motley que when once again the seatbelt sign went on . The stewardess came along to ensure they had their belts on when the aicraft lurched to the right the poor hosty ended up on one of the chap's laps to much hooraying etc but a lot of people where starting to get nervous and the last thing we needed was a bunch of loud pissheads taking the mick .

The turbulence got progessivly worse and the aircraft got quieter & quieter .
There was a lot of lurching & dipping and a few banging noise's going on .
when all of a sudden the silence of the moment was broken by a loud fearfull voice screaming

" Johno make it stop lad - i don't like it "

Everyone turned round to see this big hard case absolutly terrified clinging to his mate practically hysterical . The whole cabin burst out laughing i mean what was poor Johno supposed to be able to do about it ? It broke the ice & people seemed to forget about the turbulence

Anyway when we landed to a round of the loudest clapping that i have ever heard .
Dont know if they were saluting the captains airmanship or the scaredycat hardcase for putting on a good show .

The comedy did'nt stop there either i was queing in Gerona airport to book in for my flight back to the pool when i noticed two beautifull , angelic little girls aged about 4. Twins both carrying their own little barbie suitcase's . Bored whilst waiting for the long que to go down they decided to promptly open their suitcase's to get out their toys and what fell to the ground ?

10 sleeves of lambert & Butler !! and that was in each suitcase .

Mummy & daddy were horrified to say the least - the crowd was in hysterics especially when one of the little girls shouted " mum someones stole my toys "
A round of applaue resounded around the airport . The spanish where looking at us brits as if we where mad !

Don't you just love flying

[Guest 112233]

Landings , Clapping - Hugh ! - As long as you can walk away from one - Its a good one - All but one of the ones I have had, fit in this catagory. The other, well a beautiful view of Logh Neagh, that Thursday evening -Gusty wind though - Short Runway at Aldergrove - the 1-11 400 series was a very strongly built aircraft - I will testify to this from a vertical perspective - Seat 4C -near the front - Teeth met upper lip with a vengence - and yes I was going to a Funeral.

CATIII

[tezzer]

After a particularily "positive" landing on one of FRA's Dornier228's one of the wags in the back piped up over the intercom "not a bad landing..."

Followed by "for a carrier pilot".

Oh how we laughed !

[Romeo India Xray]

In RIXland we still get clapping on most sectors (outbound or return). I just dont get it!!! The slightest eduction in things aviation (or simply reading the morning papers) should be enough for people to realise that roll out is the time you are most likely to have an incident. :ugh:

Raptuous applause while shooting off the end and into the localizer array at 100kts - now that is the stuff of a good comedy film :\

RIX

[VAFFPAX]

If it's a really rough approach (and I do mean rough), and the landing is smooth as silk, that deserves applause IMO.

:-)

S.

[bplgaz]

Must say I refuse to join in the clapping, but I do respect the crews if they manage to pull of a greaser.
Equally, if, like my last flight on MON, the landing is a stinker after a 19 hour delay, I will quietly question the clapping of the SLF around me to my travelling companion.
Best final approach incident I can remember was on a Jet2 flight from BLK to AMS.
The chavtastic passengers were still standing on final, despite warnings from the crew.
Captain came on and gave a briefing along the lines of "I understand some of you are still standing in the cabin.
"If you don't sit down now and fasten your seatbelts, we'll go around, and we'll keep going around until you bloody well sit down."
Needless to say, on roll out the chavs were out of their seats again.
Cue a more than gentle application of the brakes on the taxiway to remind them exactly what the seatbelts are for.

[Mark in CA]

Here in the states, we used to say the smooth landings were former Air Force pilots, while the hard landings were Navy (carriers, I suppose).

My "funniest" landing experience was at Lindbergh Field (SAN), which sits in a bowl and has a single, very short runway and an odd approach that takes you through the downtown high rise buildings. Not much room for error.

The pilot of this particular flight (I think it was a DC-9 or MD-80), flubbed the flair and floated the landing, and eventually dove for the runway resulting in a very positive placement and very hard braking. As we turned off the runway and taxied to the gate, the FA started her welcome announcement with "Now that we have successfully attacked Lindbergh Field, welcome to San Diego." Everyone burst out laughing.

On other flights, every time I've congratulated the pilot on icing the landing, they've always attributed it to luck.

[BelArgUSA]

Reminds me of a World Airways JFK landing on 13R, a DC-10... the 1980s...
Or was it in Boston...? - Cannot recall...
xxx
Was a smooth landing, a real "kisser" (probably 5,000 ft down the runway)...
The entire cabin applauded - What a "great landing" - So smooth...
A greaser, really... Hooray - what a great pilot...
Went-on applauding, until the airplane ended with the nose in the ocean... very gently.
They had to stop the ovations, to evacuate the airplane, down the slides...
Almost everyone got out to safely...
Except 2 passengers (an old couple) exited L1-R1 (?) and probably could not swim.
xxx
Apparently, all that was on the cockpit voice recorder.
In some cases, consider a US Navy style "arrival"...
Get the Senior F/A with her garter belt and bra down her ankles to go to the cockpit...
To ask the guys up-front - "who did THIS landing...?"
xxx
:)
Happy contrails

[howard2107]

When i was in the RAF a few moons ago a few of us went to Benidorm on the lash for a couple of weeks. One of us, a broad scouse lad 6 foot tall 15 stone rugby player, had never flown before, so during the descent before the seatbelt lights came on we told him that it was customary to have a collection for the driver, he duly took off his baseball cap and went from front to back collecting for the `driver `(much to the amusement of the cabin crew and his `mates!`)from most of the 130 or so people on board, some miseable old ba***ard from Barnsley spoit the fun though by informing him "ow thas not on`t bus to brid tha nos"

[VAFFPAX]

Howard, that's cruel. But funny nonetheless. Bless the poor sod. :-)

S.

[Etalon]

On a slightly related note, ryan air do this little jingle and then a little recorded announcement when they have an on time arrival. First time I heard this, it was after a rather hard landing. I thought the jingle was one of the cabin crew taking this piss :)

[marchino61]

Over the years I have noticed the clapping getting less frequent as more people get used to flying, but it did happen on a flight into LHR a couple of years ago.

Visibility was practically zero and the cloud was so low you could not see the runway until you landed on it. As we did so, a round of applause broke out.

Being a natural cynic, I said to the person next to me: "If I really believed the pilot landed the aircraft, I'd want to have a go at him for being so reckless, not clap him! I damn well hope the computer did it!".

[TightSlot]

"If I really believed the pilot landed the aircraft, I'd want to have a go at him for being so reckless, not clap him! I damn well hope the computer did it!".

What a happy little soul you must be to sit next to, marchino - :)

[marchino61]

Thanks, Tightslot ;-) You disagree with my analysis or just my attitude?

[G SXTY]

Both, probably . . .

"If I really believed the pilot landed the aircraft, I'd want to have a go at him for being so reckless

In which case I'm sure you'd be horrified to learn that pilots (as opposed to computers) frequently land aircraft with a cloudbase of 100' and visibility of 300 metres. If you think that's reckless, please tell the CAA.

As for preferring the 'computer' to land the aeroplane, I've yet to meet an autopilot with a survival instinct as strong as my own.

[Abusing_the_sky]

Quote:
"If I really believed the pilot landed the aircraft, I'd want to have a go at him for being so reckless

Hold on, aren't you that "gent" who, on disembarking the other day, shouted at me that that was a horrible landing and you want "a word with someone in charge"?
:oh: yes it's you, i remember it's you because i kindly suggested YOU DO THE LANDING NEXT TIME!:ok:

[BaronChotzinoff]

One flight I was on the pilot took the clapping and shouts of "encore" (which actually referred sarcastically to the number of bounces the wheels took on landing) so much to heart that he took off again and went round for a repeat performance.

To be honest, I don't think he lasted long in the job.

[Final 3 Greens]

People who clap on landing are showing that they do not often travel and lack sophisticatioin or they are Americans.

Possibly it is too hard to differentiate between the two groups.

[Put1992]

YouTube - Ryanair Landing (With a mad crowd) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdbh3gOUoaQ)

Come on, that is hilarious

[marchino61]

@G SXTY - the conditions were much worse than those you mention. Vis was less than 50m and ceiling was practically on the ground. Does the pilot land it in those conditions?

@ Abusing the sky - no ,that was not me. I have never spoken to flight crew (except my mate at Air NZ when off duty).

[dicksorchard]

Put1992 (http://www.pprune.org/members/151706-put1992)

Come on, that is hilarious

Would'nt have been funny if you where sittin behind the noisy gets .
Imagine if you where i nervous flyer ?

situation could have turned nasty !

Ie Nervous airline passenger assaults ******** with a camera !!

I think i wud rather throw myself off a tower block then to have to endure a flight with that din ringing in my ears .

I thought you wer'nt supposed to have cameras etc turned on whilst descending or taking off ? or am i getting mixed up ?

[Put1992]

Would'nt have been funny if you where sittin behind the noisy gets .
Imagine if you where i nervous flyer ?

situation could have turned nasty !

Ie Nervous airline passenger assaults ******** with a camera !!

I think i wud rather throw myself off a tower block then to have to endure a flight with that din ringing in my ears .

I thought you wer'nt supposed to have cameras etc turned on whilst descending or taking off ? or am i getting mixed up ?

You make a good point, but in this instance, it didnt happen, So I was just saying the video was quite funny.I doubt they kept it up for a 2+ hour flight. Imagine the "urhhhhhhhhhh!" leading up from the climb to cruise level. Can't really see them being able to do that:cool:

Electronic devices are generally not allowed to be used on takeoff and landing. It's debateable why exactly