Actually, by not getting a salute he is not assured the aircraft is clear. I bet it is in most airline handbooks. So while it is a inconvenience to you, he was covering is own butt.

.......and doing his job.

I ain't the salute but the nose wheel steering bypass pin.

uh, no. It seems the capt. was insisting on an actual, military style, salute. If that's the case. TOOL.

I'm sure that's not the case, Mike. On a 757 or anything bigger, the tug is under the nose. If not paying attention or heads down when they leave, there is no way to be certain no one is under there or in front of the aircraft.

I know this thread is reserved for the "Delta pilot haters" and believe me, there are some guys that make it easy to hate us, but this is a requirement for us and even if we miss the salute because we are busy doing something else, making someone come out to visually clear us is better than killing someone.

Ditto, no salute = no taxi at DAL. Sometimes the ramper just doesn't salute and other times he does but doesn't ensure it is returned. We just had some quarterly training on this very thing I believe.

I've had them either forget to salute/just walk off, or not ensure that we saw it before... better safe than sorry to get them back out there to do it again!

From Delta Poolie thread:

So you're dying to start work with a company you just can't resist (incorrectly) bashing on the interwebs? Welcome aboard, hope you can hide your disdain for at least your 1st year.

Maybe his TOTD comment was for the tug driver. He said thanks to the delta captain for getting the salute. Thanks for sticking to sop.

Nice find! I wonder if Capt Tunes will be on a lot of no fly lists in five years.