No Water Cannon Salute in STL for Capt
 

My father in law retired today from AA, former TWA. 40 years of service. I was lucky to be in the jumpseat. Unfortunately STL CFR couldn’t “accommodate” any trucks for his hose down. Just a regular taxi to the gate. Obviously a disappointment, I was pretty ****ed. Get someone out there with squirt guns at least He played it off as a pro. It’s something we probably all fantasize about. Just wondering what you guys\girls would think if they weren’t available? Such a let down after 40 years and you can’t a nice send off. Discuss

My office did it for me when I retired, to the point of generating a flight so I could taxi in! It was great to be met by everyone including the chief of the Departmrnt.


GF

Did you call a waambulance? ��

It’s like insisting that servers at restaurants come sing “Happy Birthday” to every birthday guest. While it’s nice that they can occasionally do that, it’s not their job.

Congrats on the retirement.

I was thinking about the logistics. How do you coordinate this ? Do you land and call ground and ask for a water salute or do you plan it a week or so ahead - ie call the airport fire chief directly and request it and give the flight details?

Kinda like reservations for a party at a restaurant. Anyone with experience on this .....

Congrats on making it 40 years at the same place. - more or less ...

You do realize that in the coming years, there is set to be an average of 5+/day retirements amongst all carriers. Do you expect the trucks to be out there for every single one, every single day? That is a lot of hose-downs.

At least one airport (I’m looking at you, DTW) has stopped doing it. I heard they caused some engine damage.

I was on the jumpseat for my Dad’s last flight and they did it on taxi out. Thanks LGA!

My final canceled, I deadheaded back watching "When Harry Met Sally" with a tea cup of Scotch. (In uniform, did a body good.):D

My final flight in the military was the most disappointing event of my life. Got the hose down but had a spiteful wife that didn’t bring out the kids. Hopefully the airline retirement ends up better

This is awful. I’m sorry and I’m sure your next wife will be better.

Call the FD ahead, pass on the flight info and the request. If they will do it, they take care of the rest. My fini was in January in NE, so the first time was cancelled when the FD told the office, “it’s 10 degrees, what do you think will happen?” A few days later, it warmed up.

You can also call an ARTCC or Gander OAC and they can send a a surprise CPDLC congratulations. Kinda cool.

C37AFE,

Don’t feel bad, my fini in the F-100 was a flight to the Boneyard, my fini in the A-10, I got to eject and in the C-5, I got a HQ AMC Stan/Eval check. He took pity on me seeing as I was leaving at the end of the week.


GF