Biker Wave for Airline Pilots
 

We need some sort of standard wave for airline pilots in passing at airline terminals. Ya know, kinda like Bikers have. Out riding my Harley we have a standard Biker's Wave.

What's airline pilot protocol? - Own metal to own metal, and to other metal. Head nod? Wink? Sad face?

http://pomomusings.com/wp-content/up...09/07/Wave.jpg

Awkward-pretend-I-don't-see-them face

Doesn't Compass already have a standard wave?

You don't feel special enough, strutting around in your uniform? There needs be some secret handshake?

It's not a frat. School's out. It's a job. You're another dime-a-dozen putz headed to work, and that's it.

How about a ticker tape parade? Maybe a flashing sign that says "look at me, I'm a pilot?" Maybe a beanie with a propeller on top in case anyone doesn't get the hint from the uniform?

https://giphy.com/gifs/wave-jim-carrey-hi-VdIOjSRaMYxdS

Edit: Not very funny when I don’t know how to properly post a giph, muhbad.

Great idea. I nominate this as our secret handshake: https://twitter.com/ComedyCentral/st...74892928290818

It’s called the “pilot-nod”

Handshakes
 

We already have several - my favorite is “no ASAPs on this trip, ok?”

This one goes well with a uniform.....:D

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pPDu4q4rfeI

Yeah exactly, I feel like everyone does the smile and nod, or the occasional "Hey, how're ya doin'".

Tried the pilot-nod to a few Delta pilots and it didn't go well... Maybe I should wear my hat more.

It depends. Half will nod back. Half will try to kill your soul.

You can't tell who will do what by looking at them. You just have to try. Bring some garlic and a cross.

Awkwardly long eye contact fixes that every time.

Make sure your eyes well up with tears. The puppy dog effect goes a long way.

I prefer overt domination.

Just throw up the devil's horns...rock star status like. Pilot AF baby 😉

I usually raise arms like wings and rock them from side to side.

Buddy, I know I give the nod to all pilots. And “incognito” commuters. We all know who they are when we see em. It’s not a Delta thing. Possibly you spend too much time in ATL?

You did that to me the other day. I thought you were retarded and you weren’t even wearing your foam helmet.
Sorry, I mistook you for someone else.

One finger is all you need to wave. It's understood globally.

Like that tool GoJet CA a few years back that posted videos of himself making a fool of himself wearing Heelies at the airport......in uniform. Heard that didn’t go too well for him.

It's like when I'm on my sportbike and the Harley guys won't wave back only because you're on a metric instead of American

Serious belly laughs reading this thread, t/y for making a long day's wind down easier.

I wave to scooter riders. It makes me feel like Jesus.

Sounds accurate!

Aww...you are just no fun 😑🤘

Flying the E170, my favorite moments on the ramp were when passing a company E170 and deliberately making the MOST direct eye contact with the other crew. Then as soon as they waved to me I'd quickly raise up the sun shade, blocking me from their view.

Damn, that was fun! Always had me LOLIRL

Hahaha.. Also ninerdriver, garlic and a cross?!? ROFL. At compass we do double waves, and hang loose gestures.. Plus when I get the wave off from the tow crew, I throw up my "west side" gang sign occasionally. It is LAX you know...

West Syde!

This got a good laugh from me. I like the idea of luring them into obliging and then shutting them out making them think they did something wrong haha. I'm gonna try it at LAX.

It’s one thing to ignore a fellow company pilot trudging through the terminal, but if you’re taking the plane and I am literally staring at you on the jetbridge and you don’t even make eye contact with me:

Yes we have the double wave. It was created due to the standard wave to OO being received with a blank stare. So you get the other hand going until they acknowledge you. If I am taxiing by a fellow CPZ aircraft, it's my standard. I occasionally need a cold shower when we pass and I get no wave in return.

As for the standard pilot nod, I find that it's returned most of the time. Except ATL...it's 50/50 there. A cold shower follows when I get eye contact and they don't return the nod.

It’s probably because they are leaving you a broke plane that they were to lazy to write up. So any eye contact would make them uncomfortable.

Pilotically correct behavior
 

“Aunt Flappy’s Guide to Pilot Etiquette” prescribes:

Any pilot — head nod
Same company — single wave
Same aircraft type — double wave
Same seat position — two hand wave & one foot waggle
New-hire classmate — assume “deceased insect” posture and flail with all four limbs while emitting loud squeaks.

A less-than-correct wave is a faux pas, while overwaving is considered obsequious. :D

Yes it's with two hands. We call it the windshield wiper wave at CP.

Is it symmetrical though? The CRJ seldom is.

This has to be one of the dumbest threads ever to run on APC.

No, not at all. A quick search will reveal ample threads with far greater drains on the collective intellect.

It’s like when I used to ride a sport bike and tried to do the wave to a Harley rider or worse yet, motorcycle cop. Half of the Harley guys would wave and 0% of the motorcycle cops wave.

.........
 

Here’s the one we used to give the old “pilots defending the profession” when I was at Eagle.


Very fitting greeting.

It is there. You just have to look hard for it, which is of course the intent.

Study the Delta pilots. Intensely. Just stare at them as you walk through the terminal. Don't look away. They are the key.