[AMcWhirter]

How it was before the days of mass travel.

Saluting a departure (1958).

A BOAC dispatcher signals to a Comet ready to taxi out. Not sure when the practice ended but it can be seen on many contemporary films.

Possibly an informal thing born of a military culture after two wars?

AA🚖 men would salute members at the time. pic.twitter.com/YHIa9ev5eC

— Captain Brent 🇬🇧 (@Birdseed501) April 29, 2024

[cwoodward]

It certainly still happens at least at HKIA for Cathay flights (and probably others also) but of course in a much more informal way.
The ground staff (dispatchers -normally two) take the ‘chock’ out from under the front aircraft wheel when the aircraft is disengaged from the tug together with the ‘flag’ walk back to their vehicle turn and wave (in a reasonable formal way) to the pilots as the aircraft starts to move away from the gate.
I believe that I have the above sequence correct but am not 100% certain and stand to be corrected.

[FDOS]

cwoodward

Is the crew member waving the nose gear locking pin (with streamer) to show to captain it has been removed?

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Ekond222

[CrazyCanuck]

You look at videos of aircraft departing in Japan, lot of waving and saluting (Japanese style).

[esselle]

Locking pin normally held above head between both hands. Crew acknowledge, then dispatcher waves.

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Rob Barclay

[cwoodward]

FDOS = Yes -these days it the locking pin of course – sorry poorly described.

I took special note leaving from HK yesterday ‘esselle’ and in essence that is exactly what happened.

At Cape Town a while back (Long Haul) it was more formally done with the dispatchers standing to attention and saluting rather than waving.

[FDOS]

@esselle, I’ve seen the two handed hold up, many times.

Though, it’s not universal, here’s a video to show another way (from about 2:50).

[Author]

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