Applause for the pilot

[Gone To Texas]

Last night I flew to Lisbon on an airline that neither I nor hardly anyone I know has ever heard of before (SATA, the airline of the Azores). When we landed this morning, as soon as the rear wheels hit the pavement, the cabin burst into applause. I found this strange and disturbing for 2 reasons: (1) we were still going well over 100 mph and the nose gear had not yet even touched down and (2) is a normal, safe landing really a special event worthy of applause?

The woman to my left crossed herself continuously during takeoff, and on final approach the woman to my right was clutching rosary beads with beat-red hands and praying.

I understand some people get nervous while flying. I fly a lot but still get a little anxious during takeoff myself. But this was a collective anxiety the likes of which I've never experienced before. Is this a developing nation and/or Catholic thing? Or should I be concerned about the safety of this airline on my return trip next week?

 

[TXHookem]

I would start to worry when the flight attendants and copilots clutch rosaries and continuously cross themselves.

 

[TexonLongIsland]

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[halsteadfrost]

I always wonder why people applaud natural occurrences like the sun setting at the Oasis, or Old Faithful going off. Are the applauding god? The companies/parks who allow them to watch? I don't know...

 

[CBDTexas]

My wife is from Russia, she goes back home twice a year. She says it's common on her flights home, but usually doesn't happen when she lands in the US.

My guess is, people do it to celebrate "I'm home!" rather than "Thank God we landed safetly!" But since you saw a woman clutching a rosary, it's very possible their applause was being thankful for their safety.

 

[Stuck_At_Work]

Maybe because the Portuguese are used to crazy as airports like this one. Landing IS and accomplishment.

 

[YoLaDu]

i have been on a few domestic flights where we landed in heavy fog or driving raining and people applauded when we landed.

I think it is a natural reaction, a way of acknowledging a job well done to the pilot and thanking him/her for your safety.

 

[Lidig8r]

Let's see.. you're trapped in a multi-ton steel tube, with skinny little wings, doing over 400 mph... 5 miles off the ground and maintained by workers who are as fallible as anyone else...

 

[Texas007]

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[Stuck_At_Work]

Once a long long time ago, we landed and one of the plane's tires blew out as we touched down. It rocked the plane and made a huge noise. The plane was never really out of control, but it was a scary moment. The pilot explained what had happened.... and we all clapped.

 

[LongIslandIceSIP]

people always clap on the SF to Vegas flight. It's a loud ******* flight. well, they clap when we land in Vegas. When we fly home, everyone is asleep.

I've seen a lot of clapping in flights too, in mexico, south america, and europe. Not sure if its because of the destination, (people just happy to be there) or because they are afraid of flying.

 

[bigup2dahorns]

what would mack do?