# Airplane lands -\> Passengers cheer...?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 20, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847 "2004-11-20T18:19:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2004, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847/21 "2004-11-21T01:46:32Z")
In 1972 I was on a charter flight of teachers coming back from Holland to Philly. Our flight was 3 hours late in leaving the Netherlands and we were all pretty cranky, so they gave us a lot of beer or drinks on the way back. (It’s been a long time.)
Oh happy, happy teachers.
Oh much joy and cheering upon landing!
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### Author:  [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2004, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847/22 "2004-11-24T05:04:15Z")
I remember a landing a few years ago where all of us passengers (mostly New Zealanders) clapped wildly after we finally got down onto the ground, having aborted two previous attempts at landing, at the notoriously windy airport at Wellington.
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### Author:  [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2004, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847/23 "2004-11-24T05:17:26Z")
> [@MrFantsyPants](#):
>
> On my last flight, the pilot actually said before takeoff “… thank you for flying Northwest Airlines, and I hope you have an exciting flight.”
>
> WTF, I thought. The guy holding the stick wants our hearts pounding?
Reminds me of Robert Kennedy quoting what he called a Chinese curse “May you live in interesting times.” 😉 [According to my linguistic sources, the origin of this isn’t Chinese, unless someone badly translated into English a Chinese proverb with similar meaning.]
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### Author:  [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2004, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847/24 "2004-11-24T15:08:31Z")
And boy, why did I absolutely KNOW this thread was about a flight on the SJU route the moment I saw the title? (Hello, doctor **vetbridge**! I hope your cruise went fine and much education was continued…)
It’s kinda traditional on the SJU routes, in our case something of a holdover from when it was more of a travail to travel by air. By now it’s one of those things that is done more for the folkloric flavor, though it’s more often done upon arrival at SJU, and until recently it would have been unusual to have it happen on arrival at MCO, as opposed to the JFK or EWR route. Maybe the exploding P’Rican population of Central Florida has something to do with this.
Of course, when you consider this applause for routine flights, you have to wonder what did the pilot get back in '97 who landed an A300 at SJU with the port engine engulfed in flame.
> [@Balthisar](#):
>
> On the other hand, I seem to notice a lot of Mexicans – my wife included – tend to cross themselves (crucifix themselves? You know, that Catholic finger sign) as the plane starts accellerating for takeoff.
“Make the sign of the Cross”. You don’t “crucifix yourself”, not on the plane (they don’t let you board with hammers, spikes, and large planks any more 😛 ) But THAT, if you’ve ever observed a Dominican or P’Rican hitter come up to bat in a baseball game and do the same, is something devout (or nervous!) Catholics – specially those who grow up in a culture where displays of public piety are OK – do _whenever_ starting a journey or facing some important task.
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### Author:  [@NutMagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutMagnet)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847/25 "2004-11-24T15:27:10Z")
I used to fly a lot for work (\>200k miles per year), and never experienced it until I flew to the Caribbean on vacation. I was with a lot of infrequent flyers, so I assumed that had something to do with it. Additionally, I remember thinking that it was a happy-to-be-starting-vacation thing.
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### Author:  [@c\_goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_goat)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2004, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847/26 "2004-11-24T18:45:10Z")
> [@ccwaterback](#):
>
> When those things don’t occur, and all you notice is the engines revving in reverse
Apologies in advance for the hijack (no pun intended), hopefully it’ll be short.
Do airplane engines actually do reverse? I was under the impression that they actually increased the engine power on landing (it sounds like it), once touching down, in the event they needed to suddenly take off again. Also the reason for needing to be pushed back from the gate because the engines don’t do reverse.
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### Author:  [@EvilHamsterOnCrack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilHamsterOnCrack)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2004, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847/27 "2004-11-24T18:51:12Z")
I know many flights to Israel have the cheering thing, because of Israel as the “promised land” or “holy land” among many major religions.
The one time in recent history I can remember the clapping done because of an extraordinary circumstance was my flight to the Bahamas last year. The flight was very turbulent and there was one time (that freaked EVERYONE out) that the plane just basically dropped like a stone for a few seconds. At landing, everyone cheered.
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### Author:  [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2004, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847/28 "2004-11-24T19:00:59Z")
> [@c\_goat](#):
>
> Do airplane engines actually do reverse? I was under the impression that they actually increased the engine power on landing (it sounds like it), once touching down, in the event they needed to suddenly take off again. Also the reason for needing to be pushed back from the gate because the engines don’t do reverse.
Yes, they do. There was an extended thread here a few weeks ago on that very subject. And they do increase the engine speed on landing, but the airflow is re-directed to provide, in essence, “negative thrust”.
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### Author:  [@c\_goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_goat)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2004, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847/29 "2004-11-24T19:31:51Z")
Sorry, I should have searched first. I found the thread after a few search tries. Thanks though!
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### Author:  [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2004, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847/30 "2004-11-24T19:57:21Z")
I’ve experienced this loads of times, always on flights with lots of Americans. The last time it happened was a month ago on a flight from Frankfurt to Dublin which for some reason was full of Americans. I’ve always assumed it was done to congratulate the pilot for a smooth landing (since I can’t ever recall hearing it on a flight piloted by Captain Kangaroo).
However I was once confidently informed by an Irish person that Americans only do it on flights _from_ abroad _to_ America, and that they’re applauding because they’re back on American soil :rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2004, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847/31 "2004-11-24T20:09:11Z")
I’ve heard the applause thing several times. Canada does not have a large Hispanic community. Seemed to me to be the older people doing it.
I always assumed it was a hold-over from the earlier days of air travel. A few decades ago, air travel was a much bigger deal than today. Transatlantic flights were expensive, air travel was more dangerous, slower and socially upscale. Clapping, like at a performance, was an expression of respect, good breeding and thanks for surviving the flight. It certainly seems to me people clap much less these days. Travel is more common, and people think the pilot is just doing their job when they land the plane smoothly. I share this view, and don’t clap.
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### Author:  [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2004, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847/32 "2004-11-24T20:12:57Z")
> [@Martha](#):
>
> The old Hong Kong airport is generally agreed to be the most harrowing experience as far as major international airports go.
Ah yes, Kai Tak infamous runway #13
Simply brutal. I actually landed there once, I thought we were going down.
Cool article with crazy picture.
[http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/article/0,13673,501030728-465841,00.html](http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/article/0,13673,501030728-465841,00.html)
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### Author:  [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2004, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847/33 "2004-11-24T20:15:43Z")
AH HA!
I remembered a cool video clip of a plane landing there.
[http://www.big-boys.com/articles/planelands.html](http://www.big-boys.com/articles/planelands.html)
Crazy.
/end hijack
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### Author:  [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2004, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847/34 "2004-11-24T20:18:57Z")
> [@c\_goat](#):
>
> Apologies in advance for the hijack (no pun intended), hopefully it’ll be short.
>
> Do airplane engines actually do reverse? I was under the impression that they actually increased the engine power on landing (it sounds like it), once touching down, in the event they needed to suddenly take off again. Also the reason for needing to be pushed back from the gate because the engines don’t do reverse.
I know his been answered previously, but I’m not sure if what you meant and what was given as an answer by **av8mike** are the same. The engines do not change their direction of motion, just that the exhaust air is re-directed forward against the airflow instead of with it.
Of course _I_ could have it all wrong. 🙂
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### Author:  [@professor\_folk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/professor_folk)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2004, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847/35 "2004-11-25T00:25:51Z")
I was on a flight going into Schipol in the Netherlands, and we couldn’t see the runway because of the fog. We hit the runway while it was still not visible. People were crying and screaming as the plane tilted from side to side finding centre…then we touched down…aaaaaaaagghhhhhhh.
Smooth landing, then…applause! I had had a few drinks as I’m afraid to fly anyway, and couldn’t help but laugh.
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### Author:  [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2004, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847/36 "2004-11-25T01:28:24Z")
I flew from Paris to Tel Aviv once and the passengers applauded on landing. It seemed to be the Israelis who were happy to return home primarily.
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### Author:  [@Tio\_Gringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tio_Gringo)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2004, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847/37 "2004-11-25T02:12:33Z")
> [@Argo84](#):
>
> About 1988 or so I was on a Piedmont Airline flight from Newark to Baltimore, a flight scheduled to take about 40 minutes. After about an hour and a half, the pilot announced that there was a problem with the hydraulic system and that he was going to make an “abnormal” landing at Dulles because the runway was longer than BWI and that allowed for “a greater margin of error”. The flight attendants coached us through the emergency landing procedures, glasses and ties off, **pens out of pockets**. After circling the airport for about 45 minutes to burn off fuel we safely landed at BWI. I was one of the passengers cheering and clapping.
(bolding mine)
At first glance I thought that read “penis out of pocket.” :eek:
I wondered how that would help you survive a plane crash. Besides, I don’t keep mine in its own pocket…Should I? :dubious:
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### Author:  [@Rock-n-Rolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rock-n-Rolga)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2004, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847/38 "2004-11-25T03:41:28Z")
This has happened several times on flights I’ve been on over the years. The first one I remember was a flight from Charlotte to LAX in (IIRC) September of '86. The crew announced that it was the captain’s last ever run after working for the airline for quite a few years. Periodically during the flight an attendant would get on the intercom and tell us about the pilot’s long and distinguished career. Just before we started our descent the crew sang “Happy Trails” and we all joined in. When the wheels met the tarmac, our cheers and applause lasted almost until we got to the gate.
The second time was after landing on an icy day in Raleigh. We were the second -and the last - plane they allowed to come in that morning. I thought we’d never stop rolling down that runway. Needless to say, once we finally came to a halt there was some sincere applause - and afterward there were two lines of people disembarking: one line headed for the bathroom, the other one headed for the bar!
> [@Boyo Jim](#):
>
> This happened last year on my flight to Cancun. It was filled with American tourists who (I think) figured the vacation began as soon as they stepped off the plane.
Heh, on my flight to Cancun last year many of the passengers obviously believed that their vacation started the minute the plane got up in the air. You never saw such carrying on. One rather sozzled lady sitting behind me announced to all within earshot that she was mixing Xanax and whiskey - and her companions high-fived her! :eek: There was applause upon landing then too; maybe because the others were happy to be safely in Mexico, but mine was out of sheer relief that in a few minutes I’d be able to put a lot of distance between myself and those obnoxious loons!
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### Author:  [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2004, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847/39 "2004-11-25T05:08:25Z")
> [@professor folk](#):
>
> I was on a flight going into Schipol in the Netherlands, and we couldn’t see the runway because of the fog. We hit the runway while it was still not visible. People were crying and screaming as the plane tilted from side to side finding centre…then we touched down…aaaaaaaagghhhhhhh.
> Smooth landing, then…applause! I had had a few drinks as I’m afraid to fly anyway, and couldn’t help but laugh.
I fly into Schiphol 3 or 4 times a year. About a third of the time it’s foggy like you described it (or so it seems). It was scary at first, but I’m used to it now. When you fly KLM the people don’t really cheer… they’ve seen it before.
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### Author:  [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2004, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airplane-lands-passengers-cheer/275847/40 "2004-11-25T05:40:36Z")
> [@World Eater](#):
>
> Ah yes, Kai Tak infamous runway #13
>
> Simply brutal. I actually landed there once, I thought we were going down.
>
> Cool article with crazy picture.
>
> [http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/article/0,13673,501030728-465841,00.html](http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/article/0,13673,501030728-465841,00.html)
I landed there in 1993. I was in the middle section of seats in a 747. I distinctly remember watching Marlboro signs and other advertisements painted on the sides of buildings fly by the windows while we were still in the air. My dad and I watched planes come in for hours during that vacation. Ahh, memories…
The approach, if I remember correctly, started at a southwesterly roughly over the straight between the mainland bit and the island bit of Hong Kong (Kowloon and Hong Kong). You made around a 90 degree or so turn to the right while descending so that now you were directly flying over the buildings of Kowloon. There was a medium-sized hill with a red checkerboard painted on it for the pilots to aim at. Fly towards the hill, descending until you are well below the tops of the mountains of Kowloon and many of the taller buildings, and then at what seems like the last minute, crank another 90 degree turn to the right to bring you around to the northeast for the final approach. Clear the buildings of that district where you went to buy pirated software by about 30 feet, it seems.
The San Diego approach apparently is quite hairy as well. You clear a hill and then basically descend down the side of the hill (which is covered with buildings) until the runway end.
I’ve heard applause at the end of many long international flights, but not recently. None of these would involve many Europeans or Latin Americans (mostly South Africa-US and Israel-US routes). I have a distinct memory of arriving at Ben Gurion in Israel with applause and Jewish songs (Simantov u’Mazal Tov IIRC) around 5 years ago.
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