17 January 2015

Why not the traditional water cannon salute in the first A350 commercial flight in Frankfurt?

The water cannon salute is a tradition –really it´s an adaptation of a naval tradition where ships are saluted by fire boats on special occasions- used as a tribute to first flights, last flights, flight crew retirements or for other notable events.




The A350 has been treated to a water cannon salute when it arrived to different airports all around the world during the Route Proving Campaign.

Source: Airservices


Only some days before the first commercial flight held last 15/January between Doha and Frankfurt, Qatar Airways' new Airbus A350 XWB was given a water cannon salute as it landed at Heathrow airport for the first time last Saturday.

Source: Felix Gottwald



But surprisingly Qatar Airways requested not to have a water cannon salute on 15/January.




This was not the first time the A350 was in Frankfurt and the airline decided not to have fire trucks spraying water cannon salute to the A350 XWB registered A7-ALA (MSN 006).


Source: Felix Gottwald


The aircraft was quite early, but slowed down well before getting close to Frankfurt on its way from Doha. Contrary to most airlines, the pilots opted for runway 25R in Frankfurt, which surely disappointed aviation enthusiasts and spooters that were waiting at the southern runway.

Source: Felix Gottwald



Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker announced that Frankfurt will receive 2 daily flights on the A350 from 1/March in order to offer the best product consistently on this important route.


Source: Felix Gottwald


He clearly wanted the A350 to be a statement against local legacy carriers… Lufthansa will receive its first aircraft in a couple of years only.


Based on the article “First scheduled Airbus A350 flight world-wide arrives in Frankfurt! “ published in felixgottwald.net

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