Why the water cannon salute for retiring pilots?

Public Comments

1. Would you prefer rockets? At an airport? Ri-i-i-i-i-ght!!!!
2. Well, the salute is obviously a sign of respect. It's not used for just pilots though, it's also used when an aircraft type flies into an airport for the first time or flies for the last time, such as when the A380 made its maiden flight or when the concord made it's last flight. Who know where it started. The water cannon salute is also used with ships as well, using fireboats.
3. It is simply a visual part of the celebration to mark the end of a career. Other pilots and many passengers alike recognize it and join in congratulating the pilot wishing him well. Often the pilots family, friends or co-workers may be aboard the last flight so it is quite an honor and great memory as well as being totally harmless. A pilot crosses paths with many people over their career, passengers, co-workers both air crew and ground airport personnel, everyone enjoys the ritual.
4. It serves a couple of purposes. As others point out, it is a tribute, a celebration, a sign of respect. But it also gives airport fire crews a chance to exercise their skills and their equipment. So it combines the tribute with a training exercise, which is how it is economically justified.