Water salute

{{Short description|Salute when a vehicle travels under plumes of water expelled by one or more fire fighting vehicles}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}

File:Brooklyn Bridge 125 anniversary celebration -b.jpg fireboat gives a water salute for the 125th anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge in 2008.|alt=]]

File:Nueva ruta aérea Gibraltar-Manchester (28048206996).jpg service at Gibraltar International Airport in 2016.|alt=]]

A water salute is an occasional occurrence used for a ceremonial purpose. It typically consists of a vehicle which travels under plumes of water expelled by one or more fire-fighting vehicles, as a mark of respect or appreciation.

At an airport, typically an even number of airport crash tender fire-fighting vehicles will arrange themselves perpendicularly along the sides of a taxiway or apron; they will emit coordinated plumes of water which form an arch (or series of arches) as an aircraft passes. Symbolically, the procession looks similar to a bridal party walking under a wedding arch or the saber arch at a military wedding.

Water salutes have been used to mark the retirement of a senior pilot or air traffic controller, the first or last flight of an airline to an airport, the first or last flight of a specific type of aircraft, as a token of respect for the remains of soldiers killed in action,{{Cite web|title=Jackson Proskow: Dallas airport passengers silently salute the return of a fallen hero|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5742432/returning-soldier-dallas-airport-vietnam-veteran/|website=GlobalNews.ca|publisher=Global News|access-date=4 January 2022}} or other notable events. When Concorde flew its last flight in 2003 from John F. Kennedy International Airport, red, white and blue coloured plumes were used.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3211053.stm|title=End of an era for Concorde|website=News.BBC.co.uk|publisher=BBC News|date=24 October 2003|access-date=13 February 2020|language=en-GB}}

Water salutes are also used for ships and other watercraft, with water being delivered by fireboats. This is often done for the first or last visit or retirement of a senior captain, the first or last cruise of a ship, the visit of a warship, or other ceremonial occasions. An example was the water salute to {{HMS|Hermes|R12}} as she returned to Southampton following her part in the victory of the Falklands War.