The 'Ground Ceremony' is a
ritual used in some airforces, for example the
US Airforce
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...
, signifying the handing off of the aircraft by the chief ground
mechanic to the
pilot, where the pilot is assured his aircraft is ready and safe for flight. The main goal of the customary 'ceremony' is to reinforce teamwork and -spirit between pilot and maintenance crew.
Ground Ceremony
The ritual (in its US version) includes the following four steps (quoting Bolman and Deal 2003):
[Bolman, L.G.; Deal, T.E]
''Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership''
(2003), p. 264, quoting R. Mola, cited in Reed, 2001, p. 5
* "The first salute is a courtesy greeting that signifies respect between the aircraft mechanic and his pilot.
* The handshake takes the greeting to a new level and is the personal bond between the mechanic and his pilot.
* The second salute after the pilot has operationally checked the aircraft signifies the aircraft’s airworthiness and that the aircraft is now in the hands of the pilot.
* The thumbs-up is the personal gesture wishing a good flight to the pilot."
References
{{Reflist
United States Air Force
Ceremonies
Military traditions