Does the pilot/flight crew appreciate applause/cheering from passengers after landing?
I think so. I think they (the pilots in particular) appreciate ANY kind of compliment they get. I made a comment to the co-pilot of one of my more recent flights about the great landing–not that big of a compliment considering pilots land all the time–yet he acted all excited and immediately scurried back in to the cockpit, where I overheard him repeating my compliment to the pilot. I think maybe they appreciate compliments (including applause) more because they don’t operate face-to-face with their “customers” if you will. The flight attendants are usually the ones who are judged on flights because they’re the ones we see, the ones who “take care” of us during the flight. The pilots are almost forgotten because they are secluded up front in the cockpit, yet they have the most important job on the plane. I think that applause is actually a nice gesture and likely greatly appreciated by the crew.
