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, or other notable events.

The practice of spraying water on an airport runway is almost always a ceremonial "Water Salute." This tradition involves two fire-fighting vehicles positioned on opposite sides of a taxiway or apron, arching plumes of water over an aircraft as it passes through. This mark of respect is typically performed for significant milestones, such as the retirement of a veteran captain, the final flight of a specific aircraft type (like the Concorde's farewell), or the inauguration of a new airline route to that airport. In very rare operational cases, airports in extremely hot climates might spray water to cool down the asphalt if temperatures reach a point where the runway surface could soften or "bleed," but this is an engineering necessity rather than a common occurrence. For the most part, if you see water being blasted onto the tarmac, it is a celebratory gesture akin to a saber arch at a military wedding, honoring the people or the machines that have served the aviation community.