Can I greet the pilot at the end of the flight?
sa-lu-TA-re — stress on third syllable. pi-LO-ta — stress on second syllable.
When disembarking and wanting to thank the captain for a good flight.
'Salutare' (to greet/say goodbye) is used for both greetings and farewells. 'Alla fine del volo' (at the end of the flight) specifies timing. In Italy, it is not uncommon for pilots to stand at the cockpit door during disembarkation, especially on smaller aircraft. Children particularly enjoy this.
Grazie per il volo, comandante.
Thank you for the flight, captain.
'Comandante' is the formal Italian title for the captain
È stato un atterraggio molto dolce.
It was a very smooth landing.
Complimenting the pilot is always appreciated
Mio figlio vuole diventare pilota. Può fargli vedere la cabina di pilotaggio?
My son wants to become a pilot. Can he see the cockpit?
Sometimes allowed on the ground — ask crew after landing
Italian airline captains (comandanti) often maintain a more formal and reserved demeanour compared to their counterparts in some other countries. However, most are happy to meet children interested in aviation. Post-9/11 security rules in many countries restrict cockpit access during flight, but brief greetings on the ground are often possible.