GEORGIA'S WATER CRISIS: AT HARTSFIELD-JACKSON: Drought forces aviation ritual to bite the dust

The drought has not only curtailed water use in North Georgia, it's killed an aviation tradition. Commercial airline pilots on their last flight into Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport no longer will be greeted by an end-of-career "water salute" courtesy of the Atlanta Fire Department.

For as long as anyone at the world's busiest airport can remember, two firetrucks would spray giant arcs of water over an aircraft to salute a retiring pilot as the veteran aviator taxied to the gate on a final career flight. The lingering drought, however, has put an end to that rite of passage in a region that aviation largely built.

"It's just one of the things we're doing to conserve water," said Fire Department spokesman Capt. Bill May. "The Fire Department had to look at what's essential, and what's not."

Each salute, or "wash-down," consumed about 500 gallons of water. They were used occasionally to greet dignitaries or launch new aircraft. The last one greeted the world-champion Warner Robins Little League team on its return flight a few months ago.

"It's just another tradition that's gone away," said retired Delta Air Lines pilot Ken Adams, who was saluted after his last Delta flight in 2002. "It's understandable given the drought, but it's still a little sad. It was a nice going-away present."