Ctang From Australia, joined Jul 2001, 139 posts, RR: 0 Posted (4 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 1822 times:
I have flown quite a bit in recent weeks. I have noticed that the planes never take off at the time indicated in the timetable. So what does the departure times indicate?
Dougbr2006 From Brazil, joined Oct 2006, 382 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (4 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 1818 times:
Quoting Ctang (Thread starter): I have flown quite a bit in recent weeks. I have noticed that the planes never take off at the time indicated in the timetable. So what does the departure times indicate?
It is the time for doors closed ready for push back
InnocuousFox From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 2805 posts, RR: 16 Reply 2, posted (4 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 1681 times:
Especially given that taxi times without traffic can range from 1 minute to 15 minutes, it would be hard to be in position to take off at a specified time.
Dave Mark - Intrinsic Algorithm - Reducing the world to mathematical equations!
DALMD88 From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 2365 posts, RR: 15 Reply 3, posted (4 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 1671 times:
As a passenger the only times that matter are when do the close the door and when can I expect it to open again.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21465 posts, RR: 24 Reply 4, posted (4 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 1669 times:
Quoting InnocuousFox (Reply 2): Especially given that taxi times without traffic can range from 1 minute to 15 minutes, it would be hard to be in position to take off at a specified time.
It's ironic that block times (those published in timetables) are often longer today than when the first 707s and DC-8s went into service almost 50 years ago. Typical JFK-LAX block time now is generally 30 to 40 minutes longer than in 1959. A small part of that is due to the fact that many current aircraft types are generally slightly slower than the early jets, but most of it is due to airport and ATC congestion.
Misbeehavin From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 914 posts, RR: 4 Reply 5, posted (4 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 1641 times:
Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 4): It's ironic that block times (those published in timetables) are often longer today than when the first 707s and DC-8s went into service almost 50 years ago. Typical JFK-LAX block time now is generally 30 to 40 minutes longer than in 1959. A small part of that is due to the fact that many current aircraft types are generally slightly slower than the early jets, but most of it is due to airport and ATC congestion.
And airlines have started padding their schedules to be able to claim a better on time performance. DL's pretty sneaky with that, especially out of JFK. Compare:
NYC-CDG: AF = 7h30 (average); CO = 7h30, DL = 8h15
NYC-LGW: CO = 7h15; DL = 8h
NYC-FCO: AZ = 8h10; CO = 8h20; DL = 9h05
Bond007 From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 5098 posts, RR: 8 Reply 6, posted (4 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 1632 times:
Quoting Misbeehavin (Reply 5): And airlines have started padding their schedules to be able to claim a better on time performance.
Don't get me started ... this was a thread all by itself !
US is good at it to (and have moved up the on-time ratings)... especially out of PHL, adding >40mins on a 2hr flying time.
Of course, the congestion is mostly under the airline's control ... nobody elses. Weather is rarely to truly blame ... it's 55 scheduled aircraft/hr trying to get into a 32 aircraft/hr airport.
Jimbo
I'd rather be on the ground wishing I was in the air, than in the air wishing I was on the ground!
Pilotboi From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 2366 posts, RR: 10 Reply 7, posted (4 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 1568 times:
I'd like to also note that the actual times listed on most airline's websites, in other words when you look up a flight's status and it says that it departed at a certain time, is based on the release of the parking brake. When the parking brake is released, a signal is sent via radio (over a system called ACARS) to the operations center of that airline, and their computers are updated.
Also, when the wheels leave the ground (and again when they hit the ground) the time is sent via ACARS.
So there are 4 times total. Out, Off, On, In.
Out: parking break released (out of the gate)
Off: wheels off the ground (takeoff)
On: wheels on on the ground (landed)
In: parking break set (in the gate)
Block time (the time listed in time tables) is the time between Out and In.
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