Wardialer From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 1160 posts, RR: 0 Posted (8 years 8 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 1965 times:
I usually monitor the clearance delivery frequency in my local airport and most of the time like flights to Phoenix, Las Vegas, they issue whats termed as a "Flow Window" and causes hours of delays. And plus, the controllers give a time like "wheels-up at 34" "push back at 44" and "time now 19:55" or something like that.
I do not know what this means actually. What is a Flow time or Flow Window which causes delays and stuff???
Avt007 From Canada, joined Jul 2000, 2131 posts, RR: 5 Reply 1, posted (8 years 8 months 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 1904 times:
My understanding is that ATC issues a clearance for a flight with a time window or flow time, which means your clearance is valid if you actually depart within the timeframe given in order to fit you into the traffic flow along the airways. If you miss your flowtime, they have to fit you in later.
OPNLguy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (8 years 8 months 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 1899 times:
The weather out that way the last couple of days has reduced the ability of LAS and PHX to land the optimum number of aircraft per hour, due to the loss of visual approaches. When demand exceeds supply, delays ensue, and delays are rationed out. Think of it like some of those freeway on-ramps that you see with traffic lights that tell you when you can enter the freeway--it's the same principle. Once traffic demand dies not, they're no longer needed.
ATC will issue you a time, which is your "window" of opportunity to takeoff, and is also referred to as your slot time or wheels-up time. ATC will let the crews know so that they can coordinate boarding the aircraft. (It obviously makes no sense to immediately board the aircraft if you're going to be delayed for an hour or two...)
LimaFoxTango From Antigua and Barbuda, joined Jun 2004, 702 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (8 years 8 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 1880 times:
First, When ATC says "time now 19:55", that means that the current time in UTC/GMT is 19:55. That one was fairly self explanitory. Secondly, when ATC says "expect push back at 44" means you should expect push-back clearance when its 16:44 UTC/GMT for example. The "44" is just the minutes. So if the current time was 16:10 and ATC says expect pushback at 44, he means at time 16:44. Lastly, when ATC says "expect wheels up at time 34" he means, you should be airborne at 17:34 for example. Note that times are ALWAYS stated in UTC/GMT unless otherwise specified.
Hope that helps!!
You are said to be a good pilot when your take-off's equal your landings.
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From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 1160 posts, 
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