Do pilots get as upset over delays as travelers?
Q: How are flight times established? I’ve noticed that the actual times are often much less than predicted, sometimes close to half as long as scheduled. Also, when does the clock start: boarding, push back or wheels up?
— Jim Pivirotto, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
A: Airlines create flight times based on the previous history of the flight. As an example, every airline flying into New York on a Friday afternoon knows that there will be delays, so additional time is added to the schedule. This added time is not needed for an 11 p.m. arrival on a Sunday.
If an average flight time includes additional planning time and the flight does not experience the anticipated delays, you can arrive well ahead of schedule.
Airlines use four times for operational purposes:
Out — When the door is closed for departure and push back starts.
Off — When the airplane becomes airborne.
On — When the airplane touches down.
In — When the airplane opens the door at the gate.
Flight time is Off to On. Block time is Out to In.
Q: How long does it take a commercial jet to take off ?
— Alan Taylor Chemainus, Vancouver Island
A: A normal takeoff run is around 35 seconds. Some airplanes, such as a very heavily loaded four-engine model, may have a much longer ground run, around 50 seconds. Takeoffs are not calculated based on time, but on airspeed after calculating the performance variables.
Q: Do the pilots get just as mad as passengers when left on tarmac for hours?
— James, Cincinnati
A: Pilots can be just as frustrated as passengers during delays.