time slots
- Thread starter Aussie
- Start date
If we were going to experience a 2 hour delay in order to get into Atlanta, instead of flying around in circles for two hours, we'll just depart two hours later. Saves gas, makes the passengers "happy (tm)" and the captain and I have a little more time to forage for food in the food court.
Lots of airports have them, but I think if you just look at the top 5 or so airport in the US, those are probably the ones that invariably have 'slot times'.
Lots of airports have them, but I think if you just look at the top 5 or so airport in the US, those are probably the ones that invariably have 'slot times'.
Aussie
New Member
Thanks Doug, i get the picture, just one more thing.
Does that mean if they give you a "wheels up time" then they take into consideration you schedule ect. and make sure your not delayed?
Do you know what i mean? becuase you oviously have a schedule to keep, so if they give you a wheels up time of ......
is it their responsibility to ensure its within you schedule or as close to?
Is it then your responsibility to judge how much earlier you require to push back and taxi to the active to be off the ground and that given time?
Thanks again!
Does that mean if they give you a "wheels up time" then they take into consideration you schedule ect. and make sure your not delayed?
Do you know what i mean? becuase you oviously have a schedule to keep, so if they give you a wheels up time of ......
is it their responsibility to ensure its within you schedule or as close to?
Is it then your responsibility to judge how much earlier you require to push back and taxi to the active to be off the ground and that given time?
Thanks again!
flyover
New Member
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks Doug, i get the picture, just one more thing.
Does that mean if they give you a "wheels up time" then they take into consideration you schedule ect. and make sure your not delayed?
Do you know what i mean? becuase you oviously have a schedule to keep, so if they give you a wheels up time of ......
is it their responsibility to ensure its within you schedule or as close to?
Is it then your responsibility to judge how much earlier you require to push back and taxi to the active to be off the ground and that given time?
Thanks again!
[/ QUOTE ]
I'll jump in for Doug since he's probably stuck somewhere waiting for his EDCT (Expect Departure Cearance Time) otherwise called "wheels up" time.
No, if you are getting a wheels up time you are being delayed. Flight plans are filed based on your scheduled departure time. When you call ATC for a clearance and they give you a wheels up time, they are saying, "sorry but too many other people want to go at the same time as you, so we're going to hold some of you to space out the traffic flow."
Sunday ATL was shut down for awhile for TRWs. We diverted to BHM along with about 6 other flights. When it came time to pick up a clearance to ATL every flight on BHM airport had a wheels up time, EXCEPT us. See the major airlines hire ex-controllers to act as liasons with ATC, they have the secret phone numbers. Our dispatcher wanted us into ATL first since we were an Internaitonal flight. So we taxied past the other guys (I swear we were waving, really) and blasted off. So it's not always fair.
Thanks Doug, i get the picture, just one more thing.
Does that mean if they give you a "wheels up time" then they take into consideration you schedule ect. and make sure your not delayed?
Do you know what i mean? becuase you oviously have a schedule to keep, so if they give you a wheels up time of ......
is it their responsibility to ensure its within you schedule or as close to?
Is it then your responsibility to judge how much earlier you require to push back and taxi to the active to be off the ground and that given time?
Thanks again!
[/ QUOTE ]
I'll jump in for Doug since he's probably stuck somewhere waiting for his EDCT (Expect Departure Cearance Time) otherwise called "wheels up" time.
No, if you are getting a wheels up time you are being delayed. Flight plans are filed based on your scheduled departure time. When you call ATC for a clearance and they give you a wheels up time, they are saying, "sorry but too many other people want to go at the same time as you, so we're going to hold some of you to space out the traffic flow."
Sunday ATL was shut down for awhile for TRWs. We diverted to BHM along with about 6 other flights. When it came time to pick up a clearance to ATL every flight on BHM airport had a wheels up time, EXCEPT us. See the major airlines hire ex-controllers to act as liasons with ATC, they have the secret phone numbers. Our dispatcher wanted us into ATL first since we were an Internaitonal flight. So we taxied past the other guys (I swear we were waving, really) and blasted off. So it's not always fair.
Aussie
New Member
Thanks Flyover, that makes more sense now.
However, on that note, i then revert to....
do you still get a time slot if there are no expected deplays?
And again, if you are givien a wheels up time, do you then time your push back and taxi yourself to allow the T/O at approx that time they give you?
Thanks mate, your a great help!
However, on that note, i then revert to....
do you still get a time slot if there are no expected deplays?
And again, if you are givien a wheels up time, do you then time your push back and taxi yourself to allow the T/O at approx that time they give you?
Thanks mate, your a great help!
flyover
New Member
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks Flyover, that makes more sense now.
However, on that note, i then revert to....
do you still get a time slot if there are no expected deplays?
No, you just taxi out and get cleared for takeoff based on local traffic.
And again, if you are givien a wheels up time, do you then time your push back and taxi yourself to allow the T/O at approx that time they give you?
Yes. If it is a lengthy delay, say an hour, we will often delay boarding our passengers so that they aren't stuck on the airplane too long. The next consideration is to delay pushing back so as to save fuel by not sitting out on a taxiway with engines running. Some times we need to go ahead and pushback to open up the gate for inbound flights.
Lastly, someitmes you get released early from your wheels up time. For example, if ATL gets hit by thunderstorms, then ATC may issue very pessimistic wheels up times. If the storms move off earlier than they guessed they will either cancel the wheels up time or move it earlier. If you can anticipate that and be out on the taxiway waiting, you can takeoff earlier than you expected.
The dispatchers monitor the situation for us and also have the ATC liason keep in contact with ATC. Often they can anticipate delays being lifted and have us taxi out to be ready to take advantage. If fact often our dispatchers advise us of delays being canceled before the local tower controllers are advised. So many times I've had to call the tower and tell them that our wheels up time is canceled and we can go. The local controller then calls the center cotroller and confirms it. And off we go.
Thanks mate, your a great help!
[/ QUOTE ]
No worries mate.
Thanks Flyover, that makes more sense now.
However, on that note, i then revert to....
do you still get a time slot if there are no expected deplays?
No, you just taxi out and get cleared for takeoff based on local traffic.
And again, if you are givien a wheels up time, do you then time your push back and taxi yourself to allow the T/O at approx that time they give you?
Yes. If it is a lengthy delay, say an hour, we will often delay boarding our passengers so that they aren't stuck on the airplane too long. The next consideration is to delay pushing back so as to save fuel by not sitting out on a taxiway with engines running. Some times we need to go ahead and pushback to open up the gate for inbound flights.
Lastly, someitmes you get released early from your wheels up time. For example, if ATL gets hit by thunderstorms, then ATC may issue very pessimistic wheels up times. If the storms move off earlier than they guessed they will either cancel the wheels up time or move it earlier. If you can anticipate that and be out on the taxiway waiting, you can takeoff earlier than you expected.
The dispatchers monitor the situation for us and also have the ATC liason keep in contact with ATC. Often they can anticipate delays being lifted and have us taxi out to be ready to take advantage. If fact often our dispatchers advise us of delays being canceled before the local tower controllers are advised. So many times I've had to call the tower and tell them that our wheels up time is canceled and we can go. The local controller then calls the center cotroller and confirms it. And off we go.
Thanks mate, your a great help!
[/ QUOTE ]
No worries mate.