Originally Posted by ACDUDE
The actual departure time of the aircraft that is recorded in AC's system and therefore used to pay pilots and FA is once the pilots release the brakes. At the same time they will turn on "anti-collision" light on top of the aircraft indicating the aircraft is ready to push back. Next step is to call apron for push back and if it is busy they will make you wait few minutes, sometimes even more if there is an aircraft stuck behind you that is waiting for a gate...When I worked as a gate agent I never waited for push back. Once you see the light on you leave the gate area as that aircraft is considered departed.
But surely it would take more than six minutes after arrival time especially for a 343 to get to that point. Yet their system shows arrival at HKG at 21:05, followed by departure at 21:11.
Someone believes in miracles?