“On time” departure
Jun 6, 2019, 7:34 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 389
“On time” departure
BA730 LHR GVA departed at 1354 today, one minute earlier than scheduled and as such is showing as “departed early” on the BA app.
The BA734 to GVA is scheduled to depart at 1515 but is already showing a new ETD at 1525, but shows “on time” on the BA app.
Really? Irritating.
The BA734 to GVA is scheduled to depart at 1515 but is already showing a new ETD at 1525, but shows “on time” on the BA app.
Really? Irritating.
Last edited by Yeoman5; Jun 6, 2019 at 7:36 am Reason: Correction
Jun 6, 2019, 8:05 am
#2
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
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You must be fairly easily irritated 
A buffer is applied for departure times. Anything within that buffer shows as 'on time' as there's a good chance it will arrive on time.
A buffer is applied for departure times. Anything within that buffer shows as 'on time' as there's a good chance it will arrive on time.
Jun 6, 2019, 9:57 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Yorkshire Dales, UK
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I'm with you on the 'mildly irritating' front.... It's the 1 minute early TRUMPETING as EARLY that annoys me... if there's +15 mins of on time, then up to 15 mins early should be on time too!
Jun 6, 2019, 10:19 am
#7
Join Date: May 2006
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I've always wondered what counts as "departure time"? Doors closed, "Ready" to ATC, Push-back, Engine start, Take-off, or something in between? My last departure from LGW there was a good 40 minutes between doors closed and take off.
Jun 6, 2019, 10:32 am
#8
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Push-back, basically.
From memory, I think that the time that is communicated via ACARS is parking brake off. So if the aircraft is ready, the tug is connected, and the parking brake is off but the aircraft has to wait before actually pushing because of (eg) movements behind it, then the actual departure time may be recorded as slightly earlier than actual push-back.
Interestingly, ISTR from previous discussions that for the purposes of the ANO, a "flight" only begins when the aircraft begins to move under its own power. So presumably that would exclude push-back and engine start (and any tow to a remote engine start position), and the "flight" only commences when the aircraft taxies by itself. But that is of course for different purposes from "departure time".
From memory, I think that the time that is communicated via ACARS is parking brake off. So if the aircraft is ready, the tug is connected, and the parking brake is off but the aircraft has to wait before actually pushing because of (eg) movements behind it, then the actual departure time may be recorded as slightly earlier than actual push-back.
Interestingly, ISTR from previous discussions that for the purposes of the ANO, a "flight" only begins when the aircraft begins to move under its own power. So presumably that would exclude push-back and engine start (and any tow to a remote engine start position), and the "flight" only commences when the aircraft taxies by itself. But that is of course for different purposes from "departure time".
Jun 6, 2019, 10:37 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2010
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Another pet peeve of mine is where we're told "Today's flight is exceptionally full" which, to me at least, is nonsense. The flight is either full or it isn't. It can't be "exceptionally" full.
Jun 6, 2019, 10:46 am
#10
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Whatever is more convenient for the airline. If you miss conformance they'll tell you the departure time is wheels in the air (yes, this really happened to me, albeit on BE, not BA).
Jun 6, 2019, 10:48 am
#11
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I know what you mean. What irritates me is the adoption of the American Airlines patter of saying " We will be arriving into London Heathrow (or wherever)" In English you arrive at somewhere not into. The preposition into generally means movement toward the inside of something.
Jun 6, 2019, 11:27 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: U.K.
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Published time of departure is push back time. At BA doors are to be closed 5mins prior to this time. Time to taxi is absorbed into the scheduled ‘flight time’.
I was told on a visit to EDI Tower that the official departure time for CAA statistics on punctuality, comes from the time ATC give approval for Push & Start.
I was told on a visit to EDI Tower that the official departure time for CAA statistics on punctuality, comes from the time ATC give approval for Push & Start.
Jun 6, 2019, 11:44 am
#13
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I know what you mean. What irritates me is the adoption of the American Airlines patter of saying " We will be arriving into London Heathrow (or wherever)" In English you arrive at somewhere not into. The preposition into generally means movement toward the inside of something.
I don't understand the modern allergy to the perfectly good word "from".
Jun 6, 2019, 12:48 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2018
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Glad I’m not the only one who has a bug bear at adverbs bring inappropriately prefixed to binary states. See also: “really unique” and “very pregnant”.
Jun 6, 2019, 1:18 pm
#15
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I know what you mean. What irritates me is the adoption of the American Airlines patter of saying " We will be arriving into London Heathrow (or wherever)" In English you arrive at somewhere not into. The preposition into generally means movement toward the inside of something.