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Flight time

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Ilyaphd	Flight time	Lead	[-]
Posts: 29 (09/01/08 19:10:53) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None Question to the pilots: Is it true that the time of flight is typically "marked up" 20-30 min? I am always trying to figure out the exact time and track my watch against it. I noticed that sometimes, the flight is much shorter than announced. That a relief. Does it matter of the flight direction? For example flying eastward is shorter than westward. Thank you. I am flying on wednesday Cleveland to Boston and the flight time is 1:40 but I wonder what is the "real" time. Ilyaphd
OneAnt		#1	[-]
Posts: 666 (09/02/08 08:18:31) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	When you book a ticket, the airlines departure and arrival time is gate-to-gate. In other words: - If the flight departs at 2:00p, that means they plan to have boarding complete, the doors closed, and the plane starting to push back at that time. - If the flight shows an arrival time of 3:00p, it means that they intend to have the plane pulling up at the gate at that time. Actual flight times are different. For example: the flight from DFW-AUS or DFW-OKC is listed on AA.com as 55mins. Actual flight time, take-off to landing, is typically around 30-35mins. I've had times as short as 28mins in the air. Yes, direction does matter. The jet stream flows from the West, so flying against it takes longer than the same distance flight with the wind. The Westbound leg of a trans-Atlantic flight can be an hour longer than the Eastbound leg. To find exact flight times, you would need to check one of the real-time flight trackers. Those are typically take-off to landing, not gate-to-gate. As for checking your watch against it, why?
Ilyaphd		#2	[-]
Posts: 30 (09/02/08 09:27:34) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	OneAnt, thanks for the info. I meant I just check by my watch the time it takes for takeoff and leveling and descent and so forth. Curiousity, that's all. Of course it is interesting what is the actual air time versus what one thinks. The shorter the better. At one point avionics were extremely fascinating for me and still is to a degree. But the stupid preflight anxiety that I can't control very well messes my love for avionics. I frankly hate it. A few years ago i even flew a small sesna plane downtown cleveland with my buddy who was flying commercial banners and let me sit in a plane. I got a bit air sick but was not SCARED! Why now I am scared out of my mind! I wonder if experts can explain that! Getting older? Kids? who knows?
OneAnt		#3	[-]
Posts: 669 (09/02/08 09:51:45) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Capt Tom can help you get beyond your fear of flying and can answer those questions you have. Give him a call and get going on the SOAR course.
Ilyaphd		#4	[-]
Posts: 31 (09/02/08 10:12:37) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	OneAnt, I have been contemplating this idea for a while. I am trying to get a grip on this but each time it seems to get worse. I am flying tomorrow AirTran cleveland to boston on 717-200. Seems like a good airline and an excellent plane from what I heard. I am hoping for the best. What d oyou think of this choice? Thanks.

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Note from Capt. Tom

I know everyone worries about weather, but pilots really do not worry about it. We simply - instead of worrying about it - completely prepare for it. Before going to the plane, we review the weather at the destination. If it is not 100% sure to be within legal limits when we arrive at the destination, we must specify an alternate airport in our planning documents, and load on plenty of fuel for going to the destination airport, and then if need be, diverting to the alternate airport.

The legal limits are conservative. Even when weather is slightly outside the legal limits, any airline pilot could still land safely. You can rely on the captain never to land when the weather is not legal, and legality limits are reached prior to safety limits.

If you are still anxious, call me and we can talk it over. I'm at 877 332-7359 from 10 AM until 7 PM Eastern time.

For effective help, even if you are flying in a day or two, sign up now at www.fearofflying.com/fasttrack and call me when you finish Clip 9 so I can make sure you are all set.

Using Weather Information

If you enter your ZIP Code or City at the top of the weather presentation, it will give you weather for your area. Or, you can enter your destination ZIP Code or City.

Click on the "LOCAL RADAR" button to see whether or not there are thunder-
storms. Keep in mind, however, that we can either fly above the storms when cruising or fly through gaps between storms. During landing, we cannot fly above them, but fly through gaps, or through the area of the storms where the turbulence is least.

Turbulence, though it may cause anxiety, does not mean anything is wrong. Turbulence does not mean danger. The plane can handle far more turbulence than Mother Nature can dish out.

Though flying in turbulence is safe, it doesn't feel safe. And here is where the SOAR programs come in. We can help you feel as safe when you fly as you actually are.

You can see these programs at www.fearofflying.com/store.

For questions on aviation or the psychology of aerophobia, click here to e-mail Capt. Tom Bunn, MSW, LCSW.

To contact the SOAR business office (media contacts, brochures, replacement tapes, billing, shipping), click here to e-mail Lisa Hauptner, MS.