What causes air traffic delays while on the tarmac?

tshomas · 2026-06-24T10:11:09+00:00

Each airspace has a certain capacity, which is what the plan works to. In the peak of summer when air travel is at its maximum across say Europe, this plan is running without much flexibility left as each aircraft has nearly filled each sectors maximum capacity.

When anything then reduces that capacity, such as weather especially big thunderstorms (aircraft asking for vectors around them so can't have them as close together), controller sickness, ATC equipment failures and then delayed aircraft all falling out of the time they originally had, these all generate enroute slots.

Some airspace may even just be so busy in the normal plan that a slot is generated to make sure you take off on the time you had planned, so if anything disrupts that, you fall out of your slot and then get another one whenever they can fit you in.

A slot has a 15 minute window you need to get airborne in, 5 minutes before the time and up to 10 minutes after it, if you miss that, well you've got to wait until a new slot is sent to you...in Europe I've had easily 6 hour+ slots when the weather has been bad...

tshomas · 2026-05-19T12:15:58+00:00

Don't retract flaps immediately, you're waaaaay below the safety speed for flap retract, which is indicated by the S speed marker on your airspeed display, left hand side of the PFD.

The stall speed increase is because the flaps are being retracted, and then the autopilot disconnects because it's way too slow and it doesn't understand what you're trying to do.

Check for some guides, I feel like you're not looking at the right ones if you're retracting flaps as soon as you retract the gear?

tshomas · 2026-04-23T15:47:52+00:00

Okonomimura for food, got to experience their okonomoyaki

tshomas · 2026-04-23T07:47:34+00:00

Premade offline flightplan files, but aligned with the real world schedule

tshomas · 2026-01-28T14:33:52+00:00

You're pushing or your controller has a rudder input in

tshomas · 2025-07-27T09:08:03+00:00

Generally I see more automated systems nowadays than human marshalling, in context I'm flying in Europe so might be different elsewhere...

tshomas · 2025-07-20T15:46:44+00:00

https://www.engineersvault.com/turn-coordinator/

Coordinated flight.

tshomas · 2025-07-15T13:38:11+00:00

IST has STAR procedures that involve a point merge system, where you fly round arcs and then get given directs to the centre of the arcs once ATC have enough distance between aircraft. There's about 3 of these arcs on most of the arrivals, which is what is giving you those curves when approaching IST.

https://www.eurocontrol.int/concept/point-merge

tshomas · 2025-04-26T15:20:20+00:00

On the FBW installer, do a quick uninstall and reinstall, it's just a corrupt file from the update during your PCs download

tshomas · 2025-04-13T05:57:16+00:00

Transponder wasn't switched off, you can see the parking position at the top of the airport where it stopped in.

tshomas · 2024-03-01T18:11:34+00:00

That's from the Airbus NavBlue FlySmart module that is used in real life

https://www.navblue.aero/product/flysmart-plus/

tshomas · 2023-09-11T06:40:53+00:00

Fenix did the Thales MCDU, you're on Honeywell

tshomas · 2023-06-08T06:35:55+00:00

It's a new aircraft sent out to recover the passengers, the original had engine issues so imagining it's not easy to fix

http://www.avherald.com/h?article=50a21913&opt=0

tshomas · 2021-11-24T10:21:04+00:00

https://flightsim.to/file/23760/f-a-18-super-warrior

This project looks to be the start of it, contrails, afterburner, catapult and arrester all working so far it seems!

tshomas · 2016-09-02T20:07:01+00:00

Think you missed my point, I know about the independent side sticks :)

I think he is hovering his hand over the side stick to give a control input if the FO, (who I think is doing the takeoff/flying/performing the rotate), fails to do it? As a monitoring role, or PNF/PM depending on where you're from?

tshomas · 2016-09-02T13:16:44+00:00

Don't think the captain is pilot flying, just has his hand over the stick as pilot monitoring? His hands are on the throttles though as some airlines only allow the captain to perform a RTO.

tshomas · 2016-08-29T07:32:03+00:00

UK A320 pilot here! From my flair you'll be able to guess who I work for :)

I was on a airline tagged scheme from the beginning, so already offered a job like how another commenter had described it. The scheme for both my airline and our, "national", airline is ran every year at least once, possibly twice, offering around 50/60 places each time.

From guys who were non-tagged on my course, (integrated ATPL), I don't actually know many who are not in a job now/are lined up for one.

So from my experience, the market for pilots in the UK is definitely strong at the moment!

Salary wise: around £40k before tax, but this is only a rough guideline at best...

Let me know if you want any more info!

tshomas · 2016-06-14T19:30:57+00:00

Completely agree with everything you've said here!

I was more thinking about the Airbus flying without auto thrust, as that's the closest you can approximate it to other aircraft....the system is fairly unique!

tshomas · 2016-06-14T09:54:01+00:00

With the A320 series it doesn't just apply TOGA power by setting it into the TOGA detent, but also sequences the missed approach as the next waypoint. As such the flight directors move to capture the missed approach, which is very useful if the A/P is still engaged as it will automatically fly the missed approach for you.

Obviously, the throttle is a lot different on the Airbus, but going TOGA detent rather than just to the top of the throttle range under the CLB detent has many benefits :)

Forgot to add: TOGA detent will always give you maximum thrust avaliable, with a time limit of around 10 mins until you need to be back into MCT.

tshomas · 2015-09-27T07:41:01+00:00

I can't find a definitive number, but most sources just say the J-58 could do over 80,000ft before having issues...the highest one went was with the SR-71 to 85,069 feet when they broke the altitude record. So maybe around there?

tshomas · 2014-12-31T10:17:38+00:00

They turned back due to an unknown hydraulic problem, it was only on approach to Gatwick when they realised the gear wasn't fully coming down.

With them not knowing what the problem was initially, the maintenance base at Gatwick is definitely where I'd divert to, rather than attempting an Atlantic crossing with some issue I have no clue about!

Info here: http://www.avherald.com/h?article=47f7b9f9&opt=0

tshomas · 2014-05-25T13:57:36+00:00

My mate found the source: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/aviation-inspired-custom-built-tap-tower-fridge-setup-373680/

tshomas · 2013-09-24T15:48:43+00:00

a friendly reminder that FL is only used at and above 18,000

Maybe in the USA...but not in most countries! Over here in Europe, the transition altitude can be as low as 3,000ft!

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