EDCT time changes for the worse halfway into boarding

[kellwolf]

For me, it would depend on the airport and the WX. I've got zilch experience going into EWR, so I defer to the XJT guys here. If it's MEM and they give you an EDCT time, board and go. Odds are really good it's gonna be nixed by the time you get to the runway unless it's a WX issue. Those tend to hold up pretty well since MEM tends to go to hell in a handbasket during extreme WX events.

Oddly enough, there's actually GUIDANCE on this in our FOM. If it's gonna be less than 3 hours between push and wheels up, the CA and dispatcher have to coordinate a plan of attack and a hard time. If you hit that hard time, you're going back to the gate, period. I've played the "We're getting you out in the next 15 minute" game with ATC while holding short of the runway. After the fourth time of being told that and sitting out there for 2.5 hours, we went back to the gate. Sure enough, they didn't release MEM departures for another hour or more.

As for the not getting paid for blocking out for two hours. Rule #67 of ACARS ettiquette.....you always hit "taxi out and back" instead of "never left gate."

[Bandit_Driver]

Definately...When I was on the 170 we always made sure L1 was closed and dropped the Parking brake to get a block out time, even we are still at the gate.

I was in IAD one time on the Saab and we elected not to board as it was going to be over 2 hours...While sitting in the cockpit doing Jepp updates clearance calls and wants to know if we can be ready to push in 5.

I was so frustrated...We ended up have to wait the full time....But life is always easier when they are in the terminal versus the Saab in summer heat.

[n6149s]

ATC will get the information after the company does because the ATC FDIO system is greatly outdated. Beside weather, "ATC delays" are due to inadaquate staffing, inadequate automation, a lack of terminal space and a lack of runways. All this is added to the fact that at the busiest airports, the airlines will continuously schedule more operations than the current infastructure can safely and legally handle.

[TUCKnTRUCK]

Originally Posted by jtrain609

You raise a good point, I've never actually missed one either, but it's always the threat it'll happen right? Or "this one guy I talked with in the crew room, his cousin, who flies for mainline, missed his EDCT time by 15 seconds and the next thing he knows, he's been re-routed to Newark VIA Tel Aviv. True story dude! What type? 737...hey they're ETOPS!"

But I'm still generally very interested in getting out the door as soon as ATC allows it. I HAVE been in situations where ATC has said, "Can you be off the ground in 5 minutes? If so we can get you outta here."

I have. We were shortened, then EWR went back into ground stop after some sort of NY center computer issue that had all the departure gates at EWR closed for hours. We ended up canceling that night after sitting in Pit for 10+ hours.

As long as nothing else comes up after you miss a time, you will normally be fine.. maybe another 10-15 minutes... but if anything else comes up, your toast. Usually I'll board, make an announcement to the pax that we are taking a shot at trying to get them out asap. If they get upset after an hour or to, then I have no problem taking them back to the gate. I also make sure that they know if they deplane, and we get the call to go, we are going.