Negotiations with ATC
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Negotiations with ATC
Flying this morning from TLV to LHR we were ready to push back in good time. The captain got on the tannoy and advised that ATC had given him a 65 minute delay but after negotiations, the delay was cut to five minutes. Indeed we took off pretty much on time and would have landed early were it not for the usual traffic in London.
Why would such a delay be advised initially, especially if it can be 'negotiated' down? Any ideas what was going on in ATC and between cockpit and tower?
Why would such a delay be advised initially, especially if it can be 'negotiated' down? Any ideas what was going on in ATC and between cockpit and tower?
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Most likely a slot time which has moved forward.
When a slot is assigned and the aircraft is ready before the time a message can be sent to CFMU telling the computer the aircraft is ready. This also contains the time needed for ATC to get the aircraft airborne. If the computers can see that there is an earlier slot available which ATC can get the aicraft airborne for then the aircraft will get a new slot and can depart earlier.
When a slot is assigned and the aircraft is ready before the time a message can be sent to CFMU telling the computer the aircraft is ready. This also contains the time needed for ATC to get the aircraft airborne. If the computers can see that there is an earlier slot available which ATC can get the aicraft airborne for then the aircraft will get a new slot and can depart earlier.
Yes if you get either your handling agent/Ops/ATC to send a 'ready' message you might just get lucky. As you were ready to push, it was obvious you could take advantage of any earlier slots.
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Presumably it's helped by some other unfortunate flight which isn't quite ready for its slot and makes it available. I've been on a flight where a 60 minute pushback delay was announced which suddenly got drastically shortened.
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I've deplaned because a slot time was 2 hours away only to be told "be ready in five, I've got a spot for you." 
In saying that, I've also had the opposite of "your slot time is x." Then you call for the clearance and they say "sorry, it's now x+2 hours."
In saying that, I've also had the opposite of "your slot time is x." Then you call for the clearance and they say "sorry, it's now x+2 hours."
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Can also be they have worked out a reroute which has taken the aircraft away from the choke point which is causing the problem or re-filed at another level.
This time of year there is strong northerly winds so they will want to run along the med then head north. Instead of heading north from Turkey/Greece up towards Germany. And all middle east traffic will have the same plan and also the summer season med flights will just be kicking in.
Then again it may be an arrival flow issue and then it's just luck if the slot gets brought forward.
This time of year there is strong northerly winds so they will want to run along the med then head north. Instead of heading north from Turkey/Greece up towards Germany. And all middle east traffic will have the same plan and also the summer season med flights will just be kicking in.
Then again it may be an arrival flow issue and then it's just luck if the slot gets brought forward.
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Thanks
We did in fact fly north over Cyprus and turkey, gradually heading west and then over Germany. Seems to be the longer way home, but if it avoided traffic and got up in the air on time, then fine by me.
We did in fact fly north over Cyprus and turkey, gradually heading west and then over Germany. Seems to be the longer way home, but if it avoided traffic and got up in the air on time, then fine by me.
