Frequent Flyer, I am not sure what your background is, but certain defined times are as per Air Ops and thus cannot be amended. These times will not change with the introduction of a towing. Some variations exist to certain definitions between operators to keep some bean counter in a far away located office happy, but generally...
Different flight segments are labelled differently for different obvious reasons:
- Flight Time - Takeoff (advancing thrust levers to takeoff position) to landing (by selection of idle reverse after reverse use requirements)
- Block Time - the time between blocks off to blocks on, the prior can vary between airlines (moving under its own power, or commencement of pushback, or engine start for the purpose of departure) but the latter is generally defined as engines shut down, parking brake set, "belts off",...)
- Gate Time - the time spent at the gate (this is the physical time located at the gate, so equal to you "belts off" to closing doors for departure)
- Slot Time - equivalent to a controlled time of takeoff (CTOT), thus should not be used in your definition as something else as it would be too confusing for operators to refer to something using a term they are already used to in a different manner
- Ground Time is generally not used as a definition but can be used as time between flights.
Hope this helps, PM to avoid continuation on the MQTW thread...