From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!esquire!brl-bmd!wmartin
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Title: On-ground holds for ATC
Article-I.D.: brl-bmd.314
Posted: Tue Aug 10 11:40:48 1982
Received: Thu Aug 12 07:39:28 1982
References: csin.176

This is NOT a general aviation question; it relates to commercial flights:

I've been taking flights for business purposes about once a month for a
while this year. Every flight, ecept one night flight, has been delayed
at the gate for 20-40 minutes due to being held at the gate by the air
traffic controllers, according to pilots' announcements. They usually
explain how this is better than circling at the destination, saves fuel,
and suchlike. I agree with this reasoning; it is logical. But why on
earth are the flights scheduled for time "n" and then delayed for 30
minutes at all?!?!? Why aren't they SCHEDULED for time "n + 30" to start
with? Can anyone explain the reasoning behind paying the crew and loading
the plane that extra 30 minutes ahead of when they can take off? As I
said, this affected EVERY flight I took during prime time, so what would
be wrong with just slipping all the schedules?

Bemusedly, Will Martin