How do pilots 'make up time' on late flight departures?

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EHFAR

Ok..picking up speed is at times an option, but most likely, they will try to get a more direct routing than was previously "assigned" in their initial flight plan. Now that their departing time has changed, the flight plan can be altered. (sometimes) If a more direct route is available, they can request it. Hence, "we will TRY to make up some time".

Penfold

They can fly at different altitudes if Air Traffic Control allows them to do so (although flying at different altitude may allow for a better speed, it'll screw up fuel efficiency).

In practice, most reasonable scheduled airlines allow about 30-45 minutes into the flight schedule for delays. Consequently, the plane can suffer from delays at the departure airport and still arrive on time. This practice can also be frustrating for passengers at the arrival airport becuase if they flight arrives early, the arrival airport may not be ready for them to disembark passengers i.e. another plane may be sitting at the gate.

frog

Pilots normally fly at 'optimum' speed, that is, the best speed for the best fuel consumption - but they can open the throttle to increase speed.

Lew W

Most all airlines are trying to save costs on fuel so they will file for a cruising speed that will maximize the fuel conservation.

But when airlines start running behind fo one reason or the other, they will look for a way to shorten their flight time. This could be taking a shortcut along their route of flight, and/or increasing their cruising speed.

A few times a day, I'll receive a request for a shortcut along an aircraft's route of flight to make up time. 9 out of 10 times, we'll be able to offer something for them.

Another example. I was on a flight from DFW to ORD about a year ago. AAL66 to be exact, a Boeing 777-200. There were major thunderstorms overlying the Chicago Metropolitan area, so we took a 2 hour delay on the ground. Originally the flight was supposed to be about 2 hours and 15 min. But when we finally got the go ahead to depart, our revised flight time was 1hr40min.

How do we make up that much time for a relatively short flight?!? This is where the speed comes in. AAL66 was originally filed to travel at Mach 0.76 to ORD. When all Hades broke loose, the crew revised the speed to Mach 0.84. At 36,000 feet, this flight is now travelling about 70 knots faster than originally filed. So over the course of nearly two hours, we've made up 140 nautical miles of lost time.

Of course, most aircraft can't make up that kind of speed, because they are just not designed to go that fast.

PIlots will also ask at what altitude the winds are most favorable at for their flight. If a different altitude a few thousand feet above of below will provide them a faster ground speed or better fuel consumption, they'll ask for it. Although stereotypically, the higher an aircraft is, the more fuel efficient it is.

emeaebg

Airports are so busy these days that schedules often have time built in, on the assumption that the plane will probably take off late.
But also, planes don't fly at their maximum speed all the time if they don't have to - they fly at the speed that is most economical. Even a couple of percent either way can make a big effect on the fuel cost. But if the flight is running late the pilot can open the throttle further and make up the time.

bostongirl_1981

Tailwinds. That's why sometimes when you coming East to West, it's a longer flight than it is West to East, depending on the weather and which way the Jet Stream is moving.

Also, yes, I think of planes like I think of cars. SURE, my car can GO 120 mph, but that doesn't mean I DRIVE it at 120 mph all the time. God, I wouldn't have a driver's license left if I did that. Just like planes can GO really fast, they probably aren't FLOWN really fast because of fuel consumption vs. avg cost per gallon of jet fuel.

So, if the weather is good, the pilot will take the plane UP to 35,000 feet and you will see clouds WAY below the plane instead of right off the wing, and the tailwinds are better up there than cutting through all the clouds and weather patterns below. If the jetstream is moving in the same direction the plane is going, it will help the plane along. Almost like a NASCAR race car driver will down draft the guy in front of him. Almost like driving behind a truck.... to get better gas mileage and more speed.

ALOPILOT

We fly a little faster and also talk to ATC to try to get a more direct route... I flew MLI-MEM once, left 35 mins late, arrived 20 mins early... that was fast... we had 100 mph. winds with us and high speed cruise, and GPS direct from MLI - the STAR

.com

they will speed up
or they may fly at a higher alltitude
there are any # of things they can do, they can alter their corse to avoid strong winds

cherub

wind speed. often planes fly lower than capable of doing and they can fly quicker up higher if weather is ok.

Paul McDonald

They fly faster.

Usually planes travel at slower speeds to allocate for the slack time expectation at arrival, especially at busier airports such as O'Hare, LaGuardia, LAX, and DFW. So if they are delayed at departure, it is very possible to just fly a little faster and still arrive on time.

Jay G

Turn on The Afterburners!!!

luludoodie

They don't. Planes always fly at optimum speed (i.e fuel economy versus speed) and on set routes. They can't "shortcut" or go faster.

However published flight times allow for delays so we appear to arrive at the right time, in fact if the plane leaves on time we arrive early!

So the pilot knows he has margin built in. Obviously if he is an hour late leaving on a 10 hour flight he can't make it up and get there in 9 hours.

emma g

Believe it or not they fly higher, not faster ........ im not sure how it works but it does

Del Piero 10

Pedal to the metal Dude. Plus ask air traffic control for a bit of help.

BIG D

They know all the shortcuts!!!

Jerry

For a true answer to this question you would do best to ask a pilot.

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