Flight time calculating

[Mick]

Hello!

Sorry for maybe asking again, but I didn't find an appropriate topic by using the search...

Since FSP changed from normal time in the 'Set Destination' dialog (i.e.: 12:45) to block time I'm confused if the pasengers boarding time belongs to
this time block or not.
For example I enter 50 minutes and my passengers need 10 minutes to board the plane (I use always random boarding times), do the 50 min. count from
when I release the parking brake or frome the moment they start boarding???

I ask because if I fly the pmdg747 I always start the boarding together with all the flight preparations and mostly they take longer than the boarding
time...

Mick

[Dutch64]

Hi Mick, the flight time is calculated from parking brake release until final parking brake set. So boarding doesn't coount because you still have
your brakes set

[Mick]

Dutch64 wrote:
Hi Mick, the flight time is calculated from parking brake release until final parking brake set. So boarding doesn't coount because you still have
your brakes set

Thank's a lot. I was already wondering why I was always too early at my arrival airport when I followed my old rule of thumb (boarding 20, taxi 10
minutes each airport plus flight time from FSNAV).

Thank's again!

Mick!

[Covoxer]

There's one hint how to be always precisely on time.
Set longer flight time. When you get to the destination earlier by say 30 min, just taxi to the gate, stop and do not set parking brake. Just
wait the remaining time nad only then set parking brake and start deboarding. You may also set time acceleration during waiting at the
gate. It is not punished because it is not during th eflight time.

[DBE]

Kinda defeats the point though?

[WBHoenig]

I've always wondered why pax would mind being early...

[vollmey]

I'm currently letting ASV6 calculate the flight time enroute and adding 30mins. to it. Of course if your leaving a busy airport and going to a
busy airport you might want to add a bit to that for traffic.

[Dutch64]

Covoxer wrote:
There's one hint how to be always precisely on time.
Set longer flight time. When you get to the destination earlier by say 30 min, just taxi to the gate, stop and do not set parking brake. Just
wait the remaining time nad only then set parking brake and start deboarding. You may also set time acceleration during waiting at the
gate. It is not punished because it is not during th eflight time.

Not completely true, according to the manual the pax might get bored waiting but didn't notice that yet...

[Covoxer]

Not completely true, according to the manual the pax might get bored waiting but didn't notice that yet...

Maybe... But for about 30 minutes with music on, they seem to be happy (satisfaction +2)
Have not tried it for longer yet

[ricochetv1]

Last time I tried that, I got dinged because the pax got bored, wondering why we were sitting on the ground so long...
My suggestion... do a missed approach.

[Covoxer]

My suggestion... do a missed approach.

Good idea!

[Air France]

vollmey ,

Where in Active Sky 6 do u see the flight time and is it accurate ???


Thank You,
Clement

[vollmey]

Clement,

When you let Active sky read your flight plan it caulculates stations along your route and will give you wind data and so on. Scroll down to
the bottom and you will get a flight time and an average wind speed and direction. I put into ASV 450 knts for a ground speed with
commercial airliners ie... 737, 747, A330 etc..... and that's a good average # from mach .78 to .82 . Now if you heading westbound say
here in the states you might want to drop that down 25 knts or so and add 25 knts or heading eastbound espcially in the winter months.
But most of the time I will just by habit put in 450 knts. into ASV 6 and add 30 mins. and your going to be pretty darn close, even on long
hauls I come darn close.

Small planes I just kind of give it an educated guess, say the King air, your going to fly along at say 180-200 knts indicated I might put in
say 230-250knts groundspeed into ASV. Just depending on weather and how well I know the plane. I know the big stuff much better
because that's basically all I fly.

I'm not sure what you fly but ASV can help out alot with your flight times. Don't forget to add 30 mins though.

Hope this helps, I'll be flying all weekend and around the message board so let me know if you have any questions.

[KenG]

I've always wondered why pax would mind being early

While I fly mostly VIP in the real world, we have a motto. On time airlines. The reason is that with VIPs especially there is coordination that is in
place at the arrival section; customs, limos, and a arrival party (some of whom are VIPs themselves.) Thus arriving early throws all of this planning
off and requires allot of people to scramble at the last minute. There are other things to consider, such as slot time and gate availability. While
the passengers might not care that they are 30 minutes early there are others who will. Again I am not an airline guy but I can take this mentality to
an airline scenario and easily see where slots, gate, baggage handlers, customs, and all of the other things that makes and airport tick will be
thrown off by an early arrival.

While the passengers might be happy, the pilot should be dinged.

If I am really early I would rather hold than shoot a missed approach. Passengers get anxious when the gear comes down. "Gear down = getting ready to
land." If then gear then goes back up most passengers would then become nervous. Why are we not landing. Ding, Ding is what you start hearing in the
back. Yes we have a passenger call button in the King Air. I would rather avoid all of that, casually enter holding and make an announcement. In the
real world if you request holding ATC will generally be complainant. Just don't wait until you’re at the FAF to request it.

[jboweruk]

I remember once having to meet a plane at LHR to deliver a car to somebody, I got held up in traffic on the way and when I got there half
an hour late his plane had come in.... an Hour early. OUCH