Take-off Slot Time
Have you ever found yourself sitting in an uncomfortable chair in the airport, or buckling up in the airplane itself, only to realize that everyone is speaking in some sort of code and you didn’t get the memo?
Calculated Take Off Time (CTOT) - The time provided by the Central Flow Management Unit (CFMU), taking into account the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) ATC flow situation, that an aircraft has been calculated to take off. The CTOT, also known as the ATFM ( Air Traffic Flow Management) slot, has a tolerance of – 5 to +10 minutes. The departure time slot is the time interval within which the take-off has to take place. The departure slot is defined to improve the traffic flow and avoid to jam-up the airspace. If the assigned time slot is missed by the pilot, a new CTOT has to be requested to the controller. 2.An Air Traffic Flow & Capacity Management (ATFCM) departure slot, forming part of an Air Traffic Control (ATC) clearance, which is issued to a flight affected by Network Management regulations. It is defined by a time and tolerance (-5 to +10 minutes) during which period the flight is expected to take-off.
Airport jargon can be extremely confusing, but if you learn a few of the basic meanings beforehand, then the airport shouldn’t be too much of a foreign experience.
Air travel terms can be broken up into two separate categories: on the ground, and in the air. Let’s start with lingo that you will hear while your feet are still on the ground.
ATC
The ATC is also known as the Air Traffic Control. They are in control of pretty much every aspect that goes into a plane’s flight.
Area of Weather
If you hear the pilot announce that you are coming to an area of weather and that he has turned the fasten seatbelt sign on, this just means that there is a thunderstorm or heavy rain ahead. He will usually turn the plane to avoid it.
Approach
When you hear the pilot or crew talking about the approach, it means that the plane is beginning its descent for landing.
Airspace
The space over the land or sea area occupied by a certain state or country. A country's airspace is considered part of that country's territory and therefore subject to its authority.
Baggage
Luggage or other items passengers bring on the airplane. You can carry one piece of small baggage on the airplane, and this is called carry-on. Large baggage is kept in a special part of the airplane.
Baggage Area
The baggage area is the area of the airport that handles baggage carried by passengers. These often have several large moving belts. Passengers wait at the belt for their baggage to move to them.
Concourse
A broad, open area in the airport for the passage or assembly of people.
Concessions
Businesses inside the airport terminal are known as concessions. These usually sell food, drinks or retail goods such as magazines, books, or souvenirs to passengers.
Customs
Before you’re allowed to enter the country, you have to go through customs where you will be met by a customs officer. The custom officer will check if you’re carrying anything illegal into the country like firearms (guns), drugs, etc. The officer will ask you if you “have anything to declare?” If you’re not carrying any forbidden item, you should answer “no.”
Taking Off Time Slot
Direct Flight
When seeing the term 'direct flight' on your ticket, you probably think that will mean that your flight will take you directly to your destination without stopping, right? Wrong. Direct flight simply means that the flight number will not change, but in many cases your flight will indeed stop. You may even need to change planes completely.
Deplane
Deplane is just a fancy way of saying, get off of the plane and don’t forget your belongings.
De-icing
Removing ice, snow, or frost, usually from aircraft and airfield pavements during snowy weather. This ensures safety and efficiency of operations.
Executive Lounge
A room or a dedicated area at an airport or hotel with comfortable chairs, a coffee bar etc for those travelling first-class.
Gatehouse
You have probably heard someone’s name being called over the intercom, requesting that if they are in the gatehouse that they go to a specific point for whatever reason. The gatehouse is just another way of saying the boarding area where you are waiting for your plane to arrive.
Gate
In air travel, a gate is the entrance to a movable passage much like a tunnel or a bridge leading to the aircraft. This allows passengers to board the plane, and later get off at their destination.
Ground Stop
A ground stop is a procedure in which all aircraft are not permitted to take off or land at a particular airport. This usually takes place during severe storms, heavy air traffic, or sometimes, nearby terrorist attacks. This is a security measure put in effect to avoid accidents. In the event of a ground stop, outbound flights are delayed; incoming flights either circle around or are diverted to other cities. Passengers will be asked to wait in their aircraft (or at the airport) until circumstances improve.
In Range
If you hear them announcing that your flight is now 'in range' that means that the plane is in the process of landing, but hasn’t touched ground yet. This announcement is to give you a heads up to get ready to board the plane, though how long it will take for the plane to actually land and be ready for passengers is never an exact science.
Jetway
A jetway is a specially designed movable walkway, much like a bridge or a corridor leading into an aircraft. This allows passengers to board or disembark a plane.
Knots
A knot is one nautical mile per hour (approx: 1.151 MPH).
Kiosk
An airport kiosk is an interactive, computerized device where people can get information or services. These are usually located throughout an airport terminal for easy access. A kiosk may be consulted about flight status, flight schedules or other inquiries. Some kiosks may be set up with a keyboard and mouse, while others may provide a user-friendly touch screen. Not all kiosks are computerized. Some are simply free-standing booths or tables manned by salespeople, where passengers can buy magazines, snacks or souvenirs.
Long-haul flight (N)
A flight that travels a long distance in one go for example a long-haul flight would be flying from New York to Sydney.
Nonstop Flight
This is the flight that you were looking for above. This flight will take you exactly where you want to go, without stopping or causing you to change planes and lose your comfortable position.
People Mover / Moving Walkway
A people mover, moving walkway (British term) or moving sidewalk (American term) is an automated mechanism that carries people across a distance of several meters. It's often utilized in airports and looks like a flat, horizontal escalator. Moving walkways are often very helpful for passengers carrying lots of luggage.
Pushback
Pushback is the procedure for pushing an aircraft backward and away from an airport gate, normally using vehicles called pushback tractors.
Ramp
Typically, a ramp is an inclined plane that allows transit between two areas that have different levels. In an airport, this word refers to a staircase with wheels, which is used to load or unload an airplane. The word is also used in sea travel, referring to an inclined walkway installed between the vessel and the port.
Runway
The part of the airport where airplanes take off or land.
Slot
The scheduled time for take-off and arrival by an aircraft.
Tarmac
The surfacing material used for airport runways, usually consisting of compressed stone or iron slag coated with tar. The term is short for 'tarmacadam'.
'Tarmacadam' is an improvement on a road-making method called macadamisation, developed by in Scottish road engineer John Loudon McAdam in the 1800s. Macadamisation basically involves layers of stone coated with a binder or cement; Tarmacadam uses a specialized tar for a flatter surface.
Take-off Slot Time Aviation
Transit Lounge
A room or designated area at an international travel airport where passengers wait for their flight to another country.
Take-Off
When an airplane leaves the ground, the act is termed as take-off.
Terminal
The main building of an airport that is used by passengers and cargo.
Tower
In an airport, the word 'tower' usually refers to the Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT). This is a ground-based center that provides direction for aircraft, whether on the runway or in the air. From the towers, Air traffic controllers give instructions to pilots in the aircraft; these directions are for facilitating the flow of traffic, assisting pilots with relevant information, and for preventing accidents.
Related Topics
| Link | Semantic Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Calculated Take-Off Time |
| Status | |
| Mandatory for | |
| Contexts | EUROCONTROL, SESAR, ICAO |
| Categories | |
| Synonyms | |
| Related entries | Actual Take-Off Time (ATOT) Estimated Take-Off Time (ETOT) Target Take-Off Time (TTOT) |
| Broader term | |
| Narrower term |
Abbreviation
CTOT
Definition
1.A time calculated and issued by the Central Flow Management unit, as a result of tactical slot allocation, at which a flight is expected to become airborne.
2.An Air Traffic Flow & Capacity Management (ATFCM) departure slot, forming part of an Air Traffic Control (ATC) clearance, which is issued to a flight affected by Network Management regulations. It is defined by a time and tolerance (-5 to +10 minutes) during which period the flight is expected to take-off.
Definition Source
1. EUROCONTROL/IATA/ACI, Airport CDM Implementation Manual, V.4, March 2012
Ethernet Slot Time
2. NM Glossary (2014)
Note
Reference: ICAO Doc 7030/4 – EUR, Table 7
Lexicon Release
Lexicon Release 2016.1