My Flying News

I remember a piloting a charter flight last summer when a passenger was rude and challenged my credibility.

I was flying from the New York area down to South Florida. We were delayed because of the weather. In pilot terms, we had an EDCT or “e-dict” when phonetically pronounced.

What is an EDCT?

EDCT actually stands for Expect Departure Clearance Time. See our Pilot to Human Dictionary for more terms.

EDCTs can be issued for several reasons, including weather. It is the time we are allowed to depart. They are issued by the FAA and Air Traffic Control. There is only so much pilots can do about EDCTs. Sometimes, we can coordinate alternate routes.

In this case, strong thunderstorms stretched from deep into the Gulf of Mexico, across Florida, and well into the Atlantic Ocean. This line of weather was constricting the 3 main routes to South Florida.

From the Northeast to Florida is one of the busiest and most traveled air routes in the US. With weather cutting it off, delays can start and increase quickly.

A little old lady approached me, asking me why I was lying about the weather delay? She said she had just spoken to her husband in Boca Raton and that the weather was fine in Florida. Luckily, a nearby group of passengers put her in her place quickly.

Remember that the weather can be good at your departure and your destination but bad in between.

After our delay, we departed and made it to South Florida safely.