Originally Posted by
SilkySmooth
So the clearance controller schooled me today on the importance of not contacting him any further once he's given a release time. Apparently, according to him, if a pilot requests information on further delays once a release time has been given, the controller in obligated (by law) to call for another release time. Unfortunately for us, my naivete added 30 minutes to our original release time. Have any of you experienced this.. All you ATC types, please enlighten me.
Lets say you have a 9am departure scheduled by your company.
You call up ATC either on the clearence delivery freq or through a radio service station. Should be the same either way. They will ask you for your EDT. (Estimated Time of Departure). Most F/O's i fly with will say 9am. Which is usually too early. That is just the time that our company wants us to push. So add a couple of minutes to give yourself time to safely get the airplane ready for departure. New F/O maybe add 20 min. Normally i like to add 10. Of course the gate agents can slow things down. Or wheelchairs etc....
So you tell ATC 9:10am. They call the center and they look for a slot to put you in. Ding Ding Ding there is one at 9:25. So they relay that info to you. You should have both engine running and ready to takeoff at that time.
The main problem i see is that people will get a release time too close to pushback time and can't get out. Then you have to get another release time. This ****es off ATC cause they have to make another phone call.
This isn't a completly correct example of how things work but consider it the pilots guide to release times.