internet of things and aviationWhy Do Flights Get Delayed So Often?

In the United States, the words on time at the airport refer to any flight departure or flight arrival within less than 15 minutes of their scheduled time. Although most flights tend to be on time, flight delays are just as horrible as they are inevitable. There are several reasons as to why flights are delayed, and there are ways you can find flight delay information. Sheffield School of Aeronautics, a well-known aeronautics school, shares some reasons regarding why your flight may be delayed.


Extreme Weather

As most frequent flyers already know, extreme weather events can cause flight delays, and even flight cancellations in some cases. Although planes are equipped to take off, fly, and land in all types of weather, sometimes pilots must be far more cautious in certain scenarios.

A weather condition in the west can affect the flights in the east, and vice versa. High winds and sleet are two additional factors in weather delays.


Late Arriving Aircraft

Just like there’s traffic during rush hour on land, air traffic can get heavy during rush hour, as well. A crowded or exceptionally busy airport can have planes lined up on the runway waiting to take off. This leaves many planes circling the airport, waiting on their clearance to land. This not only causes late arrival of other flights, but also causes a rippling effect to other flights. Late takeoffs and late landings have a spiraling effect, until the schedule gets back on track.


Waiting for Connecting Passengers or Connecting Bags

To ensure that you get to your destination, it’s a courtesy when some airlines wait for connecting passengers. Most times, the captain will inform the passengers already on the flight that there may be flight delays due to waiting on those who are coming from another flight.

Sometimes bags take a little longer to get from one plane to the next, as well. Ground handlers try their best to hustle, but sometimes they need to wait for more bags to arrive from other flights before taking off.


Mechanical Delays

Like any other vehicle that takes passengers from point A to point B, occasional issues can occur. The pilots run checks before the plane leaves, which is when an issue can be discovered. The airline will either delay the flight to give the mechanics plenty of time to fix the problem, or they will change planes entirely.


There are plenty of other reasons why passengers face flight delays, such as time for fueling, boarding passengers, aircraft cleaning, etc. Airlines allow for a little bit of flexibility, and it’s important for passengers to understand such so they can fit some flexibility into their schedule, too.

If you are interested in the aviation world and a dispatcher program, Sheffield School of Aeronautics offers plenty of dispatcher courses to choose from. As the world’s oldest and most reputable aeronautics school, you can find a dispatcher course that’s right for you at the tips of your fingers. Contact Sheffield School today.

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