Expect Departure Clearance Time

Another tool that the FAA is implementing to increase efficiency is the reduction of the standard expect departure clearance time3 (EDCT) requirement. The FAA has drafted changes to augment and modify procedures contained in Ground Delay Programs (GDPs). Airlines may now update their departure times by arranging their flights’ priorities to meet the controlled time of arrival. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the new software and the airline-supplied data, the actual departure time parameter in relation to the EDCT has been reduced. This change impacts all flights (commercial and GA) operating to the nation’s busiest airports. Instead of the previous 25-minute EDCT window (5 minutes prior and 20 minutes after the EDCT), the new requirement for GDP implementation is a 10-minute window, and aircraft are required to depart within 5 minutes before or after their assigned EDCT. Using reduced EDCT and other measures included in GDPs, ATC aims at reducing the number of arrival slots issued to accommodate degraded arrival capacity at an airport affected by weather. The creation of departure or ground delays is less costly and safer than airborne holding delays in the airspace at the arrival airport.