Salon :: Tech & Business

Ask the pilot: Do pilots jettison fuel before landing? Plus: JetBlue's troublesome nonstops, and the scoop on in-flight "shortcuts"

<b>I <a href="http://dir.salon.com/topics/food_and_travel/">travel</a> frequently, and the following is a common occurrence: Departure is delayed by an hour or more, but once we're in the air, the pilot informs us that he will "try to make up some time," perhaps with the help of "shortcuts." What is going on here? And if it's possible to <a href="http://dir.salon.com/topics/flying/">fly</a> faster, why not do it all the time?</b> <P>Basically there are two ways to make up time: increase speed or ask for a shorter routing. With respect to the latter, planes are seldom cleared in a straight line from departure point to destination; assigned routes tend to turn, bend and twist -- a product of crowded skies and the convoluted (i.e., outdated) architecture of our airway system. If a flight is late, the crew will sometimes request to cut corners or bypass certain fixes, shortening the distance. Permission depends mostly on traffic, and requests are frequently denied. With so many planes in the air, all of them in the same proverbial boat, pilots have to be judicious when seeking such favors. <p>...</p><img src="http://feeds.salon.com/~r/salon/tech/~4/200059620" height="1" width="1"/>

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