Understanding Airport Ground Stops: Causes And Effects

An airport ground stop is a safety measure that requires aircraft that meet specific criteria to remain on the ground. This could be due to various reasons, such as weather, technical issues, security incidents, or air traffic volume. Ground stops can be specific to a particular airport or a geographic area and can cause delays or cancellations for flights. They are implemented when air traffic control is unable to safely accommodate additional aircraft. While ground stops can be frustrating for passengers and pilots, they are necessary to ensure the safety and efficiency of air travel.

Ground stops are a common safety tool to control air traffic volume

Ground stops are a common safety tool used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to control air traffic volume. They are implemented when air traffic control cannot safely accommodate additional aircraft in the system. Ground stops can be used to slow or halt the flow of aircraft to a given airport, and they can be airport-specific, equipment-specific, or airspace-specific.

When a ground stop is called for a particular airport, aircraft departing for that airport from other locations will not be given departure clearance until the ground stop is lifted. This allows the destination airport to prepare for arriving aircraft and manage air traffic volume. Ground stops are often used during weather events such as thunderstorms, fog, low cloud ceilings, freezing temperatures, blizzards, hurricanes, or even volcanic activity. They can also be implemented due to equipment outages, computer outages, staffing shortages, security incidents, or construction.

Ground stops can range from 15 minutes to several days in duration, with an average length of 1 to 3 hours. During a ground stop, flights may be rerouted, delayed, or canceled. For aircraft that have already departed, they may be diverted to another airport, or the flight may be canceled, requiring new travel arrangements. If the ground stop is still in effect when an aircraft arrives, it may need to maintain a holding configuration until it is lifted.

Ground stops are a necessary safety measure to ensure the airways remain organized and safe during unforeseen circumstances. They can be frustrating for both passengers and pilots, causing interruptions to travel plans. However, they are an essential tool for air traffic control to manage the volume and flow of aircraft, especially during challenging conditions.

Reasons for a ground stop include weather, traffic volume, construction, security incidents, etc

A ground stop (GS) is a common safety procedure used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to control air traffic volume. The FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) can issue a ground stop to slow or halt the flow of aircraft to a given airport. Reasons for a GS can include weather, traffic volume, construction, VIP movements, and security incidents.

Weather is the most common reason for a GS. If conditions at the destination airport or en route require additional safety measures, a flight won't be able to leave its origin until the GS is lifted. For example, even if the weather is pleasant at the departure airport, rain at the destination or along the route could cause delays. In January 2014, Nav Canada issued a ground stop for Toronto Pearson due to cold weather, which was causing equipment freezing and safety issues for employees.

Ground stops may also be called during construction activities, operational events such as computer outages, or security incidents and special events. For instance, on July 25, 2022, a ground stop was declared at Dallas Love Field after a woman fired a gun near the ticket counters, prompting an evacuation of the terminal.

Ground stops can last anywhere from 15 minutes to several days

Ground stops are an important safety tool used to control air traffic volume. They can be caused by a variety of factors, including weather, technical difficulties, security incidents, and air traffic volume.

The duration of a ground stop can vary significantly, ranging from as little as 15 minutes to several days. The length of a ground stop depends on the nature and severity of the issue that prompted it. Some problems may be swiftly resolved by airport staff, while others may be beyond their control, requiring external factors to change before the ground stop can be lifted.

On average, ground stops last between 1 to 3 hours. However, it is not uncommon for them to extend beyond this timeframe, especially when dealing with more complex issues. For example, in the case of criminal activity, terrorism, or other security concerns, ground stops may be prolonged as staff evacuation and law enforcement intervention become necessary.

Ground stops can be implemented at various levels, from local to national. A local ground stop is typically initiated when conditions are not expected to last more than 30 minutes, whereas a national ground stop is a more restrictive measure that requires prior evaluation of less restrictive alternatives.

It is important for pilots and passengers to understand that ground stops are an essential part of air traffic management and are implemented to ensure safety and maintain orderly operations. While they can cause delays and disruptions, ground stops are necessary to address unforeseen circumstances and ensure the smooth flow of air traffic.

Ground stops can be airport-specific, equipment-specific or airspace-specific

Ground stops are a common safety tool used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to control air traffic volume. They are implemented when air traffic control is unable to safely accommodate additional aircraft in the system.

Ground stops can be airport-specific, equipment-specific, or airspace-specific. An airport-specific ground stop may be implemented if there is an issue at a particular airport, such as a computer outage, a thunderstorm, or other weather concerns. For example, a ground stop was called for Newark Liberty International Airport due to extreme cold weather causing equipment freezing and safety issues for employees. An equipment-specific ground stop may be called if there is a major equipment outage. For instance, in 2024, Delta, American and United Airlines issued a "global ground stop" amid global computer systems outages. An airspace-specific ground stop may be implemented if there is a hazard in a specific airspace, such as extreme smoke haze in the area from Canadian wildfires.

Ground stops are considered to be the most restrictive of the Traffic Management Initiatives (TMIs). They are usually not planned well in advance but are used reactively as conditions warrant. When a ground stop is implemented, traffic managers must decide what flights will be captured in the stop. This refers to the scope of the ground stop, which can be defined by distance, by center, or by tier.

Ground stops can have downstream effects, causing flights to be delayed or canceled and flight crews to be unable to reach the location of their next scheduled aircraft.

Ground stops can be declared for all incoming traffic or just certain aircraft

Ground stops are a common safety tool used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to control air traffic volume. They are implemented when air traffic control is unable to safely accommodate additional aircraft in the system.

A ground stop can be declared for all incoming traffic or just specific aircraft. For example, if an airport in a particular geographic area, such as Newark Liberty International Airport, is affected by a ground stop, no aircraft departing for that airport will be given clearance to leave until the ground stop is lifted.

Ground stops can be put in place for a variety of reasons, including weather events, equipment outages, security incidents, and operational events such as computer outages. They can last anywhere from 15 minutes to several days, but on average, they last between 1 to 3 hours.

The FAA's Ground Delay Program (GDP) is a traffic management initiative that ensures airways stay organized and safe during unforeseen circumstances. The FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) executes a GS by notifying the local ATC Tower, which then distributes an alert to the affected airports and airlines.

Ground stops can be frustrating for both passengers and pilots, as they interrupt travel plans. However, they are necessary to ensure the safe and efficient management of air traffic.

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