Define block time.

Define block time.

• A. The scheduled duration from pushback at the gate to arrival at the gate, used to measure performance.
• B. The time from engine start to engine stop during flight.
• C. The time between gate arrivals at the end of a trip.
• D. The time passengers spend in the cabin during flight.

Answer: (A)

Block time is the total elapsed time from when the aircraft begins to move at the gate (pushback) to when it stops at the arriving gate. It includes taxi-out, takeoff, the flight itself, and taxi-in, giving a single measure of how long the operation takes from departure to arrival. This metric is used to gauge performance, assess on-time performance, and plan schedules, since it reflects the actual duration of the trip rather than just the time spent in the air. It does not include time spent waiting at the gate before pushback or after arrival, and the other described durations refer to different concepts (engine run time or cabin time).