Flight time.
Flight time, in the United States regulatory definition, is pilot time that begins when an aircraft moves under its own power for the purpose of flight and ends when it comes to rest after landing. In everyday charter use, flight time often means airborne time only, from take-off to touchdown, which is shorter than block time.
| Term | Flight time |
|---|---|
| Used in | Private aviation, charter brokerage and operations |
| Related terms | Block time, Nautical mile, Great-circle distance |
| Sources | 2 listed below |
What does Flight time mean in practice?
The phrase flight time causes confusion because regulators and salespeople use it differently.
The FAA and ICAO definitions run from first movement to final stop, which is what operators call block time. A broker quoting a one hour flight time may mean airborne time, with taxi on top. The difference matters in two places. First, price: if your quote is hourly, ask whether the hours are block or airborne. Second, crew duty limits: pilots' legal flight and duty hours are counted on the regulatory definition, and a long ground delay can push a crew out of hours, causing a cancellation you did not expect. When planning a day trip with a tight return, ask the operator how much duty margin the crew has. A schedule that looks fine on paper can fail if the outbound sector runs late.
Questions
What does Flight time mean?
Flight time, in the United States regulatory definition, is pilot time that begins when an aircraft moves under its own power for the purpose of flight and ends when it comes to rest after landing. In everyday charter use, flight time often means airborne time only, from take-off to touchdown, which is shorter than block time.
Sources
- 14 CFR 1.1 Definitions (Cornell LII) (accessed 2026-09-20)
- Wikipedia: Flight length (accessed 2026-09-20)
Last reviewed 20 September 2026 by Empty Leg Exclusive Editorial Team.