Learn / Flying

What happens on a flight

A flight follows the same sequence every time, from the gate to the gate. Knowing the phases explains most of what you hear and feel on board.

1. Pushback and taxi

Once the doors close, a tug pushes the aircraft back from the stand and the engines start. Ground control clears the aircraft along the taxiways to the runway. The cabin crew do the safety briefing while you taxi.

2. Take-off

The tower clears the flight for take-off. The pilots set take-off thrust and check their speeds against figures worked out for that day’s weight, runway and weather: after the decision speed, V1, they continue the take-off whatever happens. See V-speeds.

3. Climb

The wheels come up, then the flaps, and the aircraft climbs, often in steps as controllers fit it around other traffic. The seat belt sign often stays on until the aircraft is well clear of the busy airspace around the airport.

4. Cruise

Most of the flight is spent level at a flight level, usually at a speed between about Mach 0.78 and 0.85. Pilots manage fuel, weather and the route, and may climb higher as the aircraft gets lighter. Winds matter: with a strong jet stream behind it, a flight can arrive well early.

5. Descent and approach

About 20 to 40 minutes before landing the aircraft starts down. Approach controllers line flights up for the runway, sometimes via a holding pattern. On final approach, often guided by the ILS, the flaps and landing gear go down.

6. Landing and taxi in

After touchdown, reverse thrust and brakes slow the aircraft, and it turns off onto a taxiway. If anything isn’t right before landing, the pilots fly a go-around and try again: a normal, practised manoeuvre. Then it’s back to a stand and the air bridge.

Who you’re talking to

A flight passes between controllers: ground, then tower, then departure and area controllers, then approach and tower again at the other end. Each knows the flight by its callsign.