Using the Delay Predictor

Factors

The Delay Predictor in NavPort provides you with a prediction of further delays in your journey. The system factors in weather, airspace status, and average airport delays.

Factors

The table below lists regions of the world and the factors supported in each.

Weather

We read the same weather forecasts that pilots get, the METAR report. Weather conditions have different grades assigned to them, based on severity and likelihood to affect a flight's progress. We analyze these totals and then assign a delay probability based on them.

Airspace Status

Using the FAA's data, we can know in real-time the status of airspaces across North America. When we detect that a ground stop or a ground delay has been issued, we include this as a factor in our delay prediction. Ground stops require that (most) planes stay on the ground until the event is over, essentially guaranteeing a delay for a flight at that airport. Ground stops are often caused by weather events, such as lightning storms, tornadoes, etc.

Average Airport Delays

Analyzing airports' arrivals and departures, we can get a good idea of how the airport's traffic is flowing. This number isn't a huge factor in delay predictions, since it can be skewed by, for example, a few flights that arrived very late, while the rest of the flights were on time.