ground stop
Planes stay parked
A ground stop is an aviation restriction that halts departures to a specific airport, usually due to severe weather, equipment failure, or air traffic congestion.
When a ground stop is in effect, planes bound for that destination remain at their origin airports until conditions improve: All flights to Denver are under a ground stop due to the blizzard.
The term appears frequently in travel delays and airport announcements.
Airline voids scheduled departure
- air traffic controlManaging aircraft separation and movement
- towerTall slender edifice
- runwayPaved path for planes
- tarmacPaved airport surface
gate · terminal · departure · arrival · taxiway · airline · boarding · deicing
Enforced waiting period
- cancellationVoiding of plans
- holdupTheft by threat
- rescheduleAssign a different time
- queueOrdered waiting line
wait · rebooking · diversion · backup · missed connection · overflow · standstill · bottleneck
Permitted passage or approval
- flight planAircraft's intended trajectory documentation
- standard operating proceduresDocumented routine processes
- coordinationOrganized cooperative movement
- complianceAdhering to requirements
regulation · sequencing · metering · FAA
Preventive safety measure
- risk mitigationReducing exposure to threats
- passenger safetyProtection of vehicle occupants
- hazardSource of potential harm
- emergency responseOrganized action during crises
inspection · weather advisory · security screening · spacing · collision avoidance
Atmospheric state outdoors
- thunderstormViolent weather with lightning
- fogLow-lying cloud cover
- snowFrozen crystalline precipitation
- iceWater's solid form
wind shear · security threat · staffing shortage · equipment failure · volcanic ash · runway closure · medical emergency
flight cancellation
Airline voids scheduled departure
- air traffic controlManaging aircraft separation and movement
- towerTall slender edifice
- runwayPaved path for planes
tarmac · gate · terminal · departure · arrival · taxiway · airline · boarding · deicing · fueling
delay
Enforced waiting period
- cancellationVoiding of plans
- holdupTheft by threat
- rescheduleAssign a different time
queue · wait · rebooking · diversion · backup · missed connection · overflow · standstill · bottleneck · gridlock
clearance
Permitted passage or approval
- flight planAircraft's intended trajectory documentation
- standard operating proceduresDocumented routine processes
- coordinationOrganized cooperative movement
compliance · regulation · sequencing · metering · FAA
precaution
Preventive safety measure
- risk mitigationReducing exposure to threats
- passenger safetyProtection of vehicle occupants
- hazardSource of potential harm
emergency response · inspection · weather advisory · security screening · spacing · collision avoidance
weather
Atmospheric state outdoors
- thunderstormViolent weather with lightning
- fogLow-lying cloud cover
- snowFrozen crystalline precipitation
ice · wind shear · security threat · staffing shortage · equipment failure · volcanic ash · runway closure · medical emergency
- aviation jargoncockpit, fuselage, jetway, pushback, holding pattern
- flight delaysweather delay, crew shortage, late arrival, snow delay, de-icing
ground stopcleared for takeoff
ground, stop, grounds, grounded, grounding, groundless, stops, stopped, stopping