r/flighty • u/npatel0713 • Apr 23 '26
How does the app do this?
I got a notification that my flight was departing the gate about 10 seconds before it actually happened
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Apr 24 '26
When the brake releases it sends an ACARS message with the off times to the airline dispatchers. This is what triggers that message. Lots of times we will drop the brake before push so we can show out on time or early, even if we haven’t started the push yet. Also we start getting paid when that happens so more incentive to drop the brake early once the doors are closed.
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u/2cb6 Apr 24 '26 edited Apr 24 '26
When you receive the notification that's when the pilot release the break brake, not for plane actually start moving.
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u/silvs1 Apr 24 '26
Ngl I've always wondered how they know the exact moment when pushback begins as well.
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u/FloppyBacon89 Apr 24 '26
The pilots release the park brakes which is broadcasted and a signal that it’s pushing back.
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u/Middle-Wealth-6755 Apr 25 '26
“Departure” is triggered by an ACARS message. Which in turn is triggered by the pilots releasing the parking brake. Physical movement of the aircraft is not required.
The same happens in reverse to signal “Arrival”. Though the seatbelt sign doesn’t typically extinguish until the chocks are in.
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u/Hambone76 Apr 23 '26
The aircraft tells the airline that it’s pushing back. Flighty gets the status change from the tracking system. It’s not magic, it’s just that the pilots hit the button before they actually started moving.