Definition
The actual elapsed time, recorded in flight, that it took to travel between two points along a route — typically from one navigation fix or checkpoint to the next, or from departure to destination. It is logged after the leg is flown and is compared against the estimated time en route (ETE) calculated during flight planning.
Plain English
How long the leg actually took, measured while flying it, written down so you can compare it to the time you predicted before takeoff.
Context Anchor
Seen on a navigation log during IFR flight planning and in flight, where planned times are compared with the times actually flown.
Derivation
‘En route’ comes from French, meaning ‘on the way.’ ‘Actual’ contrasts with ‘estimated’ — the planned figure (ETE) is what you expected, the actual figure (ATE) is what really happened.
Why Pilots Care
Reveals differences between planned and actual performance, supporting accurate fuel calculations and future flight planning.
Intuition Check
Do not read “actual” as another kind of estimate. ATE is the time that really happened in flight, recorded after or during the leg.
Example Sentence 1
After crossing the second VOR, the pilot noted the ATE was four minutes longer than the ETE, suggesting a stronger headwind than forecast.
Example Sentence 2
Reviewing the ATE against the ETE showed stronger headwinds than expected.