Definition
The estimated flying time from departure point (or a specified fix) to destination, calculated using planned groundspeed and the route to be flown. ETE measures only the time spent en route — it does not include time before takeoff or after landing.
Plain English
How long the flight itself is expected to take, from leaving one point to reaching another, based on how fast the airplane is expected to travel over the ground.
Context Anchor
Seen in flight planning, navigation logs, cockpit navigation displays, and position reports.
Derivation
From the French 'en route', meaning 'on the way'. ETE is the time spent 'on the way' between two points — distinct from total trip time, which would include taxi, holding, or arrival delays.
Why Pilots Care
Accurate ETE helps determine fuel needs, arrival timing, and whether an alternate airport remains reachable.
Intuition Check
Do not confuse ETE with ETA. ETE is how much time the trip will take; ETA is the clock time you expect to arrive.
Example Sentence 1
With a planned groundspeed of 120 knots over a 240 nautical mile route, the pilot calculated an ETE of two hours.
Example Sentence 2
After the headwind increased, the revised ETE to the destination became two hours thirty-five minutes.