Definition
A planned delay that a pilot includes in a flight plan, to be taken at a specified point along the route after departure. Common forms include holding at a fix, flying a procedure such as a holding pattern or a series of turns at a designated location, or accepting a reduced speed segment. The delay is filed in the flight plan so ATC knows it is intentional and can plan accordingly.
Plain English
A pause or slow-down that the pilot has built into the flight plan on purpose, to happen at a specific spot along the way. Because it's written into the plan from the start, controllers expect it and aren't surprised when the aircraft slows down or holds.
Context Anchor
Seen when preparing or reviewing a flight plan that includes a planned delay after departure but before the destination.
Derivation
En route' is French for 'on the way.' So 'filed en route delay' literally means a delay 'on the way' that has been filed (written into the flight plan) ahead of time.
Why Pilots Care
Gives ATC an accurate picture of your expected arrival so they can sequence traffic and manage airspace without unnecessary reroutes or holds.
Intuition Check
Do not read “delay” here as an unexpected problem or late arrival. A Filed En Route Delay is planned ahead of time and included in the flight plan.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot included a 15-minute filed en route delay over the practice area so the flight plan would reflect the time spent on training maneuvers.
Example Sentence 2
After the weather cleared, ATC confirmed the filed en route delay could be reduced.