Definition
An air traffic management procedure used by the FAA to manage demand and capacity at a destination airport when arrival demand is expected to exceed the airport's acceptance rate. Aircraft bound for the affected airport are held on the ground at their departure airports and issued revised departure times (Expect Departure Clearance Times, or EDCTs) so that arrivals are metered to match what the destination can handle.
Plain English
When too many flights are heading to the same airport at once — usually because of weather or reduced capacity — the FAA holds some of them on the ground before takeoff and gives each one a new, later departure time. This spreads the arrivals out so the destination airport doesn't get overwhelmed.
Context Anchor
Seen in preflight planning, airline and dispatch operations, and air traffic control notices when weather, runway limits, or heavy traffic reduce how many aircraft can arrive at an airport.
Why Pilots Care
It changes departure times, affects fuel and duty planning, and prevents airborne holding that would otherwise burn extra fuel.
Grounding Statement
If thunderstorms reduce arrivals at a major airport, flights headed there may be held at their departure airports until the destination can accept them safely.
Intuition Check
A Ground Delay Program is not just any delay that happens while an aircraft is on the ground. It is an organized traffic-management plan that intentionally delays departures to prevent too many aircraft from arriving at once.
Example Sentence 1
A Ground Delay Program was issued for arrivals into San Francisco due to low ceilings, and our flight received an EDCT pushing departure back forty-five minutes.
Example Sentence 2
The pilot checked the ATCSCC advisory and saw the Ground Delay Program in effect before requesting an IFR clearance.