Definition
A method of time-regulating the flow of arrival aircraft into a terminal area so that the demand on the runway does not exceed the airport's accepted arrival rate. ATC issues delay instructions, speed adjustments, or vectors to ensure each aircraft crosses a designated meter fix at an assigned time.
Plain English
Air traffic control spaces arriving aircraft out in time so they don't all show up at the runway at once. Each aircraft is given a target time to cross a specific point, and ATC adjusts your speed or routing to make that time work.
Context Anchor
Pilots encounter metering during busy arrival periods, often through assigned speeds, heading changes, or delay instructions from air traffic control.
Derivation
From the verb 'to meter,' meaning to measure out or release in controlled amounts — like a water meter regulating flow. In ATC, the 'flow' being regulated is aircraft per hour onto the runway.
Why Pilots Care
Reduces the need for airborne holding, saves fuel, maintains safe separation, and improves overall arrival efficiency.
Analogy
It is like traffic lights controlling cars entering a highway. The goal is not to stop traffic completely, but to release it at a rate the road can handle.
Intuition Check
Metering does not mean measuring fuel or reading an instrument here. In this FAA context, it means controlling the timing and flow of arriving aircraft.
Example Sentence 1
Center advised that metering was in effect for Atlanta and assigned us a 20-knot speed reduction to meet our crossing time.
Example Sentence 2
Because of metering at our destination, ATC assigned us a departure time thirty minutes later than planned.