Definition 1 of 2
Definition
A reference table printed on aeronautical charts and in flight publications that shows the time required to travel a given distance at various groundspeeds, used by pilots for dead reckoning navigation and time-distance calculations.
Plain English
A small table that tells you how long it will take to fly a certain distance at different speeds. You match your speed to the column and read off the time.
Context Anchor
Seen in preflight navigation planning, especially when estimating leg times for a cross-country flight.
Derivation
The word “table” has long been used for information arranged in rows and columns. In this term, it means a grid of numbers arranged so a pilot can quickly match time and speed without doing the full calculation by hand.
Why Pilots Care
Enables fast, accurate fuel and arrival planning without electronic aids, supporting safe decision-making in the cockpit.
Intuition Check
Do not read “Time And Speed Table” as a schedule of flight times. Here, it means a calculation aid that connects speed, distance, and elapsed time.
Example Sentence 1
Before starting the timed approach, the pilot referred to the time and speed table to confirm how long the inbound leg would take at 90 knots.
Example Sentence 2
She checked the time and speed table to determine the airspeed needed to meet the next checkpoint on schedule.