Plan a Buffer Before ECT or Curfew
Build a time buffer before ECT or curfew, use the latest-time-of-departure form, and be on the ground 30 minutes before ECT unless night-current.
1 min readKapiti Aero Club safety team
It's good practice to give yourself an appropriate buffer before either ECT or curfew, whichever is more restrictive. With flying, everything always takes longer than you expect.
That's why we build in additional margin. This is especially important on cross-country flights, where you may be delayed by other traffic.
The back of our XC sign-out sheet has a latest time of departure form. Use it to work out your latest departure time for each leg – for example, on a return flight to Foxpine.
Our SOPs state you should be on the ground 30 minutes before ECT unless you are night-current. Landing after ECT or curfew is a breach of the law and must be reported accordingly.
If you're not sure, speak to one of the instructors before your next cross-country flight.