What is a ground stop, and should it worry me?
When the FAA holds flights on the ground, it's managing traffic and weather, not reacting to a dangerous airplane. Here's what the rules say.
In this article · 5 sections
In plain English
A ground stop means the FAA has told airports to hold certain flights on the ground for a while, usually flights heading to one particular airport. FAA air traffic rules describe it as a process that requires aircraft meeting specific criteria to remain on the ground.1
It sounds dramatic. It's actually one of the calmest tools air traffic control has: it keeps the waiting on the ground, at the gate, rather than in the sky.
Why they happen
The FAA's air traffic order lists the situations a ground stop is used for, including:1
- Severely reduced capacity at an airport, for example when storms close runways or approach paths
- Avoiding extended airborne holding, so planes don't circle for a long time
- Preventing saturation or gridlock at an airport or in a block of airspace
- Severe weather that makes normal routes unavailable
The same document notes that ground stops "normally occur with little or no warning".1 That's why your departure board can change suddenly, even on a sunny day where you are: the weather may be at your destination.
Why it's good news for safety
Thunderstorms are something pilots and controllers plan around, not through.4 When a line of storms parks over a big airport, fewer arrivals can land. The choice is to hold planes in the air (holding is a standard, published procedure3) or to keep them on the ground until there's room. A ground stop chooses the ground. It's the system being cautious early.
What it means for your day
A ground stop is a delay, sometimes a long one, but it isn't a sign that anything is wrong with your airplane. You can see current ground stops and delay programs on the FAA's official National Airspace System Status page.2 My Flight also checks official weather at both ends of your trip.
Keep reading
Quick answers
What is an FAA ground stop?
A traffic management tool where aircraft that meet set criteria are kept on the ground, usually because capacity at an airport or in airspace is severely reduced, for example by storms.
Why do ground stops happen?
The FAA lists reasons such as severely reduced capacity, avoiding long airborne holding, preventing saturation or gridlock, and severe weather that makes routes unavailable.
Does a ground stop mean something is wrong with my plane?
No. A ground stop applies to traffic heading to an airport or area, not to an individual aircraft's condition. It's a way of keeping planes waiting on the ground rather than in the air.
How do I check if there is a ground stop?
The FAA publishes current ground stops and delay programs on its National Airspace System Status page, nasstatus.faa.gov.