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Loiter (aeronautics)

In general aviation, the loiter phase generally occurs at the end of the flight, when the plane is waiting for clearance to land.^{[citation needed]}

In military flights, such as aerial reconnaissanceorground-attack aircraft, the loiter phase is the time that the aircraft has over a target. Cruise is the time period the aircraft travels to the target and returns after the loiter.^{[citation needed]}

Inastronautics, the loiter phase^{[clarification needed]}ofspacecraft used for human spaceflight may be as long as six months,^{[citation needed]} as is the case for Soyuz spacecraft which remain docked while expedition crewmembers reside aboard the International Space Station.

Endurance[edit]

The endurance of the aircraft during the loiter phase is often calculated using the Breguet formula:^[1]

${\displaystyle E={\frac {1}{C}}{\frac {L}{D}}\ln \left({\frac {W_{i}}{W_{f}}}\right)}$

where:

• ${\displaystyle E\,\!}$ is the endurance (dimensions of Time)
• ${\displaystyle C\,\!}$ is the Specific Fuel Consumption (dimensions of 1/Time)
• ${\displaystyle L\,\!}$ is the total lift force on the aircraft
• ${\displaystyle D\,\!}$ is the total drag force on the aircraft
• ${\displaystyle W_{i}\,\!}$ is the weight of the aircraft at the start of the phase
• ${\displaystyle W_{f}\,\!}$ is the weight of the aircraft at the end of the phase

See also[edit]

• Endurance (aeronautics)
• Heathrow arrival stacks, holding patterns in the United Kingdom
• Flight planning
• Holding

References[edit]

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