You got your numbers?

[Acey]

Sometimes planes have to hold short of the runway because they don't have their "numbers".  Most of the time it's brief, but I've heard guys holding for over fifteen minutes sometimes.  What are the "numbers" to which this is referring?  Evidently the flight can't depart without them.

Thanks in advance,
Adrian

[ZOTAN]

Weight and balance, V speeds, etc.

[Biff]

When a pilot says s/he "has the numbers" it means they have the winds, altimeter setting, and runway in use information.  Often pilots will incorrectly use this phrase to mean they have the current ATIS information.

[digger]

Actually, this was discussed not to long ago in this thread:
http://www.liveatc.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4429&highlight=#4429

Both Biff and Zotan are correct, depending on the context that the term is being used in. In this case, it would seem to be the numbers specific to the particular flight--weights speeds etc., as opposed to the numbers for the airport in general--altimeter, runway, etc.

(And in the thread cited, I got nailed for saying exactly what Biff said about incorrectly using it to refer to the ATIS...)  

[sean]

I know this is an old thread, but we've just recently acquired the capability to capture "the numbers" on a test basis from one site, so I thought everyone might like to see what they look like...

----------------------------------------------------------[ 12/06/2006 22:16 ]-
ACARS Mode: 2  Aircraft reg: G-VROC
Aircraft type: B747-41R
Message Label: 49 Block ID: G  Message Number:
Flight Number:
Message Content:-
(104.88 %N1)
OBSTACLE      -----
CLIMB         428.3
RUNWAY        392.7
STRUCTURAL    377.8

ACT TOW       377842
ASS TEMP T=34 (104.11 %N1)
          V1 - 152
          VR - 167
          V2 - 178
VMCG - 125

----------------------------------------------------------


or:

----------------------------------------------------------[ 12/06/2006 22:35 ]-
ACARS Mode: 2  Aircraft reg: N763AS
Aircraft type: B737-4Q8
Message Label: RA Block ID: P  Message Number:
Flight Number:
Operator: Alaska Airlines
Message Content:-
QUSEADLAS~1
AS156 SFO-PSP N763AS
12JUN06 2235Z RLS AMND00
LOAD CLOSEOUT REV 00
W-0   X-0    ZFW   106.3
F-11  Y-126  FOB    20.0
             TOW   125.8
SEC LVL4     CG     18.9
RMKS:
JOE TERRANOVA
(0879)
^G


----------------------------------------------------------

[Acey]

Thanks for that information, interesting to see behind the scenes.

Adrian