Clarification to the ETE display when enroute

[dever23b]

At least for me, the ETE is a bit confusing in flight: I don't know exactly what it's displaying. 

Is it displaying:

• A live estimate of how far I am from my destination airport?
• A live estimate of how far I am from parking, by adding the pre-configured taxi time to the estimated landing?
• A calculation of how much time is left based on the dispatched ETE?

I have a hard time figuring out what it's displaying for me, so I find I can't use the data at all: lately I'm in the habit of just jotting down my planned OUT and IN times and consulting my FMC to determine how I'm doing for timing.  This isn't a huge issue usually, but it's quite confusing if I actually attempt to revise my ETE enroute.  The revision screen is very confusing: it presents your "current" ETE as your "planned" ETE, so every time you view the page you think you're right on time when you could be way off.

My suggestion: clarify what, exactly, estimate is being displayed and clearly distinguish between current estimated time (based on current aircraft situation) remaining versus estimated time remaining as compared to the planned ETE in the flight dispatch.

[Travis]

Okay, that's reasonable. I need to work on Tutorial #2 and this would be a good item for that....

Just so you know the ETE in-flight is essentially your option #3 - the time left based upon the dispatched (and revised, if so) ETE.

[DirkDP]

A further suggestion, if I may.

Could you call it "Block Time" instead of ETE? Because it's gate to gate time FSC uses.
I think ETE is only takeoff to touchdown.

DDP.

[dever23b]

Agreed

[Travis]

You are correct, but that alone will require massive changes to the docs.

Once we're ready to transition to 1.8, I'll step back as Dutch will take over the reins. I may be able to make that change then, as I do want to get to Tutorial II as I've promised for years.