Estimated time of arrival
Estimated time of arrival (short ETA ; English for estimated time of arrival ) the estimated time of arrival referred to a means of transport at the destination under the given conditions. This is given as an absolute value. Example: ETA 5:00 p.m. means arrival at 5:00 p.m. today.
If you want to specify the time that is still required to reach the destination, you can use ETE ( estimated time enroute or estimated time elapsed ; also time to go , TTG ). Example: ETE 00:12 means arrival in 12 minutes, relative time.
The time is estimated from the current conditions (e.g. speed, direction). Example: If the wind is calm while sailing, the ETA can also change, unless these changes have already been correctly taken into account in the arrival time estimate.
The estimation can be quite complex, for example weather changes, different types of routes and the associated different speeds and detours (curves) can be taken into account. ETA calculations performed by GPS devices are usually much simpler. As a rule, they only take into account the current speed and your route, which is only roughly approximated.
In seafaring , this term is used by default. It is widely used in aviation and aerospace uses and is also in the jargon of the NATO-English speaking military and rescue services and the police use.
ETA has become very popular, especially in the English-speaking world. It is also used, for example, for “production times” or the remaining time for maintenance work. On the Internet in particular, it appears again and again in connection with download times from servers and services. However, the term ETE almost never appears there, that is, the term ETA is used - technically incorrectly - for both statements.
The ATA (actual time of arrival) , on the other hand, describes the actual arrival time of a means of transport at the destination. So it can only be determined with or after arrival.