What is meant by ground time in the context of flight operations?

Ground time refers to the duration that an aircraft is stationary on the ground between flights, particularly at an airport. This includes the time when the aircraft is being serviced, refueled, and prepared for its next flight, as well as the time passengers are boarding and disembarking. Ground time is crucial for ensuring that all necessary procedures are completed before the aircraft takes off again, including checks for safety and compliance with airline protocols.

The other options refer to different aspects of flight operations. The first choice discusses air travel time, which is not relevant to ground time, while the third option pertains to maintenance work, which occurs in a hangar rather than in the context of active flight scheduling. The fourth choice involves security procedures that happen before departure but do not reflect the complete scope of operational activities associated with an aircraft’s ground time between flights.