Actual departure time need NOT be forwarded if it is within how many minutes of the assumed departure time?

The correct answer indicates that the actual departure time need not be forwarded if it is within 3 minutes of the assumed departure time. This is based on standard operating procedures which provide a grace period in timing accuracy due to minor variations that can occur in departure scheduling.

In practice, this 3-minute threshold allows for a small buffer to account for minor delays that might not significantly affect overall operations or schedule integrity. It recognizes that during busy operations, slight fluctuations in timing can happen, and having a defined limit prevents unnecessary administrative tasks like updating the schedule for very minimal discrepancies.

Using a larger buffer, like 5 minutes, might lead to confusion or reduce the effectiveness of time management practices, while a shorter buffer of 1 or 2 minutes may not be sufficient to accommodate common operational variability. Hence, 3 minutes strikes a balance between operational efficiency and flexibility.