ETD
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Estimated time of departure |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Transportation & Travel, Medical |
ETD has three meanings. The most common are Estimated time of departure (aviation) and Eustachian tube dysfunction (ophthalmology & ENT); it can also stand for Explosives trace detection.
Meanings of ETD at a glance
| # | ETD stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Estimated time of departure | Transportation & Travel › Aviation |
| 2 | Eustachian tube dysfunction | Medical › Ophthalmology & ENT |
| 3 | Explosives trace detection | Transportation & Travel › Aviation |
1. Estimated time of departure
Transportation & Travel · Aviation Abbreviations · also used in business
Predicted time at which a flight, ship, train or other journey will leave, revised as delays develop. Airport departure boards often show a new ETD beside the scheduled time after a delay is announced.
Example: Because of the late inbound aircraft, the ETD for flight 1162 has been revised to 3:15 p.m.
For airlines, departure usually means pushback from the gate (off-blocks), not takeoff, so a flight can leave on time and still sit in a long taxi queue. Shipping and logistics companies use ETD for vessel sailings and truck dispatch. At airport security, the same letters mean explosives trace detection.
2. Eustachian tube dysfunction
Medical · Ophthalmology & ENT Abbreviations
Failure of the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the nose, to open and equalize pressure properly. It causes ear fullness, popping, muffled hearing and discomfort, especially with colds, allergies or air travel.
Example: ETD after URI, retracted TM, type C tympanogram; nasal steroid spray and autoinflation.
Treatments include nasal steroids, autoinflation (gently blowing against a closed nose) and, for persistent cases, balloon dilation of the tube, cleared by the FDA in 2016. Patulous ETD, in which the tube stays open, causes hearing one's own voice loudly. Rapid pressure changes when flying or diving can cause barotrauma.
3. Explosives trace detection
Transportation & Travel · Aviation Abbreviations
Security screening method that detects microscopic residues of explosives by swabbing hands, bags or electronics and analyzing the sample, usually by ion mobility spectrometry. Airport officers use ETD for random checks and to resolve alarms on carry-on items.
Example: The officer swabbed my laptop and hands for ETD, and the machine cleared me in under a minute.
Results appear within seconds. Harmless substances, including some hand lotions containing glycerin, fertilizers and certain medications, can trigger an alarm, which leads to a private screening and bag search rather than an accusation. ETD machines are also used at embassies, mail facilities and some event venues.
Related abbreviations
More aviation abbreviations
- EFB – Electronic flight bag
- EGPWS – Enhanced ground proximity warning system
- ELT – Emergency locator transmitter
- ETA – Estimated time of arrival
- ETE – Estimated time en route
- ETOPS – Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards
- eVTOL – Electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft
- FA – Flight attendant
See all 142 aviation abbreviations →
More ophthalmology & ENT abbreviations
- DFE – Dilated fundus examination
- DME – Diabetic macular edema
- DR – Diabetic retinopathy
- ERM – Epiretinal membrane
- GAT – Goldmann applanation tonometry
- HM – Hand motion
- HZO – Herpes zoster ophthalmicus
- ICL – Implantable collamer lens
See all 74 ophthalmology & ENT abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.