This Sunday, March 10th, marks the beginning of daylight savings time (DST). It’s the time of year to set your clocks forward one hour before going to sleep on Saturday (one less hour of sleep!). But take it easy in Arizona, Hawaii, and some parts of Canada—these areas have ditched the practice and follow the same clock year-round.

As cold weather ensnares the majority of North America, some passengers may find themselves experiencing a flight delay or cancellation—at times even in a city without snow. Your flight in sunny California may be delayed due to the fact that the aircraft is coming from a colder climate. Or, your order from that online retailer might be stuck at a cargo hub for a bit. So why the delays?

All around the globe, and across the Internet, customers are busy purchasing (and shipping) holiday gifts. Whether a trinket from a small business on Main Street or the hottest tech gadget from a large online retailer, chances are good that is was shipped by air. FedEx alone sees an average of 14 million shipments every day, but during the holidays, that number doubles (and that’s not even including other major shipping companies that also transport cargo across the world, as well as all the cargo that passenger carriers carry). 

Tis the season for gift giving, family dinners, and ugly neckties and sweaters . . . and let’s not forget the outdoor light displays! High-tech light and laser displays are increasingly popular and accessible, and our senses (and sensibilities) are bombarded with dazzling displays of light coordinated with the Die Hard soundtrack (yes, it’s a Christmas movie). But did you know that these high-tech displays put airline pilots (with your family and packages on board) in danger? 

When it comes to our nation’s airspace, there are really only two end-users of this valuable resource—pilots and air traffic controllers. Each day, these professionals work collaboratively to ensure that millions of passengers and thousands of tons of cargo move safety and efficiently through North America’s airspace.