diff --git a/SAS/TMSS/src/tmss/tmssapp/models/scheduling.py b/SAS/TMSS/src/tmss/tmssapp/models/scheduling.py
index 305607385c03de5c4893c67af41b55e397292ac0..238dd1e0e9bcd39a9257a5e874cf08a1822e5010 100644
--- a/SAS/TMSS/src/tmss/tmssapp/models/scheduling.py
+++ b/SAS/TMSS/src/tmss/tmssapp/models/scheduling.py
@@ -165,13 +165,16 @@ class Subtask(BasicCommon):
     @property
     def specified_duration(self) -> timedelta:
         '''get the specified (or estimated) duration of this subtask based on the specified task duration and the subtask type'''
-        if self.specifications_template.type.value in [SubtaskType.Choices.OBSERVATION, SubtaskType.Choices.PIPELINE]:
-            # observations (and sometimes pipelines) have a specified duration,
-            # so grab it from the spec.
+        if self.specifications_template.type.value == SubtaskType.Choices.OBSERVATION:
+            # observations have a specified duration, so grab it from the spec.
             return timedelta(seconds=self.task_blueprint.specifications_doc.get('duration', 0))
 
+        if self.specifications_template.type.value == SubtaskType.Choices.PIPELINE:
+            # pipelines usually do not have a specified duration, so make a guess (half the obs duration?).
+            return timedelta(seconds=self.task_blueprint.specifications_doc.get('duration', max(p.specified_duration for p in self.predecessors)/2))
+
         # other subtasktypes usually depend on cpu/data/network etc. So, make a guess (for now)
-        return timedelta(seconds=600)
+        return timedelta(minutes=5)
 
     @staticmethod
     def _send_state_change_event_message(subtask_id:int, old_state: str, new_state: str):