European Duty Limits and Rest
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
ANNEX III
Common technical requirements and administrative procedures applicable to commercial transportation by aircraft
EU-OPS: Commercial Air Transportation (Aeroplanes)
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SUBPART Q
FLIGHT AND DUTY TIME LIMITATIONS AND REST REQUIREMENTS
OPS 1.1100
Flight and duty limitations
1.1. Cumulative duty hours
An operator shall ensure that the total duty periods to which a crew member is assigned do not exceed:
(a) 190 duty hours in any 28 consecutive days, spread as evenly as practicable throughout this period; and
(b) 60 duty hours in any seven consecutive days.
1.2. Limit on total block times
An operator shall ensure that the total block times of the flights on which an individual crew member is assigned as an operating crew member does not exceed
(a) 900 block hours in a calendar year;
(b) 100 block hours in any 28 consecutive days.
1.3. The maximum basic daily FDP*** is 13 hours. (***Flight Duty Period:
A Flight Duty Period (FDP) is any time during which a person operates in an aircraft as a member of its crew. The FDP starts when the crew member is required by an operator to report for a flight or a series of flights; it finishes at the end of the last flight on which he/she is an operating crew member.***)
1.4. These 13 hours will be reduced by 30 minutes for each sector from the third sector onwards with a maximum total reduction of two hours.
1.5. When the FDP starts in the WOCL, the maximum stated in point 1.3 and point
1.4 will be reduced by 100% of its encroachment up to a maximum of two hours. When the FDP ends in or fully encompasses the WOCL, the maximum FDP stated in point 1.3 and point 1.4 will be reduced by 50% of its encroachment.
2. Extensions:
2.1. The maximum daily FDP can be extended by up to one hour.
2.2. Extensions are not allowed for a basic FDP of 6 sectors or more.
2.3. Where an FDP encroaches on the WOCL by up to two hours extensions
are limited to up to four sectors.
2.4. Where an FDP encroaches on the WOCL by more than two hours extensions are limited to up to two sectors.
2.5. The maximum number of extensions is two in any 7 consecutive days.
2.6. Where an FDP is planned to use an extension pre and post flight minimum rest is increased by two hours or post flight rest only is increased by four hours. Where the extensions are used for consecutive FDPs the pre and post rest between the two operations shall run consecutively.
2.7. When an FDP with extension starts in the period 22:00 to 04:59 hours the operator will limit the FDP to 11.45 hours.
OPS 1.1110
Rest
1. Minimum rest
1.1. The minimum rest which must be provided before undertaking a flight duty period starting at home base shall be at least as long as the preceding duty period or 12 hours whichever is the greater;
1.2. The minimum rest which must be provided before undertaking a flight duty period starting away from home base shall be at least as long as the preceding duty period or 10 hours whichever is the greater; when on minimum rest away from home base, the operator must allow for an 8 hour sleep opportunity taking due account of travelling and other physiological needs;
1.3. An operator will ensure that effects on crew members of time zone differences will be compensated by additional rest, as regulated by the Authority subject to the provisions of Article 8.
1.4.1. Notwithstanding 1.1 and 1.2 and subject to the provisions of Article 8, the Authority may grant reduced rest arrangements.
1.4.2. Each operator will have to demonstrate to the Authority, using operational experience and taking into account other relevant factors, such as current scientific knowledge, that its request for reduced rest arrangements produces an equivalent level of safety.
2. Rest periods
2.1. An operator shall ensure that the minimum rest provided as outlined above is increased periodically to a weekly rest period, being a 36-hour period including two local nights, such that there shall never be more than 168 hours between the end of one weekly rest period and the start of the next. As an exception to OPS 1.1095 point 1.9, the Authority may decide that the second of those local nights may start from 20:00 hours if the weekly rest period has a duration of at least 40 hours.
OPS 1.1120
Unforeseen circumstances in actual flight operations - commander's discretion
1. Taking into account the need for careful control of these instances implied underneath, during the actual flight operation, which starts at the reporting time, the limits on flight duty, duty and rest periods prescribed in this Subpart may be modified in the event of unforeseen circumstances. Any such modifications must be acceptable to the commander after consultation with all other crew members and must, in all circumstances, comply with the following:
1.1. The maximum FDP referred to in OPS 1.1105 point 1.3 above may not be increased by more than two hours unless the flight crew has been augmented, in which case the maximum flight duty period may be increased by not more than 3 hours;
1.1.2. If on the final sector within a FDP unforeseen circumstances occur after take off that will result in the permitted increase being exceeded, the flight may continue to the planned destination or alternate;
1.1.3. In the event of such circumstances, the rest period following the FDP may be reduced but never below the minimum rest defined in OPS 1.1110 point 1.2 of this Subpart;
1.2. The Commander shall, in case of special circumstances, which could lead to severe fatigue, and after consultation with the crew members affected, reduce the actual flight duty time and/or increase the rest time in order to eliminate any detrimental effect on flight safety;
1.3. An operator shall ensure that:
1.3.1. The Commander submits a report to the operator whenever a FDP is increased by his/her discretion or when a rest period is reduced in actual operation and
1.3.2. Where the increase of a FDP or reduction of a rest period exceeds one hour, a copy of the report, to which the operator must add his comments, is sent to the Authority no later than 28 days after the event.
OPS 1.1125
Standby
1. Airport Standby
1.1. A crew member is on airport standby from reporting at the normal report point until the end of the notified standby period.
1.2. Airport standby will count in full for the purposes of cumulative duty hours.
1.3. Where airport standby is immediately followed by a flight duty, the relationship between such airport standby and the assigned flight duty shall be defined by the Authority. In such a case, airport standby shall be added to the duty period referred to in OPS 1.1110 under points 1.1 and 1.2 for the purposes of calculating minimum rest.
1.4. Where the airport standby does not lead to assignment on a flight duty, it shall be followed at least by a rest period as regulated by the Authority.
1.5. While on airport standby the operator will provide to the crew member a quiet and comfortable place not open to the public.
2. Other forms of standby (including standby at hotel)
2.1. Subject to the provisions of Article 8, all other forms of standby shall be regulated by the Authority, taking into account the following:
2.1.1. All activity shall be rostered and/or notified in advance.
2.1.2. The start and end time of the standby shall be defined and notified in advance.
2.1.3. The maximum length of any standby at a place other than a specified reporting point shall be determined.
2.1.4. Taking into account facilities available for the crew member to rest and other relevant factors, the relationship between the standby and any assigned flight duty resulting from the standby shall be defined.
2.1.5. The counting of standby times for the purposes of cumulative duty hours shall be defined.
OPS 1.1130
Nutrition
A meal and drink opportunity must occur in order to avoid any detriment to a crew member's performance, especially when the FDP exceeds 6 hours.
OPS 1.1135
Flight duty, duty and rest period records
1. An operator shall ensure that crew member's records include:
(a) block times;
(b) start, duration and end of each duty or flight duty periods;
(c) rest periods and days free of all duties;
and are maintained to ensure compliance with the requirements of this Subpart; copies of these records will be made available to the crew member upon request.
2. If the records held by the operator under paragraph 1 do not cover all of his/her flight duty, duty and rest periods, the crew member concerned shall maintain an individual record of his/her
(a) block times;
(b) start, duration and end of each duty or flight duty periods; and
(c) rest periods and days free of all duties.
3. A crew member shall present his/her records on request to any operator who employs his/her services before he/she commences a flight duty period.
4. Records shall be preserved for at least 15 calendar months from the date of the last relevant entry or longer if required in accordance with national laws.
5. Additionally, operators shall separately retain all aircraft commander's discretion reports of extended flight duty periods, extended flight hours and reduced rest periods for at least six months after the event.