One of our clients recently told us that the FAA has revised the 30 in 168 rest rule. Unlike the Old 24 in 7 rule, which was measured from the expected arrive time of the operating flight, the lookback is at the start of the FDP. In other words, "Legal to start ... Legal to Go". The extension of the FDP will only be constrained by the conditions in 117.19. Theoretically this means a Flightcrew member could operate over portions of 8 calendar days without even as much as a 24 hour rest period.
On 16-May-2012 the rules was changed to read as:
117.25 Rest period.
(b) Before beginning any reserve or flight duty period a flightcrew member must be given at least 30 consecutive hours free from all
duty within the past 168 consecutive hour period.
The original rule as published on 04-Jan-2012:
117.25 Rest period.
(b) Before beginning any reserve or flight duty period a flightcrew member must be given at least 30 consecutive hours free from all
duty in any 168 consecutive hour period.
Has anyone heard of such an approved interpretation?