User:Garret.healy/sandbox

''' Understanding FAR Part 117 - Flight and Duty Time Limitations and Rest Requirements: Flightcrew Members. ''' ...

On January 4, 2012 the Federal Aviation Administration published the Final Notice of Proposed Rule Making (FNPRM) for this regulation.

= Abstract: = The purpose of this article is to provide an explanation of the methods and criteria for the application of FAR 117 as amended on 16-May-2012

= FAR 117.1 Applicability: = FAR part 117, applies to all certificate holders conducting passenger operations under FAR part 121 subparts Q, R or S. The regulation also applies to part 91 operations should those operations be conducted without the required rest period before as stipulated within 117.25.

= General Concepts: = The FAA introduced several new concepts as well as a re-definition / clarification of several existing concepts.

Most of the concepts are defined in the definitions section (117.3), while many concepts are not new to the industry, the exact definition in FAR 117, should be compared to pre-existing definitions contained in contract agreements and/or operations manuals.


 * Acclimated:
 * new concept - a state of a crewmember, used in conjunction with Acclimatization and Theater.
 * Acclimatization:
 * new concept - a process, used in conjunction with Acclimated and Theater.
 * Calendar Day:
 * re-defined - impacts accumulated flight time limitations in 365 calendar days.
 * Duty Break
 * new concept - impacts Split Duty and Night Duty.
 * Flight Duty Period (FDP):
 * new concept
 * Night Duty:
 * new concept - impacts Split Duty.
 * Physiological Night Rest
 * new concept - impacts rest requirements.
 * known by other names such as Overnight Rest Period, Local Night's Rest, etc.
 * Rest Facility:
 * clarification - impacts Crew schemes.
 * Rest Opportunity:
 * new concept - impacts Rest Period.
 * Rest Period
 * re-defined - impacted by Rest Opportunity.
 * Split Duty:
 * new concept - impacted by Night Duty and Duty Break.
 * known by other names such as Continuous Duty Overnight (CDO), High speed, Night Turns etc.
 * Theater:
 * new concept - based upon Longitude, used in conjunction with Acclimatization and Acclimated.
 * Window of Circadian Low (WOCL):
 * new concept - impacts Night Duty.


 * Rest is required before a Flight Duty Period (FDP), a Flightcrew member (FCM) must be given a rest period in order to report for an assigned FDP.
 * A diurnal component is used limit both Flight Time and FDP with higher and lower limitations coinciding, respectfully, with peak and low alertness.
 * Daily FDP is also limited by the number of take-offs and landings, with fewer landings allowing for higher flight time.
 * It is NOT permitted to extend the Daily Flight Time Limitations before takeoff.
 * It IS permitted to extend a FDP above scheduled limitations due to unforeseen circumstances.
 * It is NOT permitted to extend the Daily Flight Time Limitations before takeoff.
 * It IS permitted to extend a FDP above scheduled limitations due to unforeseen circumstances.
 * It IS permitted to extend a FDP above scheduled limitations due to unforeseen circumstances.
 * It IS permitted to extend a FDP above scheduled limitations due to unforeseen circumstances.

= FAR 117.3 Definitions: =

= Flight time: = Flight time retains the common definition found in FAR part 1:
 * commences when an aircraft moves under its own power for the purpose of flight and ends when the aircraft comes to rest after landing.

Some certificate holders measure flight time from OUT time (UTC) to IN time (UTC), while others account for the time an aircraft is being towed, PUSH, the time from OUT to end of PUSH is not included in flight time calculations.

= FDP time: =
 * What is FDP time? Simply put, it is the span of time from the start of a FDP to the end of a FDP.

For a FCM assigned to a duty period that contains flight time:

 * 1)  The start of the FDP is at the report time (UTC) of the duty period.
 * 2)  The end of the FDP is at the arrival time of the last operating flight (UTC) before the start of a rest period.



For a FCM assigned to an Airport/Standby Reserve (ASB):

 * 1)  The start of the FDP is at the report time (UTC) of the ASB.
 * 2)  The end of the FDP is at the arrival time of the last operating flight (UTC) before the start of a rest period.
 * A FCM who is not subsequently assigned a duty period that contains flight time, will remain on a FDP until the release into a rest period, (release time of the ASB (UTC)).



= Acclimatization: =

Status

 * 1) Acclimated - when a FCM has adjusted to a local timezone.
 * 2) Un-acclimated - when a FCM has entered a local timezone and has not adjusted to the local timezone.

Theater

 * 1) Based upon the difference in longitude from where the FCM was last acclimated to.
 * 2) Is 60 degrees wide.
 * 3) The longitude is based upon the Airport Reference Point (ARP), the longitude must reflect value from the officially published sources eg) Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP), or other sources as approved by the administrator.
 * 4) Longitude is a floating point value.




 * 1) When a FCM exits a theater, that individual is Un-acclimated, and will remain in such a state until they have acclimated to the local surroundings.
 * 2) A FCM begins time within a new theater at release time.

Acclimatization Process

 * 1. A FCMr may be considered at time of report for a FDP as acclimated to any location if either of the following occurs:
 * has been given a continuous rest period of 36 hours or more.
 * OR
 * has been within a single theater for 72 hours or more.


 * 2. Once a FCM has achieved an Acclimated status:
 * the FCM's Reference Timezone (RTZ) is reset to the timezone of the station at the point of acclimatization.
 * the FCM's Reference Longitude is reset to the longitude of the station at the point of acclimatization.



Window of Circadian Low (WOCL):

 * Shall be based upon the FCM's reference time zone (RTZ).
 * Is between 02:00 and 05:00 (inclusive).

= Rest Periods and Duty Breaks: =

Rest Period

 * is a prospectively scheduled, continuous period, free of duty, of no less than 10 hours.
 * A rest period must allow for 8 hours sleep opportunity in a ground rest facility.



Duty Break

 * is a prospectively scheduled, continuous period in a ground rest facility, of no less than three (3) hours, but is less than ten (10) hours.
 * A duty break must occur between 22:00 and 05:00 (RTZ).
 * A duty break may not be reduced.
 * A duty break is not part of a FDP.



Defined Rest Periods:

 * Rest time span - is measured from release (UTC) of the previous duty period to the report time (UTC) of the next duty period.
 * 30 hour rest period end time - is the report time (UTC) of a duty period that is preceded by a rest time span greater than or equal to 30 hours.
 * 36 hour rest period end time - is the report time (UTC) of a duty period that is preceded by a rest time span greater than or equal to 36 hours.
 * Physiological Nights Rest - has the following characteristics:
 * has a rest time span of at least ten (10) hours.
 * entirely overlaps the period 01:00 to 07:00 adjusted to the RTZ.

= Applied Crew Schemes: = Crew Schemes are also known as crew compliments.

Standard Flightcrew:

 * Is the minimum required flightcrew for a specific aircraft type. Reference FAR 25.1523
 * Flight operations which operate with only one (1) Captain (CA) and one (1) First Officer (FO)
 * Any aircraft that lacks a Class 1, 2 or 3 on-board rest facility.
 * Any FDP scheduled with more than three (3) operational flights.

Augmented Flightcrew:

 * All flight operations within the FDP must operate with at least, two (2) Captains (CA) and one (1) First Officer (FO)
 * Augmented Flightcrew must be assigned to an aircraft which has a Class 1, 2 or 3 on-board rest facility.
 * Augmented Flightcrew must be assigned to a FDP scheduled with less than four (4) operational flights.

Heavy Flightcrew:

 * All flight operations within the FDP must operate with two (2) Captains (CA) and two (2) First Officers (FO)
 * Heavy Flightcrew must be assigned to an aircraft which has a Class 1, 2 or 3 on-board rest facility.
 * Heavy Flightcrew must be assigned to a FDP scheduled with less than four (4) operational flights.

= Night duty period and Split duty period: =
 * Night and Split duty rules are only applied to FDP's that apply Standard Flightcrew.

Night duty period

 * Is any FDP that Starts, Ends or overlaps any portion of the WOCL (RTZ).

Split duty period

 * Is a Night duty period that contains a duty break.

= Inflight Rest Requirements: =

Augmented and Heavy Flightcrew Schemes:

 * An inflight rest period is only applied during cruise, not during the take-off or landing phases of a flight.
 * Take-off phase - is generally the first 30 minutes of a flight.
 * Landing phase - is generally the last 30 minutes of a flight.


 * An inflight rest period for each flightcrew member must allow for 90 minutes of rest.
 * best practices suggest that the inflight rest period also allow for the impacts of 'sleep inertia', 10-15 minutes.
 * An inflight rest period for the flightcrew member performing the aircraft landing on the last flight in the FDP must allow for two (2) hours of continuous inflight rest in the last half of the FDP.
 * Inflight rest periods must be scheduled to always provide than a pilot with a PIC rating is always on duty on the flight deck.

= FAR 117.11 Flight Time Limitations: =

Flight time in a FDP:

 * Shall be calculated using the latest available flight time.
 * eg) FDP with the following scheduled flight times:


 * eg) FDP with the following Actual/Estimated flight times:

FAR 117.11(a)(1)- Standard Flightcrew:

 * Based upon the Report Time (RTZ), enter Table A, and find the Flight Time Limit (see ** note below).
 * if the flight has not taken off and the Flight Time in a FDP is greater than the Flight Time Limit, the flight may not be operated by the FCM.
 * Flightcrew assigned to an ASB will use the Report Time of the ASB.

'** Note: The FAA has stated, that if a FCM is in an acclimated state, that it is permissible to use the Local Time of Report when entering Table A.

FAR 117.11(a)(2)- Augmented Flightcrew:

 * if the flight has not taken off and the Flight Time in a FDP is greater than the 13:00, the flight may not be operated by the flightcrew.

FAR 117.11(a)(3)- Heavy Flightcrew:

 * if the flight has not taken off and the Flight Time in a FDP is greater than the 17:00, the flight may not be operated by the flightcrew.

= Scheduled FDP Limitations: =

FAR 117.13 Standard Flightcrew:

 * 1) Based upon the Report Time (RTZ), enter Table B (** see note below), and find the FDP Limit associated with number of operational flight segments within the FDP, (DHD flights do not count as a operational Flight).
 * 2) A FDP that begins with an Un-acclimated status, will have the FDP Limit reduced an additional thirty (30) minutes from the value in table B.
 * 3) A FCM is not allowed to be assigned/or accept an assignment in which the scheduled FDP Time exceeds the FDP Limit.



'** Note: The FAA has stated, that if a FCM is in an acclimated state, that it is permissible to use the Local Time of Report when entering Table B.

FAR 117.17 Augmented and Heavy Flightcrew:

 * 1) Based upon the Report Time (RTZ), enter Table C (** see note below), and find the FDP Limit associated with Flight Crew Scheme and with the applied On-board Rest Facility.
 * 2) A FDP that begins with an Un-acclimated status, will have the FDP Limit reduced an additional thirty (30) minutes from the value in Table C.
 * 3) A FCM is not allowed to be assigned/or accept an assignment in which the scheduled FDP Time exceeds the FDP Limit.



'** Note: The FAA has stated, that if a FCM is in an acclimated state, that it is permissible to use the Local Time of Report when entering Table C.

= FAR 117.25 Rest Requirements: =

FAR 117.25(e)(f) - Daily Rest Requirements:

 * For a FCM assigned to report for a FDP, they must have been given a Rest Period of no less than ten (10) hours and the Rest Period must allow for a sleep opportunity of at least eight (8) hours.
 * the Rest Period must have ended at time of report.
 * the Rest Time Span must be greater than or equal to ten (10) hours.


 * For a FCM assigned to report for an ASB, they must have been given a Rest Period of no less than ten (10) hours and the Rest Period must allow for a sleep opportunity of at least eight (8) hours.
 * the Rest Period must have ended at time of report.
 * the Rest Time Span must be greater than or equal to ten (10) hours.


 * For a FCM assigned to a SCR, they must have been given a Rest Period of no less than ten (10) hours and the Rest Period must allow for a sleep opportunity of at least eight (8) hours.
 * the Rest Period must have ended at time of start of the SCR.
 * the Rest Time Span must be greater than or equal to ten (10) hours.


 * A FCM must always receive a sleep opportunity of at least eight (8) hours before reporting for a FDP.

FAR 117.25(b) - Weekly Rest Requirements:
Note: there are two schools of thought here.

First
Is based upon the FAR 121.471(d) of the 24 hour rest in 7 calendar days.

This method prohibits re-scheduling to get around the requirement of the 30 in 168 regulation.


 * 1) At least one rest period of 30:00 must be found in the previous 168:00 measured from the scheduled (expected) arrive time of an operating flight.
 * 2) if the following conditions are true, the flight may not depart.
 * Time Since 30 hour Rest is equal to the arrival time (UTC) minus (-) 30 hour rest period end time.
 * the flight being examined is in a Planned, Estimated or Out state.
 * the Time Since 30 hour Rest exceeds 138:00
 * (Note: if you add 30:00 to 138:00 the total is 168:00)



Second
Has recently come up as a result of the requests for clarification to the FAA.

The basis is to check the requirement at the report time of a FDP.

This method allows for re-scheduling, affording the certificate holder more flexibility.


 * 1) At least one rest period of 30:00 must be found in the previous 168:00 measured from report time of a FDP.
 * 2) if the following conditions are true, the flight may not depart.
 * Time Since 30 hour Rest is equal to the report time (UTC) minus (-) 30 hour rest period end time.
 * if the Time Since 30 hour Rest exceeds 138:00 the Flightcrew member is illegal and may not report for the FDP.
 * (Note: if you add 30:00 to 138:00 the total is 168:00)



FAR 117.25(d) - Rest following long trip with a change in theater

 * The regulation is applied under the following conditions:
 * The trip must have exceeded 168:00 duration away from base.
 * The trip must have had a change in theater.
 * The required Rest Time Span upon return to base must be:
 * greater than or equal to 56:00 in duration
 * include 3 Physiological Nights Rest

FAR 117.25(g) - Rest following Deadhead (DHD) Transportation

 * This regulation is only applied in cases where a DHD leg is followed by a intervening rest period before a FDP.
 * 1) - The FAA has NOT actually given a firm definition of Time in Deadhead Transportation so the certificate holder is given a few options (FCM should check for the approved method):
 * a) - For a duty period that contains only DHD legs:
 * - a liberal interpretation is the sum of the legs DHD time within a duty period.
 * - middle of the road interpretation is the span from report time (UTC) to arrive time (UTC) of the last leg in the duty period.
 * - conservative interpretation is the length if the duty period, (release time (UTC) minus(-) report time (UTC)).
 * b) - For a duty period that contains DHD legs that follow legs conducted under FAR 117 (tail end DHD):
 * - liberal interpretation is the sum of the legs after the last FAR 117 flight DHD time within a duty period.
 * - liberal to middle of the road interpretation is the span from arrive time (UTC) of the last FAR 117 flight to the arrive time (UTC) of the last leg in the duty period.
 * - middle of the road to conservative  interpretation is the span from report time (UTC) to arrive time (UTC) of the last leg in the duty period.
 * - conservative interpretation is the length if the duty period, (release time (UTC) minus(-) report time (UTC)).
 * 2) - Based upon the Report Time (RTZ), enter Table B, and find the FDP Limit
 * a) - for DHD only duty periods use one (1) for the number of flights
 * b) - for tail end DHD duty periods use the number of operational flights in the duty period.
 * 3) - if the Time in Deadhead Transportation exceeds the FDP Limit then the Rest Time Span following the duty period is the greater of:
 * a) - 10:00
 * b) - Time in Deadhead Transportation
 * 3) - if the Time in Deadhead Transportation exceeds the FDP Limit then the Rest Time Span following the duty period is the greater of:
 * a) - 10:00
 * b) - Time in Deadhead Transportation
 * b) - Time in Deadhead Transportation

= FAR 117.15 Split Duty Period Limitations: =

Split Duty Period rules are applied under the following conditions:

 * 1 Standard Flightcrew
 * 2 The Duty Break allows for three (3) hours rest in a ground rest facility between 22:00 and 05:00 (RTZ)



The applied limitations are:

 * 1 The combined FDP and Duty Break must be less than or equal to 14:00.
 * 2 The total of the FDP before/after the Duty Break must be within the limitations in Table B.
 * 3 The Duty Break must be scheduled and may not be reduced.

Practical Example from the FAA:

 * The split duty break must be scheduled and the actual break may not be less than the scheduled split duty break (in the suitable accommodation). (117.15(d))
 * If the FCM was scheduled to have 3 hours split duty break in the suitable accommodation and actually received 4 hours, then the credit would be based upon 4 hours.
 * HOWEVER, the combined FDP and split duty break may not exceed a total of 14 hours.(117.15(f))
 * If a FCM is scheduled at 2130 hours for 4 segments, the maximum FDP is 11 hours. (Ref Table B)
 * If a FCM is scheduled to have 4 hours in the suitable accommodation, the max time you can be on FDP (combined FDP and split duty break) is 14 hours as it is capped per the regulation.
 * If a FCM is scheduled at 2300 hours and scheduled to fly 4 segments, the max FDP is 10 hours. (Ref Table B)
 * If a FCM is scheduled for a 3 hour split duty rest, now the maximum time on FDP is 13 hours (10 hr FDP + 3 hours split duty break).
 * Given the same conditions, to permit a Flightcrew member to be on duty for 14 hours, they would have to schedule a 4 hours split duty rest (10 hr FDP + 4 hours split duty rest).
 * The key is to understand that they must schedule the break, you must actually receive the scheduled amount of break or more in a suitable accommodation, the scheduled break in the suitable accommodation does not include the time to and from the suitable accommodation and the FDP is capped.

= FAR 117.21 Reserve Limitations: =

Airport Standby (ASB):

 * means a FCM reports for flight duty at a specific location to await assignment to a trip.
 * 1. Is considered duty as well as flight duty period.
 * 2. Is subject to rest requirements.
 * 3. Is subject to flight duty limitations.
 * Rest Requirements:
 * 1. must be given a rest period under the requirements 117.25(e) (ten (10) hours rest period with an eight (8) hour sleep opportunity)
 * 2. must be given a rest period under 117.25(b) (30 hours rest period in 168 hours)
 * FDP Limitations
 * 1. for a FCM assigned to a stand alone ASB, or for an ASB further assigned to a Standard Flightcrew (FAR 117.13):
 * at Report (RTZ) of the ASB the limitations in Table B. (Stand alone ASB shall use 1 flight segment)
 * 2. for a FCM assigned to an ASB further assigned to a Augmented or Heavy Flightcrew (FAR 117.17):
 * at Report (RTZ) of the ASB the limitations in Table C. (Stand alone ASB shall use 1 flight segment)

Short Call Reserve (SCR):

 * means a period of time in which a Flightcrew member is expected to be contactable to be able to receive an assignment for FDP without an intervening rest period.
 * 1. Is subject to flight duty limitations when assigned to a FDP.
 * 2. Is subject to rest requirements
 * Reserve Availability Limit:
 * 1. must not exceed 14 hours, is measured from the start time (UTC) of the SCR to the end time (UTC).
 * Reserve Duty Time:
 * 1. measured from the start time (UTC) of the SCR to the end time (UTC) of the assigned FDP.
 * 2. FDP with a Standard flightcrew:
 * limitation is the lesser of 16:00, and the FDP limit from Table B plus(+) 4 hours. Enter Table B using the start time (RTZ) of the SCR.
 * 3. FDP with a Augmented or Heavy flightcrew:
 * limitation the FDP limit from Table C plus(+) 4 hours. Enter Table B using the start time (RTZ) of the SCR.
 * Rest Requirements:
 * 1. must be given a rest period under the requirements 117.25(e) (ten (10) hours rest period with an eight (8) hour sleep opportunity)
 * 2. must be given a rest period under 117.25(b) (30 hours rest period in 168 hours)



Long Call Reserve (LCR):

 * Is NOT considered duty OR flight duty period.
 * Is NOT considered Rest.
 * 1. Will require an intervening rest period prior to being assigned to a ASB, SCR or FDP when a flightcrew member is notified by the certificate holder to report for duty. the rest period must fulfill the requirements under 117.25(e).
 * 2. Will require a minimum of 12:00 notice prior to being assigned to a ASB, SCR or FDP that starts before the WOCL (RTZ) and extends into or through the WOCL.



= FAR 117.23 Accumulated Limitations: =

Overview:
1) All accumulations use a lookback from an anchor point.

2) Flight time is accumulated using a 672 hour lookback and a 365 calendar day lookback.
 * a) With the 365 calendar day lookback, when a flight crosses from 1 calendar day to the next calendar day, two checks must be made:
 * i) The first from 23:59 day 1
 * ii) and the second at the arrival time.
 * b) if the flight is not crossing midnight, just use the arrival time.

3) FDP time is accumulated using a 168 hour lookback and a 672 hour lookback.

4) All accumulations use actual (known) values for activities that have already taken place, and scheduled values for activities in the future.

Accumulated Flight time:
1) Rule is applied as a scheduled limitation ( 117.23(b) ):
 * a) 100 hours limitation in any 672 hour period.
 * b) 1000 hours in any 365 calendar day period.

Accumulated FDP:
1) Rule is applied as a scheduled as well as an in progress limitation ( 117.23(c) ):
 * a) 60 hours limitation in any 168 hour period.
 * b) 1000 hours in any 672 hour period.



= FAR 117.19 Extended FDP Limitations: = Extensions to a FDP above the scheduled FDP limitations (Table B for standard Flightcrew / Table C for Augmented or Heavy Flightcrew) are permitted as follows:

117.19(a) Before takeoff:
1) If it is known that the expected OFF time will not permit completion of the FDP within the following limitations, the FCM must remain/return to the gate.

2) Previous extension limit:
 * a) Maximum extension is 2:00 provided either of the follow is true:
 * i) No extension above scheduled limitations exceeds 0:30 in the previous 168:00 looking back from the start of the FDP.
 * ii) An intervening rest period of 30:00 or more has been given since the previous extension greater than 0:30.
 * b) Else the maximum extension is 0:30.

3) Accumulated FDP Limit:
 * a) An extension is not permitted to exceed:
 * i) 60 hours in any 168:00 (FAR 117.23(c)(1)
 * ii) 190 hours in any 672:00 (FAR 117.23(c)(2)

4) Any extension beyond 0:30 above the scheduled FDP limit shall require FCM permission.

117.19(b) After takeoff:
1) An FDP which at time of takeoff was in compliance with 117.19(a) will be permitted to extend the FDP to safely land the aircraft.





= References =