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Frequently asked questions

Increased recurring extended rest by changing base: can 72 hours also be considered days off?

CS FTL.1.200 (b)
Regulations do not prevent the recurrent extended rest period of 72 hours per base change from also being considered for the minimum number of days off.

Are examinations for obtaining or renewing medical certificates considered to be duties (duty) assigned by the operator with all that entails (scheduled, counted as an activity, etc.)?

ORO.FTL.105 (10) Activity is “any task performed by a crew member for the operator, including flight duty, administrative work, giving or receiving training and verification, positioning, and some elements of imaginary.” If the operator manages the medical examinations (indicating to the crew member when and where to perform it) they cannot be considered as rest.

If, as a commercial pilot, I am close to the limits of activity laid down in the current regulations, I notify the company of this fact and the company, in breach of the regulations, continues to programme me knowing that I will pass from activity.

Point CAT.GEN.MPA.100 (b)(4) on crew responsibilities provides that the crew member “shall respect all flight and service time limitations (FTL) and rest requirements applicable to their activities”.

Is a reservation of more than 24 hours, e.g. 36 hours, acceptable?

According to the regulatory point ORO.FTL.230:

Yes, it is acceptable, provided there are sufficient non-contactable periods of 8 hours to allow rest. For example, a 36-hour reservation that includes two nights would require two non-contactable periods, assuming that the crew member’s sleep pattern is the usual (night).

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Can you use the “French Day” figure?

According to the regulatory point ORO.FTL.110:

At the expense of compliance with the requirements of ORO.FTL.110, it is permissible for the operator to schedule days, other than days off, on which in principle there is no assigned activity, but where activity may be assigned well in advance (which must be defined in the MO). An activity assignment on a “free day” would be a change in programming, and should be accounted for. When considering a change in programming, the activation of a “franco” must be carried out in accordance with all the considerations of change established by the operator (minimum antelations, means of contact, etc.).

Should the schedule notified to crew members cover a minimum period (one month, fifteen days

According to the regulatory point ORO.FTL.110:

No. The standard does not indicate the period to be reported in the programming. Provided that each programming day is known 14 days in advance, the requirement is met.

In the case of pilots in Temporary Employment Regulation (ERTE) status: is it possible to schedule a flight after leaving the ERTE situation and without taking into account the minimum rest before signing?

No non-compliance is considered as long as the operator has communicated the schedule to the crew members in sufficient time to enable them to plan their rest (ORO.FTL.110a).

If the crew member is aware of the schedule of their flights (flight activity) or of any other task assigned by the operator (activity, imaginary, bookings...) at least 14 days in advance, they can plan their pre-activity rest.

Please note that:

  • Before a flight duty period there must be a rest period (based on 12 hours). ORO.FTL.235 (a)
  • the definition of rest period is: “uninterrupted and defined period of time during which the crew member is relieved of any service, the provision of imaginary at the airport, and the reservation”. ORO.FTL.105 (21)
  • The definition of service (or activity) is “any task performed by a crew member for the operator, including flight duty, administrative work, giving or receiving training and verification, positioning, and some elements of the imaginary” ORO.FTL.105 (10)
For the purposes of applying the late completion time definition, should post-flight activity be taken into account?

 

In accordance with the regulatory point ORO.FTL.105 (8): 
Oh, yeah, yeah. What defines whether late completion is the duty period, thus including post-flight duty.

Can an operator require crew members to check, i.e. confirm schedules or respond to notification of a change of schedule?

In accordance with the regulatory points ORO.FTL.110; ORO.FTL.205; ORO.FTL.105:

Yes, but a compulsory check-up is an activity and therefore interrupts any rest, and may not be carried out during the extended rest period or during the pre-flight rest period. If the check includes a change, the check must meet the criteria for changes in minimum communication times, etc. The time at which the check is carried out should be established taking into account the responsibilities defined in ORO.FTL.110, in particular as regards the ability of crews to manage their rest properly to be sufficiently free from fatigue.

Is it possible, during an imaginary period, to contact a crew member for assignment of a service, whose beginning is outside the periods of the scheduled imaginary and mediating a period of rest?

The standard defines “Imaginary” as: period of time defined and previously notified during which the crew member must be available to the operator for assignment of a flight, positioning or other activity, without a rest period, as follows: 
(a) imaginary service at the airport: waiting at the airport that can lead to a service assignment; (B) another imaginary: provision of imaginary at home or in adequate accommodation, which can lead to a service assignment. 
 
The fact that in an imaginary you can assign flights, positioning or other tasks without a rest period does not mean that you can not also perform a task assignment or change the subsequent schedule.