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.

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)
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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Is it mandatory to schedule a break before a reservation? What is the minimum rest time before a flight duty carried out on a booking?

    In accordance with the regulatory point ORO.FTL.230; ORO.FTL.235:

    Before a FDP period, you must always give the required rest in ORO.FTL.235 (12 hours on base, 10 hours off base or the previous activity if higher). Therefore, if there is no such rest before the reservation, this rest must be guaranteed between the notification of the activity and the report. NOTE: The above reply corresponds to an assigned FDP during the first day of booking. If it is an assigned FDP during a booking day preceded by a booking day on which no activity assignment has occurred, the 10-hour notification of the reservation would be sufficient.

Are companies obliged to issue a certificate of hours if the worker so requests?

    Yes, according to regulatory point ORO.FTL.245 (b):
    ‘On request, the operator shall provide copies of individual records of flight times, duty periods and rest periods:

    1. the crew member concerned, and (
    2. another operator, in respect of a crew member who is or becomes a crew member of the operator concerned.’

    However, paragraph (a) of the same point provides that the mandatory period for the operator to keep individual records for each crew member is 24 months.

Is there any regulation of uptime and rest times for ground personnel accompanying aircraft?

    The rules on flight time limitations and rest periods, as set out in Subpart ORO.FTL, apply to flight and cabin crew members. In addition, in cases of carriage of cargo in the passenger cabin, it is also required to be applied to cargo surveillance personnel in flight.

    However, there is no specific similar legislation applicable to land workers, the labour regulations and collective agreements being applicable.

Are there FTL requirements for cargo-monitoring crew in addition to flight time limitations?

    The crew responsible for supervising the cargo shall be considered cabin crew and shall therefore respect and follow flight time limitations as they act as responsible for monitoring the cargo status and reacting in case of an emergency.

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.

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.