Fatigue Management

Part III - Domestic (High Capacity) Operations

3.1 Roster Limits

3.1.1 Subject to paragraphs 3.2, 3.3 And the provisions below, flight crew shall not be rostered for flight duty periods longer than the number of hours specified on the following table, as determined by the local start time and the number of sectors to be flown:

3.1.2 Subject to 3.1.3, a flight crew member shall not be rostered for more than four nights in any seven consecutive nights where the duty period involves 'late night' operations.

3.1.3 Once in any consecutive 28 days, a flight crew member may be restored for five nights in any consecutive seven nights where the duty period involves 'late night' operations.

3.2 Increase in Roster Limits by Split Duty (Basic Flight Crew)

3.2.1 Where a rostered flight duty period contains a rest period of at least four consecutive hours at suitable sleeping accommodation, the roster limits under paragraph 3.1 may be increased by up to four hours, with a maximum limit of 16 hours. Time spent during such a rest period may be discounted by 50% (up to a maximum of four hours) in determining subsequent time free of duty under paragraph 3.7, and cumulative duty under paragraph 3.9.

3.2.2 Where a rostered flight duty period contains a rest period of at least four consecutive hours at suitable resting accommodation, the roster limits under paragraph 3.1 may be increased by up to two hours.

3.2.3 Where a rest period includes any period between the hours 2300 to 0530 local, the rest period is to be for an uninterrupted period of at least seven hours at suitable sleeping accommodation. The maximum rostered flight duty period under these circumstances can be increased to 16 hours (if not already permitted). Discounting of rest time (as detailed in 3.2.1) under these circumstances is not permitted.

3.3 Roster Limits (Augmented Flight Crew)

3.3.1 The maximum rostered flight duty period for augmented flight crew is 16 hours, where the flight crew being relieved has access (for the complete rest period) to rest facilities consisting of a comfortable seat which is separate from and screened from the flight deck and passenger compartment, and is environmentally conducive to rest.

3.3.2 The maximum rostered flight duty period for augmented flight crew is 14 hours, where the flight crew being relieved has access (for the complete rest period) to a comfortable seat in the passenger compartment.

3.3.3 Where a flight duty period is scheduled to exceed 14 hours, not more than two sectors shall be rostered.

3.4 Flight Deck Duty Limits

3.4.1 Flight deck duty limits for operations where the flight crew comprises only two pilots are:

(a) 9.5 hours where more than seven hours of flight time in a duty period are conducted in darkness;

(b) 10 hours where more than one sector is scheduled; and

(c) 10.5 hours for all other occasions.

3.4.2 Flight deck duty limits for operations where the flight crew comprises more than two is 10.5 hours.

3.5 Extensions

3.5.1 A flight duty period already commenced may be extended by up to two hours where not more than six sectors have been flown, or one hour when more than six sectors have been flown, when it is operationally necessary in order to complete the objective of the duty and the flight member considers him/herself mentally and physically fit for the extension

3.5.2 In a flight duty period already commenced, flight deck duty limits may be increased by two hours when the flight crew is augmented, or one hour where the flight crew is not augmented, when it is operationally necessary in order to complete the objective of the duty and the flight crew member considers himself/herself mentally and physically fit for the extension.

3.5.3 A flight duty period already commenced (not being a split duty nor already extended) may be extended by up to four hours when it is operationally necessary in order to complete the objective of the duty, the flight crew has had at least four hours at suitable sleeping accommodation, and the flight crew member considers himself/herself mentally and physically fit for the extension.

3.5.4 Extensions made under paragraphs 3.5.1, 3.5.2 and 3.5.3 may include increasing the number of sectors by one in order to complete the objective of the duty.

3.5.5 Operators shall keep records of extensions made under 3.5.1, 3.5.2 and 3.5.3 for a period of 12 months.

3.6 Standby

3.6.1 The maximum allowable continuous time on standby is 16 hours. Standby may be undertaken either at home or at suitable sleeping accommodation.

3.6.2 The maximum allowable duty period following call out from standby is to be decreased by the number of hours that the standby time exceeds 12 hours.

3.7 Time Free of Duty

3.7.1 Where the previous duty period does not exceed 12 hours, the time free of duty shall be 10 hours, or as long as the previous duty period, whichever is the greater. Where the previous duty period exceeds 12 hours, the time free of duty shall be 12 hours, plus 1.5 times the time that the previous duty period exceeded 12 hours.

3.7.2 Where the preceding duty period does not exceed 10 hours, and the time free of duty includes the period between 2200 to 0600 local time, the time free of duty may be reduced to nine consecutive hours.

3.7.3 A standby completed in which call out does not occur is to be followed by a time free of all duty of a minimum of 10 consecutive hours.

3.7.4 A flight crew member shall have:

(a) in any consecutive seven days, one period free of all duty which is a minimum of 36 consecutive hours duration; or

(b) in any consecutive eight nights, one period free of all duty comprising two consecutive local nights, starting no later than 2200 local, and finishing not earlier than 0500.

3.7.5 A flight crew member shall have:

(a) in any consecutive 28 days, at least seven days free of duty; and in any consecutive 84 days, at least 24 days free of duty; or

(b) in any calendar month, at least eight days free of duty; and

(c) in any consecutive three calendar months, at least 26 days free of duty.

3.8 Limit on Flying Hours

3.8.1 The total flight time accrued in any consecutive 28 days shall not exceed 100 hours.

3.8.2 The total flight time accrued under this Part during any consecutive 365 day period shall not exceed 1000 hours.

3.9 Limit on Cumulative Duty Time

3.9.1 The cumulative duty period in any consecutive 7 days shall not exceed 60 hours.

3.9.2 The cumulative duty period in any consecutive 14 days shall not exceed 100 hours.

3.10 Limit on Late Night Operations Where there are more than two duty periods involving 'late night' operations in any seven consecutive nights:

(a) the cumulative duty limit in that seven night period shall not exceed 40 hours;

(b) except as provided in 3.1.3, not more than four duty or standby periods shall be rostered in that seven night period; and

(c) where late night operations have been conducted on consecutive nights, the flight crew member must either:

(i) stay on 'late night operations', or

(ii) have a time free of at least 24 hours before being rostered for any other duty.

3.11 Duty Time Factoring

In determining cumulative duty limits, duty time which involves simulator training and training flights (excluding line training and line checks) is to be factored by 1.5.

3.12 Local Midnight

Where an Operator operates from places of different local midnight, the Operator may determine the place for local midnight for flight crew. Such a determination shall last a minimum of 28 days.