Previous page	Next page
FAQ – Flight Duty Time Extensions	FAQ – Consecutive Nighttime Operations.

One of the problems that this rule was intended to address is the performance degradation experienced by flightcrew members who conduct overnight FDPs and perform their duties during the WOCL after receiving less-restful daytime sleep.

This rule addresses this problem by incentivizing fatigue mitigation measures.

One of these fatigue mitigation measures is split duty which is based on the premise that there are times during an unaugmented nighttime FDP when a certificate holder could reasonably provide a flightcrew member with an opportunity for rest.

This rest opportunity (opportunity to sleep) would allow a flightcrew member to get some sleep during the night. The nighttime sleep could be used to mitigate the performance degradation created by working through the WOCL.

Q45) Is the usage of Split Duty Limitations required?

A45) No, 117.15 is an optional component to the regulations, however, the benefits associated with this section, may only be used only if the entire section is complied with, additionally, 117.15, may only be applied to un-augmented operations.

Q46) What conditions must be satisfied to allow for the benefits of Split Duty?

A46) The entire section 117.15 (a)(b)(c)(d)(e) and (f)

Q47) What conditions satisfy a rest opportunity?

A47) The rest opportunity must be provided between the hours 22:00 and 05:00 (local time), it must be at least 3 hours in duration in a suitable accommodation, it must have been scheduled before the crewmember reports for the FDP and it may not be reduced and must be after the first flight segment has been completed. 117.15 (a)(b)(c)(d) and (e) refer.

Q48) If a crewmember is scheduled 5 hours in a suitable accommodation, can that time be reduced to 3 hours?

A48) Yes, as long as the crewmember was notified at time of report that only 3 hours would be applied to the limitation of 117.15(f)

Q49) If the time spent in a suitable accommodation is not part of a FDP, do additional limitations exist for a Split Duty apart from those in 117.15?

A49) Yes, the FDP less the time in a suitable accommodation, must adhere the limitations of 117.13 as well as the limitations for extended FDP 117.19(a) and (b). The time in a suitable accommodation does not include the time to travel to/from the accommodation.

Q50) Is there a maximum time a crewmember may be on a Split Duty?

A50) Yes, the Combined FDP time and time spent in a suitable accommodation, must not exceed 14:00, 117.15(f) refers.

Q51) Can a Split Duty be extended before takeoff beyond the limitations in 117.15(f)?

A51) No, the Combined FDP time and time spent in a suitable accommodation, must not exceed 14:00, 117.15(f) refers. However, any extensions beyond the 14:00 limitation after takeoff must comply with 117.19(b).

117.15  Flight duty period: Split duty.

For an unaugmented operation only, if a flightcrew member is provided with a rest opportunity (an opportunity to sleep) in a suitable accommodation during his or her flight duty period, the time that the flightcrew member spends in the suitable accommodation is not part of that flightcrew member’s flight duty period if all of the following conditions are met:

(a)   The rest opportunity is provided between the hours of 22:00 and 05:00 local time.

(b)   The time spent in the suitable accommodation is at least 3 hours, measured from the time that the flightcrew member reaches the suitable accommodation.

(c)   The rest opportunity is scheduled before the beginning of the flight duty period in which that rest opportunity is taken.

(d)   The rest opportunity that the flightcrew member is actually provided may not be less than the rest opportunity that was scheduled.

(e)   The rest opportunity is not provided until the first segment of the flight duty period has been completed.

(f)    The combined time of the flight duty period and the rest opportunity provided in this section does not exceed 14 hours.

Previous page	Next page
FAQ – Flight Duty Time Extensions	FAQ – Consecutive nighttime operations.