Duty Time, Rest, and a Delayed Rotation
A two-pilot crew reports at 05:10 local for a four-sector day. Sectors 1 and 2 are uneventful. Before sector 3, a 2 h 20 min ground delay occurs due to a destination thunderstorm. The commander's flight duty period began at report time; the operator's FTL scheme (approved under the national rules) sets a maximum FDP of 13 h for this report time and a minimum rest of 10 h before the next duty. The delay pushes the planned finish past the maximum FDP. The commander proposes to continue because the crew is 'not tired' and the passengers are stranded. The operator's dispatch suggests splitting the crew and using a standby pilot who has been on standby since 04:00.
1. Apply the FTL scheme and decide whether the crew can complete the rotation.
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The FDP is measured from report time, not from first takeoff. A 05:10 report with a 13 h maximum means the FDP must end by 18:10 local (subject to any scheme-specific extension provisions). A 2 h 20 min delay on sector 3 pushes the planned finish beyond that limit. 'Not tired' is not a legal basis to exceed the FDP; the commander may only use discretion where the scheme expressly allows it (e.g., limited commander's discretion with defined conditions and notification), and that discretion is not unlimited.
If the scheme permits commander's discretion, the commander must still respect its absolute cap, record the decision, and notify the operator. If the cap would be breached, the crew cannot complete the rotation; the operator must delay, split the duty, or substitute crew. The standby pilot's own FDP starts from when he was called out, not from 04:00 standby start, but his standby/rest history must be checked against the scheme.
2. How should the standby pilot's use be evaluated, and what rest obligation follows?
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The standby pilot can only be used if:
- His FDP is calculated from the applicable start point under the scheme (call-out/report), and the remaining sectors fit within his maximum FDP.
- His prior rest meets the scheme's minimum and he has not already accumulated duty that would breach cumulative limits.
- His recency/competency for the route and aircraft is valid.
After the duty, the minimum 10 h rest (or the scheme's applicable rest) must be given before the next duty; rest cannot be traded for passenger convenience. The operator should document the reassignment and any commander's discretion used, and review whether the delay was foreseeable and whether standby coverage was adequate.