Air Operations Rules, Operator Responsibilities and Flight Time Limitations
Air operations questions test the operator's management system: who is responsible for what, and how the FTL scheme constrains a roster you are shown.
Operator structure
Regulation 965/2012 (Part-ORO/CAT) requires an AOC for commercial air transport, a management system with a safety manager, an Operations Manual in four parts (A organisation, B aeroplane operating matters, C routes and aerodromes, D training), a minimum equipment list derived from the MMEL, and an operations control function. The commander has final authority for the flight (Chicago Annex 2) and may deviate from rules in an emergency, but must report it.
Flight time limitations (Subpart FTL, Reg. 83/2014)
The scheme sets a maximum basic daily flight duty period that reduces as sectors increase and as the report time moves into the early morning or late evening, with acclimatisation rules for time-zone crossings. Minimum rest is 12 hours before an FDP, weekly rest is 36 hours including a local night, and the framework requires regular days free of duty in each 28-day period. Block-time ceilings: 100 hours in 28 consecutive days, 900 hours in a calendar year, 1,000 hours in any 12 consecutive months. The operator may use commander's discretion to extend an FDP, but only within the published limits, not routinely, and with a report.
Fuel and dispatch
Fuel policy covers taxi, trip, contingency (typically 5% or 3% with en-route alternate), alternate, final reserve (30 minutes holding at 1,500 ft above the aerodrome) and additional fuel.
Worked example
A report at 05:10 for a two-sector day: the basic maximum FDP table value for early reporting applies a reduction from the 13-hour maximum, so the planned 13-hour duty is illegal even though only two sectors are flown.
Traps that cost marks
Quoting FAA-style limits (1,000 hours/8 hours) instead of the EU 900/1,000 block-time ceilings; assuming commander's discretion is unlimited; treating the MEL as an optional convenience rather than a dispatch document.