In this part of our series “Know your CWA” we would like to expand on “Minimum Rest Periods” as defined in B1- 36.9. The focus lays on:
- Rest away from Home Base
- Recurrent extended recovery rest periods and
- Increased rest requirements due to disruptive schedules.
B1-36.9.1 Minimum rest period and reduced rest
The required rest period before undertaking an FDP shall be in accordance with the Table B1-36.9.1-1 below.
Time zone differences are compensated by additional rest in the following cases:
- At home base, if a rotation involves a 4 hour time difference or more.
- Away from home base, if an FDP involves a 4-hour time difference or more.
Conditions for the use of reduced rest:
- The rest period following the reduced rest is extended by the difference between the minimum rest and the reduced rest.
- The maximum FDP following the reduced rest is reduced by the difference between the minimum rest period and the reduced rest.
- There is a maximum of 2 reduced rest periods between 2 recurrent extended recovery rest periods.
Rest Period is defined in Part III of the CWA as “Means a continuous, uninterrupted and defined period of time, following duty or prior to duty, during which a Pilot is free of all duties, standby and reserve.”
Duty is defined as “Means any task that a Pilot performs for the Company, including flight duty, administrative work (as indicated on the Pilot’s roster), giving or receiving training and checking, Positioning, Reserve and Standby.”
Suitable Accommodation is defined as “Means, for the purpose of standby, split duty, and rest, a separate Hotel room for each Pilot located in a quiet environment and equipped with a bed, which is sufficiently ventilated, has a device for regulating temperature and light intensity, and access to food and drink.“
It can be summarized that away from Home Base (LUX) the
- Minimum Rest Period after and before any Duty Period is:
- As long as the previous Duty Period or 12 hours, whichever is longer
- After a FDP crossing 4 time zones or more, the Minimum Rest Period is:
- As long as the previous Duty Period or 14 hours, whichever is longer
The following graph nicely illustrates the correlation between Duty Period and Minimum Rest Period away from Home Base.
B1-36.9.4 Recurrent extended recovery rest periods
The minimum recurrent extended recovery rest period shall be 36 hours, including 2 local nights, and in any case the time between the end of one recurrent extended recovery rest period and the start of the next extended recovery rest period shall not be more than 168 hours.
The recurrent extended recovery rest period shall be increased to 2 local days twice every month.
Extended recovery rest periods may be scheduled concurrently with rest requirements for time zone difference compensation.
Recurrent extended recovery rest periods shall be planned and crew members notified sufficiently in advance.
This article states that the minimum recurrent recovery rest period must be a minimum of 36 hours, including 2 local nights. Furthermore, not more than 168 hours shall be between the end of one recurrent extended recovery rest period and the start of the next one.
Additionally, the recurrent extended recovery rest period must be increased to 2 local days twice every month and may be scheduled concurrently with rest requirements for time zone compensation.
B1-36.9.5 Increased rest requirements due to disruptive schedules
For a crew member performing 4 or more night duties, early starts or late finishes between 2 extended recovery rest periods, the second extended recovery rest period is extended to 60 hours. Such an extended recovery rest period may be scheduled concurrently to other rest requirements including but not limited to rest required for time zone difference compensation.
When a transition at home base is planned from a late finish/night duty to an early start, the rest period between the 2 FDPs includes 1 local night.
Additional increased rest is required if a pilot performs 4 or more Night Duties, Early Starts or Late Finishes between 2 extended recovery rest periods. In such a case the second extended recovery rest period must be a minimum of 60 hours.
Disruptive Schedule is defined in OM-A Chapter 7, Section 2 as “Means a crew member´s roster which disrupts the sleep opportunity during the optimal sleep time window by comprising an FDP or a combination of FDPs which encroach, start or finish during any portion of the day or night where a crew member is acclimatised. A schedule may be disruptive due to early starts, late finishes or night duties.”
In this context the OM-A defines
- Early Start as “a duty period starting in the period between 05:00 and 05:59 in the time zone to which a crew member is acclimatised;”
- Late Finish as “a duty period finishing in the period between 23:00 and 01:59 in the time zone to which a crew member is acclimatised;”
- Night Duty as “duty period encroaching any portion of the period between 02:00 and 04:59 in the time zone to which a crew member is acclimatised.”
Important to know: The reference for determining an Early Start, Late Finish or Night Duty is the reference time a pilot is acclimatized to according to CWA B1-36.3.
Example A:
A pilot operates a flight as part of a Standard Flight Crew. The total Duty Time is 9:40 hours and ends at 07.45 UTC. The crew only crosses 3 time zones. As per CWA B1-36.9.1 the pilot is entitled to a Rest Period of 12 hours, meaning that the earliest Reporting Time for the next Duty Period, whether operating as active crewmember or positioning, would be at 19.45 UTC.
Please note that according to OM-A Chapter 7, Section 9, a Minimum of 10 hours rest at the hotel must be achieved in order to have an 8 hour sleep opportunity.
Example B:
A pilot operates a night flight as part of an Augmented Flight Crew. The total Duty Time is 12:45 hours and ends at 07:00 UTC. The crew crosses 4 time zones. As per CWA B1-36.9.1. the pilot is entitled to a Rest Period of 14 hours or as long as the previous Duty Period, if longer. The earliest possible Reporting Time for the next Duty would be at 21:00 UTC.
Example C:
A pilot positions from LUX to HKG resulting in a Duty Period of 18:45 hours ending at 04:45 UTC. The pilot is entitled to a Rest Period of 18:45 hours. The earliest Reporting Time for the next Duty would be at 23:30 UTC.
Example D:
A pilot is scheduled for a trip, which departs LUX on day 1 at 11:00 UTC and is supposed to come back on day 7 at 04:00 UTC. Time between reporting for duty at 10:00 UTC on day 1 and going off duty on day 7 at 04:30 UTC is 162:30 hours. During this rotation, the longest scheduled rest period is 32 hours. Due to delays and changes, the pilot departs late from CGO to OVB and is planned to continue to LUX on the same flight. ETA in LUX would be 12:00 UTC on day 7, resulting in more than 168 hours since the end of his last extended recovery rest period. As per CWA and the OM-A, the pilot must take a rest period in OVB and is not allowed to continue to LUX. Because he had a disruptive schedule with 4 night duties, early starts and late finishes, the rest period in OVB must be increased from the minimum of 36 hours and 2 local nights to 60 hours minimum.
But what if your Rest Time is less than what you are entitled to?
Then it is the obligation of the company to change your roster accordingly.
Even though these are the minimums the regulations state, a pilot may increase the Minimum Rest Periods in order to mitigate potential fatigue in the next duty or series of duties.
Please follow this link to download your copy of the CWA for your perusal on the company provided iPad or any other computer for future reference.
If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact us at cvboard@alpl.lu for clarification.
All parts of this series can be found here in the Publications section under Cargolux Board.
