Canadian Aviation Regulations · SOR/96-433

Nutrition Breaks

At least 15 minutes to eat and drink for every 6 hours within a flight duty period.

Applies to 703704705 · in force since December 12, 2020

Section 700.37 in full: “An air operator shall provide a flight crew member with not less than 15 minutes every 6 hours within a flight duty period to eat and drink.”

The nutrition break is time within the flight duty period — the FDP clock keeps running through it. It is not a rest period or a split-duty break.

Regulation text — CARs 700.37

Reproduced from the consolidated Canadian Aviation Regulations ( SOR/96-433) on the Justice Laws website. CARs 700.37 verified Jan 15, 2026

700.37 An air operator shall provide a flight crew member with not less than 15 minutes every 6 hours within a flight duty period to eat and drink.

What changed in 2018

In plain language

New with the 2018 rules: an explicit minimum time to eat and drink during a flight duty period.

Paraphrased from Advisory Circular 700-047 .