Canadian Aviation Regulations · SOR/96-433
Consecutive Flight Duty Periods
No more than three consecutive flight duty periods that touch 02:00–05:59 without a local night's rest at the end — extendable to five only with a 3-hour rest in suitable accommodation each day and 56 hours free at the end.
Applies to 703704705 · in force since December 12, 2020
This rule limits how many flight duty periods in a row may cut into the early-morning window 02:00–05:59 — the window of circadian low. Any FDP with any part in that window counts (AC 700-047 § 4.54).
The limit
- Three consecutive such FDPs is the default maximum. To assign a run of three, the operator must provide one local night’s rest at the end of the third (700.51(1)).
- The run may go to five consecutive such FDPs only if the operator provides
both (700.51(2); AC 700-047 § 4.55):
- a 3-hour rest period in suitable accommodation during each flight duty period, and
- 56 consecutive hours free from duty at the end of the last one.
After more than three and up to five such FDPs, no further duty may be assigned until the 56 hours free is complete.
Interaction with split flight duty
A night duty by definition touches the window of circadian low, so a run of three night duties extended by split flight duty also hits this three-in-a-row limit (AC 700-047 § 4.54).
Related
Regulation text — CARs 700.51
Reproduced from the consolidated Canadian Aviation Regulations ( SOR/96-433) on the Justice Laws website. CARs 700.51
700.51 (1) An air operator shall not assign to a flight crew member more than three consecutive flight duty periods if any part of those periods falls between 02:00 and 05:59, unless the air operator provides the member with one local night’s rest at the end of the third flight duty period.
(2) However, an air operator may assign to a flight crew member up to five consecutive flight duty periods even if any part of those periods falls between 02:00 and 05:59 if the member is provided with
- (a) a rest period of three hours in suitable accommodation during each flight duty period; and
- (b) 56 consecutive hours free from duty at the end of the last consecutive flight duty period.
What changed in 2018
In plain language
New with the 2018 rules: a cap on how many flight duty periods in a row may intrude on the early-morning body-clock window, with a conditional extension.
Paraphrased from Advisory Circular 700-047 .