Working time limits in civil aviation

The CAR civil aviation regulations have an annual rather than weekly limit on working time of 2,000 hours including overtime. Within that they also restrict flying time to 900 hours (along with provisions for rest, see chapter 8).

Flight Time Limitations are established under the Air Navigation Order and are potentially more influential, although CAR makes significant additional provision for health and safety services (see chapter 7). The CAA’s CAP 371 document sets out minima and maxima which operators must follow in their Flight Time Limitations scheme.

Maximum Flying Duty Periods vary depending on vehicle type (aeroplane or helicopter) and the number of pilots (flight crew). For an aeroplane with two or more pilots who are acclimatised to the local time zone CAP 371 Flying Duty Periods range between nine hours and 13 hours depending on local start time and the number of flights (“sectors”) involved. The proposed New European Flight Time Limitations drawn up by the European Aviation Safety Agency could mean longer working hours, and are opposed by aviation unions.