DGCA
- Rule on Flight
Duty Time Limitation
Introduction
-
Flying loads body and mind
with stress and strain. Depending on the
type of aircraft and the type of work
involved, the strain to body and mind
varies.
-
The primary issues governing fatigue
and alertness on the flight deck are
-
The
amount of sleep/rest put in before
subjecting the body and mind to strain;
duration of work.
-
Frequency of work.
-
Phase of
the sleep/wake cycle ( i.e. circadian
rhythm)
-
The nature of flying and the number
of crew member involved in the function and
their individual competence.
-
In a single
day, a flight crew on international sectors,
during the course of work may have to cross
a number of time zones resulting in
additional strain on the body. Moreover,
modern jet aircraft flying at very high
altitudes at rarified atmosphere also
contributes to additional strain and
consequent fatigue.
Fundamental
Principles
- The first is that the duty schedule
should not prevent the aircrew from ensuring
that they are fully
rested at the start of each duty period.
Particular problems can arise when duty
periods encroach on the normal sleep time,
or when the normal sleep pattern is
disturbed by time zone transitions. In these
circumstances the provision of adequate time
for rest is essential.
- The second principle is that the
duration and timing of individual duty
periods must enable the
aircrew to maintain
acceptable levels of alertness at all times.
What Does ICAO Say
-
The
maximum flight duty limits for any
operating air crew in a period is
limited to prevent the stress caused
by the lack of sleep and provide the
crew with maximum rest, since it is
found in the recent studies that the
stress has profound negative effect
on the human performance, specially
when they are exposed to unnatural
environment such as flying.
The
ICAO has set the maximum flight
timings for an Aircrew to fly in a
given period of time, they are as
follows-
|
8 HOURS |
- |
24 HOURS |
30 HOURS |
- |
1 Week |
125 HOURS |
- |
ONE MONTH |
270 HOURS |
- |
90 DAYS |
1000 HOURS |
- |
1 Year |
|
These
Flight Duty Time Limitations are
applicable for Commanders, flight
time flown as a Co-Pilot is counted
as 80 % for this rule.
The
flight duty timings are relaxable
upto 4 hours of flying in special
cases, and not more than 8 hours in
any case.
Note-
If a Pilot has operated a flight
between 0000 hrs and 0500 hours
local time, he cannot operate a
flight the next day between 0000 hrs
and 0500 hours in any capacity.
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DGCA Rules
8 HOURS |
- |
24 HOURS |
35 HOURS |
- |
1 Week |
125 HOURS |
- |
ONE MONTH |
1000 HOURS |
- |
1 Year |
-
Every crew member shall be
given rest, which will be pro-rata twice the
flight time subject to minimum of 10 hrs. in
any 24 consecutive hrs.
-
A minimum of 24 hrs. rest
encompassing period 2000 hrs. to 0600 hrs.
shall
be provided to all crew members in any 7
consecutive days. This will be in addition
to the rest based upon the flying in the
last 24 consecutive hours.
-
Whenever flight crew is scheduled on dead
heading to operate the flight, this shall
count as flight duty.
-
Dead heading done after operating the
commercial flight will neither count as duty
nor as rest period. In this case if flight
duty time and dead heading time exceeds 18
hours, then the following rest period must
include a local night.
-
Whenever a flight crew is
deputed as safety pilot/observer the period
of such duty shall be counted in his Flight
Duty Time.
-
Simulator time shall not count towards
the flight time.
-
Operator shall not roster
any Flight Crew Member to undertake flight
for more than two consecutive nights with
duty period embracing any period between
0000 to 0500 hours local time.
-
Additional rest of two hour
shall be provided for every hour or part
thereof of duty period that impinges into
the said period of 0000to 0500 hrs.
Preventive Countermeasures
What to do
-
Crewmembers
should get the best possible sleep before
trips and start trips fully refreshed and
alert to lessen the negative impact of the
sleep loss and circadian disruption that may
occur during trips.
-
On trips, crewmembers should try to get
as least as much sleep during each 24-hour
period as they normally do at home.
-
They can schedule off-duty sleep
according to personal physiology: feelings
of sleepiness indeed indicate the need for
sleep, while feelings of alertness or an
inability to sleep suggest getting out of
bed and resuming normal activity.
-
Scheduled naps can also play an important
role in obtaining the sleep necessary to
maintain performance.
-
When large blocks of time are
unavailable, naps can be used to augment
sleep periods at home or on layover.
-
When circumstances permit, naps should be
taken when a person feels sleepy. The length
of the nap depends on the time available.
Short naps should be limited to 45 minutes
or less, in order to avoid the sleep inertia
associated with awakening out of deep sleep.
Longer naps should be at least 2 hours to
allow for the completion of a full NREM/REM
cycle. It seems that no nap is too short;
some sleep is generally better than no
sleep.
Benefits
- Good sleep habits are
beneficial in two ways:
- one, they foster
good sleep at home, which best prepares
a pilot for a trip;
- two, good sleep
habits can be used on trips to maximize
rest period sleep opportunities.
Recommendations
- The following
recommendations are suggestions based on
physiological principles and scientific
findings.
- Develop and follow a
pre-sleep routine to promote sleep at
bedtime; a warm bath, reading calming
material, or just making a ritual of
pre-bed preparation can provide the
routine.
- Keep the sleep space
and time sacred. Specifically, reserve
the bedroom for sleeping and other
pleasant activities, and avoid using it
for arguments, work, or exercise; also,
protect the time set aside for sleep, so
that all of that time is actually
available for sleep.
- Make the sleep
environment conducive to sleep: maintain
dark, quiet, a comfortable temperature,
and a comfortable sleep surface.
- If hungry or thirsty
before bed, eat or drink lightly to
avoid being kept awake by digestive
activity.
- Avoid alcohol and
caffeine prior to sleep. Alcohol can
distort sleep architecture, and caffeine
can disrupt or preclude sleep.
- Determine how long
before bedtime you need to avoid alcohol
and caffeine, and keep in mind that
colas, chocolate, and medications
(including cold remedies) can contain
caffeine.
- Use physical and/or
mental relaxation techniques to promote
sleep as necessary. When choosing a
technique, remember the following:
- 1) the technique
may require practice before it
becomes significantly useful;
- 2) there are
many unsubstantiated claims
concerning relaxation techniques, so
judge each for yourself.
- If you can't fall
asleep, don't lie awake in bed for
longer than 30 minutes; get out of bed
and do something that will promote sleep
(e.g., read a calming book).
- On a larger scale,
generally healthy diet and exercise
habits may also promote good sleep.
However, exercise should be avoided too
close to bedtime, as it can take time
for the body's systems to wind down.
Preventive countermeasures
can prepare crewmembers for trips and improve
their ability to maximize sleep opportunities on
trips. However, preventive strategies alone are
not necessarily sufficient to overcome the sleep
loss and circadian disruption from long duty
periods, time-zone changes, and irregular duty
hours.
Operational Countermeasures
Operational countermeasures
offer crewmembers in-flight strategies for
combating fatigue.
-
Operational countermeasures must allow
crewmembers to remain in their cockpit
seats.
-
Sleep deprivation studies have shown that
physical activity is the best way to combat
fatigue.
-
Therefore, stretching and other physical
activity (while limited by the seat
restriction) can be used to battle
sleepiness.
-
Social interaction can also help mask
sleepiness; however, the interaction must be
active to have an effect. In other words,
while a lively conversation may help the
situation, listening and nodding will not.
-
Caffeine can be another useful tool when
used properly. Strategic caffeine use calls
for avoiding caffeine when already alert
(e.g., at the start of duty) and, instead,
using it when sleepy or 10-15 minutes before
a period of predicted vulnerability (e.g.,
before the 3-5 AM sleepiness window).
-
As reducing unnecessary physical stresses
can help, crewmembers should try to maintain
good nutrition and hydration.
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