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UK Civil Aviation Authority

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EASA flight time limitations

Guidance on regulations for commercial air transport aeroplane operators.

What are Flight Time Limitations? 

Flight Time Limitations (FTL) are regulations designed to manage the risk of crew fatigue in commercial air transport operations. They establish limits on flight duty periods, flying hours and standby duties, and set minimum rest requirements to ensure crew members are sufficiently rested before undertaking safety-critical duties. 

FTL requirements combine prescriptive limits with operator-specific fatigue management arrangements. Operators are responsible for demonstrating that their scheduling practices effectively manage fatigue-related risks and support safe operations. 

 

Who is affected? 

FTL requirements apply to commercial air transport operators conducting operations under a UK Air Operator Certificate (AOC). 

Different fatigue management requirements apply to certain types of operation, including certain helicopter, air taxi, emergency medical service and single-pilot operations. 

 

What are operators required to do? 

Operators must establish and maintain an FTL scheme that complies with the applicable regulations and demonstrates how fatigue-related risks are identified, assessed and managed. 

This includes: 

  • Applying flight duty period, flight time and rest limitations. 
  • Implementing fatigue management policies, processes and procedures. 
  • Providing fatigue management training to flight crew, cabin crew, rostering personnel and relevant managers. 
  • Monitoring fatigue-related risks and taking appropriate mitigating actions where necessary. 
  • Maintaining records and demonstrating ongoing compliance as part of regulatory oversight activities. 

 

What does this mean for crew members? 

Crew members play an important role in fatigue management and are required to comply with the operator's FTL scheme and associated procedures. 

Crew members should: 

  • Understand the applicable flight time limitations and rest requirements. 
  • Participate in fatigue management training. 
  • Make appropriate use of rest opportunities. 
  • Report fatigue hazards and fatigue-related concerns in accordance with company procedures. 
  • Be aware of their responsibilities in supporting safe and compliant operations. 

 

Deviations, Variations and Fatigue Risk Management 

Certain regulatory provisions may permit the use of approved variations and deviations to standard flight time limitation requirements. Where operators seek to use such provisions, they must demonstrate through an appropriate fatigue risk assessment that an equivalent level of safety can be maintained.

The level of oversight, supporting evidence and fatigue risk management arrangements required will depend on the nature and complexity of the variation being sought.

 

Further Guidance 

Additional guidance material is available to support operators in the development and maintenance of compliant FTL schemes, including: 

  • FTL Q&A document (CAP 1265) 
  • Guidance on acclimatisation (CAP 1266) 
  • Audit checklist (CAP 1268) 
  • Operator responsibilities guidance (CAP 1267)