EASA FTL 2016

A Generic Interpretation

Understanding EASA FTL 2016

Flight and Duty Time Limitations

and Rest Requirements.

Version 1.1

Disclaimer

The documentation is provided “AS IS” and is solely intended to provide a general understanding of the author’s interpretation of the new EASA FTL as amended on 29-Jan-2014.

The author makes no representations and disclaims any and all responsibility for the completeness or accuracy of the documentation.

The author reserves the right, at his discretion, to change or modify the documentation as deemed appropriate.

Copyright © 2012-2015,

Understanding EASA FTL 2016 – A Generic Interpretation. All rights reserved.

Module 6:

Acclimatisation with practical examples

Acclimatisation

A CM who is in an acclimated state remains in an acclimated state as long as they remain within a zone +/-2 hours either side of the time zone in which the CM is acclimated to.

State of Acclimatisation:

(D) Acclimated to Departure - occurs when a CM has spent sufficient time within a time zone to become acclimated to the time zone for departure.

(B) Acclimated to Previous Acclimated Time Zone – occurs when a CM has spent insufficient time within a time zone to begin the acclimatization process.

(X) Unknown - when a CM has entered a new time zone and has begun the acclimatisation process but has not spent sufficient time to adjust to the local time zone.

Acclimatisation

Example: a CM acclimated to Paris (UTC + 1), remains acclimated as long as they remain within the following time zones: UTC -1, UTC, UTC + 1, UTC + 2, UTC + 3 at the conclusion of the duty period. Jeddah (UTC + 3) is acclimated, while Tehran (UTC + 3:30) will require the crewmember to become acclimated.

Acclimatisation

Acclimatisation process is also known as re-adaptation.

Flying across time zones exposes the circadian body clock to sudden shifts in the day/night cycle. Because of its sensitivity to light and (to a lesser extent) social time cues, the circadian body clock will eventually adapt to a new time zone.

The acclimatisation process follows Table 1 defined in ORO.FTL.105 Definitions

Time difference (h) between

reference time and local Time elapsed since reporting at reference time

time where the crew

< 48 48 – 71:59 72 – 95:59 96 – 119:59 ≥ 120

member starts the next duty

< 4 B D D D D

≥ 4 and ≤ 6 B X D D D

> 6 and ≤ 9 B X X D D

> 9 and ≤ 12 B X X X D

Table 1 is to be applied when a CM has exited the zone +/- 2 hours from the previous reference time.

Acclimatisation

Time difference between reference time zone and local time, is simply the difference between the time zone where the CM was last acclimated to, and the time zone where a crewmember will begin the next duty.

Example: CM is acclimated to Paris (UTC + 1) (Reference Time) and will begin the next duty period in Chicago (UTC -6), whereby the Time Difference is 7:00.

The time elapsed since reporting at reference time to the time of report of the next duty. A conversion to UTC date time will be required to calculate the elapsed time.

A Report in Paris on 15-Feb-2017 at 10:00 (Local) is 15-Feb-2017 at 09:00 (UTC), the next report in Chicago is on 16-Feb-2017 at 20:00 (Local) is 17-Feb-2017 at 02:00 (UTC), whereby the time elapsed is 40:00.

Case #1: Since the elapsed time is less than 48:00 (Row 3, Column 1) the crewmember remains acclimated to

Paris time (UTC + 1).

Case #2: Had the departure in Chicago been postponed 24 hours, the elapsed time would be 64:00, the CM has now moved into an unknown state of acclimatization (x) (Row 3, Column 2).

Case #3: Had the departure in Chicago been postponed 60 hours, the elapsed time would be 100:00, the CM has now moved into an acclimated state of acclimatization (Row 3, Column 4). The CM is acclimated to Chicago Time (UTC -6),

Acclimatisation

Reference Time for the next departure is defined as follows:

1. When a CM begins the next duty period in an (B) Acclimated to Previous Acclimated Time Zone state to the reference time is the time zone where that cm was last acclimated to.

2. When a CM begins the next duty period in an (X) Unknown state there is no reference time. 3. When a CM begins the next duty period in an (D) Acclimated to Departure state the

reference time is the local time zone where the duty period begins. 4. Should the CM remain within the zone of acclimatisation, the reference time is the local

time zone where the duty period begins.

Acclimatisation

Examples: • Duty 1:

• A CM starts a series of duty periods in an Acclimated state in Paris (UTC+1). • The CM will be considered Acclimated to the next Duty period as long as it is within the following time zones

(UTC-1, UTC, UTC+1, UTC+2,UTC+3). • The Duty ends in Helsinki (UTC+2). • The Reference time is Paris (UTC+1).

• Duty 2: • The CM is considered acclimate at the start of the duty period (UTC+2). • The CM will be considered Acclimated to the next Duty period as long as it is within the following time zones

(UTC, UTC+1, UTC+2,UTC+3, UTC+4). • The Duty ends in the duty ends in London (UTC). • The Reference time is now considered to be Helsinki (UTC+2).

• Duty 3: • The CM is considered acclimate at the start of the duty period (UTC). • The CM will be considered Acclimated to the next Duty period as long as it is within the following time zones

(UTC-2, UTC-1, UTC, UTC+1,UTC+2). • The duty ends in New York (UTC-5). • The Reference time is now considered to be London (UTC).

• Duty 4: • Since the CM ended Duty 3 more than 2 hours from the previous Reference time Table 1 must be used to

determine the CM’s state of acclimatization: 1. What is the time zone difference from the previous time zone (UTC – (UTC-5)) = 5 2. Time elapsed since reporting at reference time = Report Time Duty 4 – Report Time Duty 3.

Acclimatisation

• Duty 4: • Since the CM ended Duty 3 more than 2 hours from the previous Reference time Table 1 must be used to determine the

CM’s state of acclimatisation: 1. What is the time zone difference from the previous time zone (UTC – (UTC-5)) = 5 (Use Row 2) 2. Time elapsed since reporting at reference time = Report Time Duty 4 – Report Time Duty 3.

Acclimatisation

• Duty 4 (Case B): • The CM is considered acclimate at the start of the duty period. • The CM will be considered Acclimated to the next Duty period as long as it is within the following time zones

(UTC-2, UTC-1, UTC, UTC+1,UTC+2). • The duty ends in London(UTC). • The Reference time is Still considered to be London (UTC). • Duty 5 will be considered acclimated.

• Duty 4 (Case D): • The CM is considered acclimate at the start of the duty period (UTC-5. • The CM will be considered Acclimated to the next Duty period as long as it is within the following time zones

(UTC-7, UTC-6, UTC-5, UTC-4,UTC-3). • The duty ends in London(UTC). • The Reference time is Now considered to be New York(UTC-5). • Duty 5 will need to follow the same process as duty 4.

• Duty 4 (Case X): • The CM is considered to be in an Unknown state of acclimatisation at the start of the duty period . • The duty ends in London(UTC). • The Reference time is Still considered to be London (UTC). • Duty 5 will need to follow the same process as duty 4.

Acclimatisation

• Duty 5 (Case B): • The CM is considered acclimate at the start of the duty period. • The CM will be considered Acclimated to the next Duty period as long as it is within the following time zones (UTC-2, UTC-

1, UTC, UTC+1,UTC+2). • The duty ends in Helsinki(UTC+2). • The Reference time is Still considered to be London (UTC). • Duty 6 will be considered acclimated.

• Duty 5 (Case D): • The CM is considered acclimate at the start of the duty period (UTC-5. • The CM will be considered Acclimated to the next Duty period as long as it is within the following time zones (UTC-2, UTC-

1, UTC, UTC+1,UTC+2). • The duty ends in Helsinki(UTC+2). • The Reference time is Now considered to be London (UTC). • Duty 6 will be considered acclimated.

• Duty 5 (Case X): • The CM is considered to be in an Unknown state of acclimatisation at the start of the duty period . • The duty ends in Helsinki(UTC+2). • The Reference time is Still considered to be same reference time as Duty 4. • Duty 6 will need to follow the same process as duty 4.

Acclimatisation

• Duty 6 (Acclimated): • The CM is considered acclimated at the start of the duty period (UTC+2). • The CM will be considered Acclimated to the next Duty period as long as it is within the following time zones

(UTC, UTC+1, UTC+2,UTC+3, UTC+4). • The Duty ends in Paris(UTC+1). • The Reference time is now considered to be Helsinki (UTC+2).

• Duty 6 (Case X): • The CM is considered to be in an Unknown state of acclimatisation at the start of the duty period . • The Reference time is Still considered to be same reference time as Duty 5. • The Duty ends in Paris(UTC+1).

• Required Rest upon return to base: • Examine the entire series of duty periods and find the greatest of:

• Find the greatest time zone difference with any duty period start time when compared to the base time. (6 hours) • Find the greatest time zone difference with any duty compared to its respective reference time (5 hours)

• Determine the elapsed time from the first report time of the series of duties to the release time of the series of duty periods. • Use the table supplied in CS FTL.1.235 when the greatest time zone difference is greater than or equal to 4 hours:

Acclimatisation

The EASA has provided the following guidance materials within the FAQ’s 31-July, 2015:

How do you work out your state of acclimatisation and rest requirements after rotations with three or more FDPs, including FDPs in both directions and within the destination time zone?

A crew member is considered to be acclimatised to the time zone of the reference time for the first 48 hours. After 48 hours of the rotation has elapsed, the crew member is considered to be in an unknown state of acclimatisation. The crew member only becomes acclimatised to the destination time zone if they remain in the first arrival destination time zone (either for rest or any duties) for the time established in the table in ORO.FTL.105(1).

If a crew member’s rotation includes any additional duties that end in a different time zone to that of their first arrival destination’s time zone while they are in an unknown state of acclimatisation, then the crew member remains in an unknown state of acclimatisation until they have: • taken the rest period in accordance with CS FTL.1.235(b)(3) at home base; • taken the rest period in accordance with CS FTL.1.235(b)(3) at the new location; or • been undertaking duties starting at and returning to the time zone of the new location until they becomes acclimatised in accordance with the values in the table

in ORO.FTL.105(1).

To determine the state of acclimatisation the following criteria should be applied: • the greater of:

o the time differences between the time zone where they were last acclimatised or o the local time of their last departure point and the new location; and

• the time elapsed since reporting where they were last acclimatised during the rotation.

Rest after rotations with three or more FDPs • For a rotation with three or more FDPs, use the greatest time zone difference from the original reference time to determine the minimum number of local nights

of rest (in accordance with the table in CS FTL.1.235(b)(3)(i)). • If such a rotation includes time zones crossings in both directions the calculation is based on the highest number of time zones crossed in any one FDP during the

rotation.

Acclimatisation

How do you work out your state of acclimatisation and rest requirements after rotations with three or more FDPs, including FDPs in both directions and within the destination time zone? A crew member is considered to be acclimatised to the time zone of the reference time for the first 48 hours. After 48 hours of the rotation has elapsed, the crew member is considered to be in an unknown state of acclimatisation. The crew member only becomes acclimatised to the destination time zone if they remain in the first arrival destination time zone (either for rest or any duties) for the time established in the table in ORO.FTL.105(1).

If a crew member’s rotation includes any additional duties that end in a different time zone to that of their first arrival destination’s time zone while they are in an unknown state of acclimatisation, then the crew member remains in an unknown state of acclimatisation until they have: • taken the rest period in accordance with CS FTL.1.235(b)(3) at home base; • taken the rest period in accordance with CS FTL.1.235(b)(3) at the new location; or • been undertaking duties starting at and returning to the time zone of the new location until they becomes acclimatised in accordance with

the values in the table in ORO.FTL.105(1).

Acclimatisation

Duty Period #3: CM remains acclimated to the time zone of the point of last acclimatised time zone for a 48 hour period.

Acclimatisation

Duty Period #4: CM is considered to be in an unknown state of acclimatization, the CM has not remained in the time zone for the duration prescribed in Table 1 and has not had a rest period since the time of last acclimatisation that meets the criteria in CS FTL.1.235(b)(3).

Acclimatisation

Duty Period #4: CM is considered to be acclimated to the time zone of duty period start as the rest period before meets the criteria in CS FTL.1.235(b)(3).

Acclimatisation

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