EASA Flight Duty Period Calculator

Under the EASA flight time limitations (Regulation (EU) No 965/2012, Annex III, Subpart FTL), a flight duty period (FDP) runs from when you report for a duty that includes a flight to the on-blocks time at the end of the last sector. How long it may be depends on when it starts (on the clock your body is used to), how many sectors you fly, and whether extra time is allowed by an extension, in-flight rest or split duty.

The formula

max FDP = start-time band value − 30 min × (sectors − 2), never below 9:00
unknown state: Table 2 by sectors (or Table 3 with FRM)
extension: extension table value (up to 1 h more)
in-flight rest: 14:00 to 17:00 by rest facility and extra pilots
split duty: max FDP + half the break (break of 3 h or more)
latest end = report time + max FDP
minimum rest = the longer of your duty and 12 h at home (10 h away)

Worked example

You report at 07:00, acclimatised, for 3 sectors. 07:00 falls in the 06:00–13:29 band, which allows 13:00 for 1 or 2 sectors. The 3rd sector takes off 30 minutes, so the max FDP is 13:00 − 0:30 = 12:30. It must end by 07:00 + 12:30 = 19:30. If the whole 12:30 is used and you rest at home base, the rest must be at least the longer of 12:30 and 12:00, so 12:30, and the earliest next report is 19:30 + 12:30 = 08:00 the next day. Commander’s discretion could add up to 2 hours for unforeseen delays on the day, making 14:30.

Table 1: acclimatised crew (ORO.FTL.205(b)(1))

Start time is the reference time: local time where you report if you are acclimatised there, or home time if you are still on it (state B).

Unknown state of acclimatisation (Tables 2 and 3)

Max FDP with the 1-hour extension (ORO.FTL.205(d))

No extension for reports from 19:00 to 06:14 or above 5 sectors. At most twice in any 7 consecutive days, not with in-flight rest or split duty. The rest before and after must each grow by 2 hours, or the rest after by 4 hours (this calculator adds 4 hours after). If the extended FDP runs into the WOCL, it is limited to 4 sectors, or 2 sectors if it runs more than 2 hours into it.

In-flight rest (CS FTL.1.205(c))

An FDP with in-flight rest is limited to 3 sectors. The rest after it, away from base, must be at least the duty length or 14 hours. Commander’s discretion is up to 3 hours with an augmented crew, against 2 hours otherwise.

Split duty (CS FTL.1.220)

A break on the ground of at least 3 hours, not counting post- and pre-flight duties and travel, lets the FDP grow by up to half the break. A 4-hour break on a 13:00 FDP gives 15:00. A break of 6 hours or more, or one over the WOCL, needs suitable accommodation. Split duty can’t be combined with in-flight rest or an extension.

Acclimatisation (ORO.FTL.105(1))

Your state depends on the time difference between home and where the next duty starts, and the time since you first reported on home time. B means still acclimatised to home time, D means acclimatised to the new place, X means unknown.

Rest and cumulative limits

• Rest at home base: at least as long as the preceding duty, or 12 hours, whichever is more (ORO.FTL.235(a)).
• Rest away from base: at least as long as the preceding duty, or 10 hours, including an 8-hour sleep opportunity (ORO.FTL.235(b)).
• Recurrent extended recovery rest: at least 36 hours including 2 local nights, with no more than 168 hours between the end of one and the start of the next (ORO.FTL.235(d)).
• Duty: 60 hours in any 7 consecutive days, 110 in any 14, 190 in any 28 (ORO.FTL.210(a)).
• Flight time: 100 hours in any 28 consecutive days, 900 in a calendar year, 1,000 in any 12 consecutive calendar months (ORO.FTL.210(b)).
• The window of circadian low (WOCL) is 02:00–05:59 on the clock you are acclimatised to.

Planning aid only. Commander’s discretion is for unforeseen circumstances on the day and can’t be used to plan a duty. Your operator flies to its own approved FTL scheme, which can be stricter than these limits, and some operations (helicopters, air taxi, single-pilot, emergency medical) have different rules. Source: EASA Easy Access Rules for Air Operations, Regulation (EU) No 965/2012, Annex III Subpart FTL and CS FTL.1 (easa.europa.eu).