EASA flight duty period limits (ORO.FTL) explained

By Zulu Calculator · Updated 19 October 2026 · Aviation

Under the EASA flight time limitations (Regulation (EU) No 965/2012, Annex III, Subpart FTL), your maximum flight duty period (FDP) depends on when you report, on the clock your body is used to, and how many sectors you fly. For acclimatised crew it runs from 13 hours (report 06:00–13:29, 1 or 2 sectors) down to a floor of 9 hours, with 30 minutes off for every sector from the 3rd. Report at 07:00 for 3 sectors and the limit is 12:30, so the FDP must end (on-blocks) by 19:30.

This guide covers the FDP tables, acclimatisation, the WOCL, extensions, in-flight rest, split duty, rest and the cumulative limits, with worked examples. To check a real duty, use the EASA flight duty period calculator.

What is a flight duty period under EASA?

• Starts when you report for a duty that includes a flight.
• Ends at on-blocks at the end of the last sector.
• Sector: one flight. Positioning counts as duty, not as a sector.
• Post-flight duty (set by your operator) is not FDP, but it counts towards your duty hours and the rest you need afterwards.
• Reference time: the start time you read the table with. It is the local report time if you are acclimatised there, or home time if you are still on it.

Your operator flies to its own approved FTL scheme, which can be stricter than the numbers here, and the official EASA texts decide what is legal. Helicopters, air taxi, single-pilot and emergency medical operations have different rules, and are not covered.

What is the maximum daily FDP for acclimatised crew? (Table 1)

Find the band for your reference time, then the column for your sectors. Values are h:mm, from ORO.FTL.205(b)(1).

The table keeps going to 10 sectors: take another 30 minutes off for each extra sector, but never go below 9:00. For example, the 06:00–13:29 band gives 11:00 at 6 sectors and 10:00 at 8. The 17:00–04:59 band reaches the 9:00 floor at 6 sectors.

max FDP = band value for 1–2 sectors − 30 min × (sectors − 2), never below 9:00
latest end of FDP (on-blocks) = report time + max FDP

What does acclimatised mean, and what if I am not?

Your state depends on the time difference between where you were acclimatised and where the next duty starts, and the time since you first reported on that home clock (ORO.FTL.105(1)). There are three states:

• B: still acclimatised to home time. Read Table 1 with your report time on the home clock.
• D: acclimatised to the new place. Read Table 1 with local time.
• X: unknown state. Use Table 2 (or Table 3), which ignores report time.

Under 48 hours since you first reported, you are always in state B. After that:

• Under 4 hours of time difference: D from 48 hours.
• 4 to 6 hours: X from 48 hours, D from 72 hours.
• Over 6 to 9 hours: X from 48 hours, D from 96 hours.
• Over 9 to 12 hours: X from 48 hours, D from 120 hours.

Table 3 applies only when your operator has fatigue risk management (FRM) in place for this.

What is the WOCL and why does it matter?

The window of circadian low (WOCL) is 02:00–05:59 in the time zone you are acclimatised to (ORO.FTL.105(10)). It does not change the Table 1 value directly, but it matters in three places:

• Extensions: an extended FDP that runs into the WOCL is limited to 4 sectors, or 2 sectors if it runs more than 2 hours into it.
• Split duty: a break over the WOCL needs suitable accommodation.
• Disruptive schedules (ORO.FTL.105(8)), on the clock you are acclimatised to. Early type: an early start is 05:00–05:59, a late finish is 23:00–01:59. Late type: an early start is 05:00–06:59, a late finish is 00:00–01:59. For both, any duty that touches 02:00–04:59 is night duty.

How does the 1-hour FDP extension work? (ORO.FTL.205(d))

An operator may plan an FDP up to 1 hour longer than Table 1, with these limits:

• At most twice in any 7 consecutive days.
• No extension for reports from 19:00 to 06:14, or above 5 sectors. Later starts allow fewer sectors (see the table).
• The rest before and after must each grow by 2 hours, or the rest after by 4 hours.
• It can't be combined with in-flight rest or split duty.
• The WOCL sector limits above apply.

A dash means no extension is allowed for that start and sector count. Values are the maximum FDP with the extension, not the amount added.

How long can an FDP be with in-flight rest?

With extra pilots and a rest facility on board, CS FTL.1.205(c) allows:

• 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, whichever is more.
• It can't be combined with the 1-hour extension or split duty.

How does split duty work? (CS FTL.1.220)

A break on the ground of at least 3 hours lets the FDP grow by up to half the break. Leave out post- and pre-flight duties and travel when you measure the break. A break of 6 hours or more, or one over the WOCL, needs suitable accommodation, not just a quiet room. Split duty can't be combined with in-flight rest or an extension.

split duty max FDP = Table 1 (or Table 2/3) value + 50% × break (break of 3 h or more)

What is commander's discretion?

Under ORO.FTL.205(f), for unforeseen circumstances on the day, the commander may go beyond the maximum daily FDP by up to 2 hours, or 3 hours with an augmented crew. It can't be used to plan a duty.

Worked examples

Example 1: a three-sector day from base

You report at 07:00, acclimatised, for 3 sectors. 07:00 is in the 06:00–13:29 band: 13:00 for 1 or 2 sectors. The 3rd sector takes off 0:30, so the max FDP is 13:00 − 0:30 = 12:30, ending by 07:00 + 12:30 = 19:30. If you use the full 12:30 and rest at home base, the rest is the longer of 12:30 and 12:00, so 12:30, and your earliest next report is 19:30 + 12:30 = 08:00 the next day. Commander's discretion could stretch the FDP to 14:30 for an unforeseen delay, but a roster planned at 13:30 would be 1:00 over the limit.

Example 2: a late four-sector duty into the night

You report at 17:30, acclimatised, for 4 sectors. The 17:00–04:59 band gives 11:00; two extra sectors take off 2 × 0:30 = 1:00, so the max FDP is 10:00, ending by 03:30. From 02:00 to 03:30 is 1:30 inside the WOCL, so this is night duty. The extension table has no value for a 17:30 start with 4 sectors, so no extension is possible. Away from base after a 10:00 duty, the rest is the longer of 10:00 and 10:00, so 10:00, and the earliest next report is 13:30 that day.

Example 3: after a long trip east

You are 8 hours ahead of home. 30 hours after you first reported on home time, you report at 14:00 local for 2 sectors. Under 48 hours you are still in state B, so read Table 1 on the home clock: 14:00 − 8:00 = 06:00, which is the 06:00–13:29 band: 13:00. The FDP must end by 03:00 local. Read on local time by mistake, 14:00 would give only 12:30.

Now say it is 60 hours since you first reported, and you report at 10:00 local for 2 sectors. With an 8-hour difference, 48–71:59 hours puts you in state X. Table 2 gives 11:00 whatever the report time, so the FDP ends by 21:00 (12:00 with FRM under Table 3).

Example 4: extension, split duty and in-flight rest

• Extension: report 08:00, 2 sectors. Table 1 gives 13:00; the extension table gives 14:00, ending by 22:00. Taking the 4 hours after, at home base, the rest is the longer of 14:00 and 12:00, plus 4:00 = 18:00.
• Split duty: report 07:00, 2 sectors, with a 4:00 break on the ground. 13:00 + 50% × 4:00 = 13:00 + 2:00 = 15:00, ending by 22:00.
• In-flight rest: report 22:00, 1 sector, 2 extra pilots and a class 1 bunk. The limit is 17:00, ending by 15:00 the next day, with 4:00 inside the WOCL. Rest away from base is the longer of 17:00 and 14:00, so 17:00.

How much rest do I need under EASA FTL? (ORO.FTL.235)

• At home base: at least as long as the preceding duty, or 12 hours, whichever is more.
• Away from base: at least as long as the preceding duty, or 10 hours, whichever is more, including an 8-hour sleep opportunity.
• 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.

minimum rest = the longer of (FDP + post-flight duty) and 12 h at home base, or 10 h away

What are the cumulative duty and flight time limits? (ORO.FTL.210)

Count the duty you are planning too. If you have done 52 hours of duty in the last 7 days and report at 06:00 for 4 sectors (Table 1: 12:00), the full FDP would take you to 52 + 12 = 64 hours, 4 hours over the 60-hour limit. Logbooks in tenths? The decimal flight time calculator converts block times so you can add them up.

Common mistakes

• Reading Table 1 on local time in state B. If you are still on home time, use your report time on the home clock.
• Counting positioning as a sector. It is duty, not a sector.
• Ending the FDP at the last landing. It ends at on-blocks, and post-flight duty still counts towards rest and duty hours.
• Going below 9:00. The sector cut stops at the 9-hour floor.
• Assuming every start can be extended. No extension for reports from 19:00 to 06:14, above 5 sectors, or more than twice in 7 days.
• Stacking extras. The extension, in-flight rest and split duty don't combine.
• Planning with commander's discretion. It is for unforeseen delays on the day only.
• Using calendar weeks for the 60-hour limit. It is any 7 consecutive days.

What if a roster looks over the limit?

1. Check the duty in the EASA FDP calculator and note the rule it flags.
2. Check your operator's approved FTL scheme in the operations manual. It can be stricter, and it is what you fly to.
3. Raise it with crew control or rostering before the duty, in writing if you can.
4. If you are too tired to fly safely, say so and use your operator's fatigue reporting procedure.

Quick summary

• FDP runs from report to on-blocks of the last sector.
• Table 1 (acclimatised): 13:00 at best (06:00–13:29, 1–2 sectors), 30 minutes less per sector from the 3rd, never below 9:00.
• State B: read the table on home time. State X: Table 2, 11:00 for 1–2 sectors (12:00 with FRM).
• WOCL is 02:00–05:59 on the clock you are acclimatised to.
• Extension: up to 1 hour, twice in 7 days, not for 19:00–06:14 starts or above 5 sectors, with 4 hours more rest after (or 2 before and 2 after).
• In-flight rest: 14:00 to 17:00, up to 3 sectors. Split duty: + half a break of 3 hours or more.
• Rest: the longer of the duty and 12 h at home or 10 h away; 36 hours recurrent rest within every 168.
• Duty 60/110/190 hours in 7/14/28 days; flight time 100 in 28 days, 900 a year, 1,000 in 12 months.

Flying in the US? See FAA Part 117 flight duty limits explained or the FAA Part 117 calculator. Flying in India? Use the DGCA flight duty time calculator.

Rules checked against Regulation (EU) No 965/2012, Annex III Subpart FTL (ORO.FTL.105, 205, 210 and 235, via Regulation (EU) 83/2014) and CS FTL.1 in the EASA Easy Access Rules for Air Operations, as used by our calculator (checked 11 October 2026).

This guide explains the rules in plain English for planning. It is not legal, financial or flight-operations advice; check your contract, the official source linked above, your employer or your operator.