Disruptive Schedule Explained

Updated November 2023

The CARs define a disruptive schedule as one where you go from an early duty period to a late or night duty period, or vice versa. 

• Early duty is when work begins between 0200 and 0659 at the location where the flight crew member is acclimatized. 

• Late duty is when work ends between 0000 and 0159 at the location where the flight crew member is acclimatized.

• Night duty is when work begins between 13:00 and 01:59 and ends after 01:59 at a location where the flight crew member is acclimatized.

To make this switch, you must be provided with a rest period PLUS one local night rest. If your next duty is not defined as disruptive, a normal rest period is all that is required.  

• A local night rest is a rest period of at least nine hours that takes place between 22:30 and 09:30 at the location where the flight crew member is acclimatized.

This disruptive schedule rule does not apply if you are in a time zone away from home base of more than 4 hours. This is covered in other areas. Advisory Circular No. 700-047 also states, "these disruptive schedule provisions are not intended to apply when flight crews operate transoceanic flights." While they are not intended for transoceanic flights, we are bound by the CARs.

References:

• 700.01 - early duty

• 700.01 - late duty

• 700.01 - night duty

• 700.01 - local night's rest

• 700.01 - acclimatized

• 700.41 - disruptive schedule

Let's look at some examples. For simplicity, the times are based on where this crew member is acclimatized.

Example 1 (Night Duty to Early Duty)

In the example below, you finish a night duty at 0400 on January 6. You have a rest period (0500-2300) PLUS a local night rest on the evening of January 6. You begin an early duty on January 8. This example could be for at home base or away from home base as the rest period is greater than 12 hours.

Example 2 (Early Duty to Night Duty)

In the example below, you finish an early duty at 1100 on January 6. You have a rest period (1200-2300) PLUS a local night rest on the evening of January 6. You begin a night duty on the evening of January 7.

In the similar example below, you finish an early duty at 1400 on January 6. The rest between 1500-2300 is not a sufficient rest period. You have a local night rest on the evening of January 6, PLUS a sufficient rest period (0800-2000).

Example 3 (Early Duty to Early Duty)

In the example below, you finish an early duty at 1400 on January 6. Your next duty period is also an early duty. A local night rest is not required between an early and early duty period.

Example 4 (Late Duty to Late Duty)

In the example below, you finish a late duty at 0100 on January 7. Your next duty period is also a late duty. A local night rest is not required between a late/night and late/night duty period.

Example 5 (Early Duty to Non-Early/Late/Night Duty)

In the example below, you finish an early duty at 1400 on January 7. Your next duty period is not an early, late, or night duty. A local night rest is not required between an early/late/night duty and a non-early/late/night duty.