Splits Explained

Splits are when a break in suitable accommodation is provided to a crew member during a flight duty period (FDP) that allows the maximum FDP to be exceeded.

Example 1 - Split During the Day

In this example we presume this pilot reports at 0800. They are doing 4 flights with a average flight time over 50 minutes. Based on this they are restricted to a maximum FDP of 13 hours which would end 2100 at the latest. *All times are based on acclimatized time.

In the same situation, if the FDP included a scheduled 4h30m break in suitable accommodations the maximum FDP can be exceeded by 1h30m, which would end at 2230 at the latest. We presume the pilot enters the suitable accommodations at 1315 and leaves the suitable accommodations at 1745. Travel is not part of the break. Since the break happened between 0600-2359 we can exceed the duty by 50% of the break minus 45 minutes.

50% of 4h30m - 00:45 = 1h30m exceedance.

Example 2 - Split During the Night

In this example we presume this pilot reports at 2000. They are doing 2 flights with a average flight time over 50 minutes. Based on this they are restricted to a maximum FDP of 12 hours which would end 0800 at the latest. *All times are based on acclimatized time.

In the same situation, if the FDP included a scheduled 4h00m break in suitable accommodations the maximum FDP can be exceeded by 3h15m, which would end at 1115 at the latest. We presume the pilot enters the suitable accommodations at 0100 and leaves the suitable accommodations at 0500. Travel is not part of the break. Since the break happened between 0000-0559 we can exceed the duty by 100% of the break minus 45 minutes.

100% of 4h00m - 00:45 = 3h15m exceedance.

*If this was an unplanned split due to unforeseen operational circumstances, only 50% of the entire break would be considered, regardless of the time of day.

Example 3 - Split During the Night and Day

In this example we presume this pilot reports at 0000. They are doing 2 flights with a average flight time over 50 minutes. Based on this they are restricted to a maximum FDP of 9 hours which would end 0900 at the latest. *All times are based on acclimatized time.

In the same situation, if the FDP included a scheduled 4h00m break in suitable accommodations the maximum FDP can be exceeded by 2h15m, which would end at 1115 at the latest. We presume the pilot enters the suitable accommodations at 0400 and leaves the suitable accommodations at 0800. Travel is not part of the break. The part of the break that happened between 0000-0559 can exceed the duty by 100% and the other part can exceed the duty by 50%, minus 45 minutes.

(100% of 2h00m) + (50% of 2h00m) - 00:45 = 2h15m exceedance.

*If this was an unplanned split due to unforeseen operational circumstances, only 50% of the entire break would be considered, regardless of the time of day.

Example 4 - Split Assignment on Reserve

In this example the pilot has a reserve availability period (RAP) from 0300-1500. Since the start of RAP is between 0200-1759 the maximum reserve duty period is 18h00m. The pilot is contacted at 0530 and assigned a FDP with 2 flights and an average flight time more than 50 minutes. Normally this will permit a maximum FDP of 13h00m. In this situation the reserve duty period ends at 2100 meaning the FDP must also end that this time. *All times are based on acclimatized time.

If operator assigned the same FDP with a break they are able to extend beyond the reserve duty period by up to 2 hours. In the example below the break is 6 hours long during the day. (50% of 6h00m) - 45 minutes = 2h15m. This means the break is long enough to exceed the maximum reserve duty period by 2 hours. The pilot is limited to a maximum of two flight following the break.