This letter from Slater 2015 states: “For Part 135 flights, the required rest periods, as set out in sections 135.263 to 135.271, apply to all Part 91 flights that occur before or between flight segments, but not to Part 91 flights that take place by flight segment. However, Part 91 flights would not be considered rest periods, so the applicable rest periods would have to be completed before a flight crew member is assigned to additional Part 135 duty and additional flight time. (a) The holder of a certificate shall not assign flight time to a flight crew member in the course of regular operations or other commercial flights, and no flight crew member shall accept an assignment if the total flight time of that flight member exceeds all commercial flights, (iii) contain provisions to add a flight attendant supplement to the minimum cabin crew supplement for each flight crew member who has the requirements set out in the and who is assigned to the aircraft in accordance with the provisions of Subdivision F of this Part, if applicable. (c) the time required by the holder of a flight crew certificate from a flight crew member for the transportation of the flight crew member to an airport where the flight crew member is to serve as a crew member on a flight or from an airport where the flight crew member has been relieved of duty in order to return to his or her home station is not considered to be part of a rest period. Fatigue is a significant problem, and proper pause is needed to prevent pilots from losing concentration during flight. And some operators may need to update their training (whether it`s online aviation training or classroom training) to stay current. (d) Each operation referred to in point (b) of this Section shall provide for at least 10 consecutive hours of rest during the 24-hour period preceding the planned completion period of the operation. (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, the holder of a certificate shall not assign flight time to a flight crew member during the 24 consecutive hours preceding the scheduled completion of a flight segment without a scheduled rest period during those 24 hours of at least consecutive hours, and no flight crew member shall accept an assignment: (d) Each flight crew member shall, for a period of 24 consecutive hours: hours of a HEMES mission shall be entitled to at least 8 consecutive hours of rest. A flight crew member shall be released from HEMES assignment if he or she has not been or cannot receive at least 8 consecutive hours of rest during a period of 24 consecutive hours of HEMES assignment.
(2) 12 consecutive hours of rest if the flight time limit is exceeded by more than 30 minutes but not more than 60 minutes; and 1. A rest period required under paragraph b, paragraph 1, of this division may be provided for at least 8 hours or reduced to at least 8 hours if the flight crew member has a rest period of at least 10 hours, beginning no later than 24 hours after the start of the reduced rest period. One of many legal interpretations dealing with rolling rest (the practice that crew members must be on standby 24 hours a day) is this 2013 letter from Masterson. (c) No flight crew member shall accumulate more than 8 hours of flight time during a period of 24 consecutive hours of a HEMES mission, unless an emergency medical evacuation operation is extended. Any flight crew member exceeding the daily flight time limit of 8 hours set out in this paragraph shall be relieved of the HEMES task immediately upon completion of this emergency medical evacuation measure and shall be granted a rest period in accordance with paragraph (h) of this Division. (c) A certificate holder may register a flight crew member for a rest period less than the rest period prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section or reduce a rest period provided for under the following conditions: Well, we know from Masterson`s interpretation that it is mandatory to be on call 24 hours a day, But what about answering a phone call during your rest period? (1) 8 hours for a flight crew composed of a pilot; or (2) 10 hours for a flight crew consisting of two pilots qualified for the operation under this Part. Here`s more clarity from the FAA`s legal department. Flight time and duty time restrictions and rest periods for commercial crew members are described in Subpart F of 14 CFR or Subpart 121 of 14 CFR, Subpart Q, Subpart R or Subpart S, depending on the mode of operation. But FAA regulations for FAR Part 135 crew duty and rest periods have been a source of confusion for many operators in recent years. (d) A flight crew member is not assigned flight time in excess of the flight time restrictions if the flights to which the flight member is assigned normally terminate within the restrictions, but are not expected to reach their destination within the time of departure due to circumstances beyond the control of the certificate holder or flight crew member (for example, , adverse weather conditions).
Since “rest” is defined by the FAA as “the absence of any obligation,” on-call duty is not considered rest, whether or not the pilot accepts an assignment. Cabin crew is a person, other than a flight crew member, assigned by the certificate holder in accordance with or in addition to the minimum crew supplement required by the certificate holder`s operational specifications to serve on board an aircraft during flight time, and whose duties include, but are not limited to, responsibilities related to cabin safety. We find that many pilots and operators believe that the 10-hour rest period begins at the end of their day and ends after 10 hours before accepting their next assignment. However, if they are on call during this interval, the FAA does not consider there to be hibernation and violates FAR 135.265(b)(2). (ii) include the flight crew requirements set out in Subdivision F of this Part, to the extent appropriate for the operation to be conducted, except that rest facilities on board the aircraft are not required; and (h) each pilot shall be provided with a rest period after completion of the HEMES assignment and prior to the assignment of other duties with the certificate holder – “if the initial planning is disrupted for reasons beyond the control of the [certificate holder], the flight may still be conducted even if the crew`s duty time may exceed 14 hours” in a 24-hour period. The FAA has previously stated that “delays due to air traffic control, mechanical problems, or adverse weather conditions may be circumstances beyond the certificate holder`s control.” .