Commander’s Discretion

Vol 1 Part 2 Section 3

1) Extension of FDP:
Service Disruption (Unforeseen Circumstances After Start of FDP)
or Exceptional Circumstances.
24.4 Commander may elect to work less than the full discretion allows, considering the other crew’s
circumstances and Flight Safety.
24.5 Standard FDP...................................................Add 3 hours to the Max FDP
ULH ops...........................................................Add 2 hours to the Max FDP
Standard FDP extended by In-Flight Relief.....Add 2 hours to the Max FDP
Split Duty.........................................................Add 2 hours to the Max FDP
The 2 and 3 hour extensions may only be exceeded in an Emergency.
24.6 If a Rest Period was previously reduced by Commander’s Discretion, extension of FDP may
only be done in exceptional circumstances, and then only by 2 hours.

2) Three Crew back to HKG:

Exceptional Circumstances. Can be decided at anytime.
24.7 A ULH flight scheduled for 4 pilots may be requested to be operated by 3 pilots, but only to return it
to Hong Kong. In this case the Max FDP is 15 hours with no further discretion or extension.

3) Reduction of Rest:
Unforeseen Circumstances. After Start of Duty Cycle.
25.4 Rest may be reduced to a minimum of 10 hours in a hotel room (9 hours for cabin crew).
25.5 REDUCE REST WITH CD – EXTEND FDP (2hrs) – CANNOT REDUCE NEXT REST PERIOD
25.6A If an FDP was extended by discretion then the subsequent rest period was reduced, then the
subsequent FDP must be reduced by the same amount as the rest period was reduced.
EXTEND FDP WITH CD – CAN REDUCE REST (NEXT FDP MUST BE REDUCED TOO)
25.6B When Physiological Rest has been reduced to Normal Rest, discretion cannot be used to reduce the
rest any further.

4) Operating 3 sectors when 2 were scheduled (Operations using In-Flight Relief):

Service Disruption (Unforeseen Circumstances After Start of FDP)
16.4D No more than 2 sectors will be scheduled within one FDP. In the event of Service Disruption a third
sector may be operated at the Commander’s Discretion.

When can you extend your FDP using CD?

After start of FDP during Service Disruption/Unforeseen Circumstances.

When can you reduce your rest?

After start of Duty Cycle during Unforeseen Circumstances.

When can you NOT reduce your rest?

If you have already reduced rest from “Physiological” to “Normal” Rest after ULH.

When can you NOT reduce your recovery period?

16.3D – If you have already reduced rest from “Physiological” to “Normal” Rest after ULH.

What is the definition of Service Disruption?

Service Disruption is Unforeseen Circumstances after start of FDP (Report Time)
 FTL Summary

7.1 Unacclimatised if finish duty with time zone change more than 3 hours.
7.1 Acclimatised again if return home within 48 hours opr have recovery period.
7.10 Flight Duty Period starts at Actual Reporting Time, ends at on chocks.
7.17 Normal Rest required if not ULH, time change of less than 6 hours.
7.19 Physiological Rest required for ULH, time change of 6 hours or more.
7.31 Service Disruption is Unforeseen Circumstances after start of FDP (Report Time)
7.40 Unforeseen Circumstances are operational problems after start of Duty Cycle (First Sector of many)
8.3 Delayed Reporting Time applies if informed before leaving home or hotel.
8.3 Delay less than 4 hours, Actual FDP starts at Actual Reporting Time.
8.3 Delay 4 hours or more, Actual FDP starts 4 hours after original Scheduled Report Time.
14.1 The 8 hour and 10 hour Time On Task rules only apply if In-Flight Relief was used.
15.1 Table A details FDP limits for Acclimatised pilots.
15.2 Table B details FDP limits for Unacclimitised pilots.
15.4 A third pilot is required for Scheduled Sector Length of more than 9 hours
(8 hours if 0200L–0559L at FDP start)
15.5 FDP can be extended with 3 hours or more of In-Flight Relief (not continuous)
15.5 Count half the time for bunk rest and one third of the time for seat rest.
15.5 Can only use Actual Sector Time less 1 hour for calculating In-Flight Relief.
16.4 Max FDP for 3 pilots (boarded) using In-Flight Relief is 13 hours.
16..4 Max FDP for 4 pilots (boarded) using In-Flight Relief is 18 hours.
16.4 FDP is reduced by 45 minutes for each extra sector.
16.4 No more than 2 sectors to be scheduled but a third may be operated under Commander’s Discretion.
17.1 Split Duty rest minimum 3 hours, max FDP 18 hours.
17.4 Split Duty rest 6 hours or more requires hotel (3 hours or more if 2200L – 0800L at rest location)
21.4 Notice of change of Reserve start time must be given 12 hours or more in advance.
21.6 A flight or other duty may be given earlier than a scheduled reserve with 12 hours or more notice.
22.5 Table R details Minimum Required Rest Period (Normal and Physiological Rest):
Normal Rest needs 12 hours or length of preceding duty.
Note 3 If in hotel, Normal Rest Required may be reduced by 1 hour to minimum of 10 hours in hotel.
23.5 Table X details Minimum Required Recovery Periods after a Duty Cycle more than 48 hours long.
23.6 Recovery Period may be reduced by 1 day by CX and a further day by the individual, min 2 days.

24.8 CDR will go to CAD within 7 days for:

Extension exceeding 2 hours / Extension after Reduced Rest / 3 crew to HKG.
25.7 If Reduction of Rest exceeds 1 hour, Cathay will submit the CDR to the CAD within 7 days.

Notes (Phil Walker Brief):

Commander should consult crew but can override their preferences.
Discretion can be applied after report time and before take-off.
Duty Cycle could start at first Reserve attached to Flight Duty Cycle.

Cabin Crew:
No Differentiation between Normal ops and ULH ops!
1 hour more Duty, 1 hour less Rest.
19 hours Duty not reduced by additional sectors.