Legalities
FAR Illegal vs Contractually Illegal
FAR Illegal
A FAR Illegality on your schedule occurs whenever you are scheduled to fly two sequences back-to-back, and the first sequence is delayed arriving back into base giving you less than the FAR required rest between the two sequences. Â
For this example, our flight attendant is a Lineholder with two back-to-back domestic trips.
The flight attendant's first sequence 1776 had original release time of 2153 on August 4th.
However, due to delays in LAX the return segment arrived back to base at 2236 and released at 2251.
Since Domestic FAR Minimum Rest is 10hrs the flight attendant has become FAR Illegal for the 0650 report for sequence 3895 on August 5th.
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For this example, our flight attendant is a Lineholder with two sequences as a double-up with a Domestic to Domestic duty period.
The Flight Attendant picked up a double up sequence with more than 30 minutes between the two sequences.
There is a 30 minute buffer required from the release of he first sequence to the report of the second sequence when picking up a double-up.
Due to a cancellation during the first sequence the Flight Attendant has been rescheduled to be released at the time their second sequence is scheduled to report.
The Flight Attendant has been removed from the second sequence with the code FI due to being FAR Illegal.
Contractually Illegal
A Contractual Illegality on your schedule occurs whenever you are scheduled to fly two sequences back-to-back, and the first sequence is delayed arriving back into base giving you more than the FAR required rest but less than the CBA contractually required rest between the two sequences. Â
For this example, our flight attendant is a Lineholder with two back-to-back domestic trips.
The flight attendant's first sequence 1776 had original release time of 1949 on August 4th.
However, due to delays in LAX the return segment arrived back to base at 1950 and released at 2005.
Since Lineholder Domestic Contractual Rest is 11hrs in this example the flight attendant has become Contractually Illegal for their 0650 report for sequence 3895 on August 5th.
Home Based Rest Requirements: FAR vs Contractual
| Domestic Lineholders | 10:00 hrs | 11:00 hrs | Yes | No |
| Domestic Reserves | 10:00 hrs | 12:00 hrs | Yes | No |
| NIPD ≤ 14:00 hrs | 10:00 hrs | 12:00 hrs | Yes | Yes, to 10:00 hrs |
| NIPD Mid-Range | 10:00 hrs | 12:00 hrs | Yes | Yes, to 10:00 hrs |
| IPD Non-Long Range and Hawaii Over 6:00 hrs | 10:00 hrs | 14:30 hrs | Yes | No |
| IPD Mid-Range | 10:00 hrs | 14:30 hrs | Yes | No |
| IPD Long Range | 10:00 hrs | 36:00 hrs | Yes | No |
| IPD Extended Long Range | 24:00 hrs | 48:00 hrs | Yes | No |
To see what your Home Base Rest Times with the Scheduled Buffer Times check out the Buffers Chart.
On-Duty Limitations
11.F Chart – DOMESTIC (Domestic/Canada)
| 0500-1659 | 13:15 | 15:00 |
| 1700-2259 | 12:15 | 13:00 |
| 2300-0459 | 11:15 | 12:00 |
11.F Chart – DOMESTIC Duty Period Exceptions
| ODAN (11.L) | 14:00 | 15:00 |
| 2 Leg Turn (*8:59+ block) | 14:00 | 15:00 |
11.F Chart – DOMESTIC (Domestic/Canada)
| 0500-1659 | 13:15 | 15:00 |
| 1700-2259 | 12:15 | 13:00 |
| 2300-0459 | 11:15 | 12:00 |
11.F Chart – DOMESTIC Duty Period Exceptions
| ODAN (11.L) | 14:00 | 15:00 |
| 2 Leg Turn (*8:59+ block) | 14:00 | 15:00 |
14.D Chart – INTERNATIONAL (Mexico/Hawaii/NIPD/Mid-Range/IPD)
| NIPD ODAN: 11.L | 14:00 | 15:00 | N/A | Each segment shall contain no more than 2:30hr block |
| Non-Long Range (NR) | 14:00 | 16:00 | 12:00 | A duty period may include any mix of international and domestic segments |
| Mid-Range (MR) | 15:00 | 17:00 * | 12:00 | A duty period may include either one (1) Domestic segment and one (1) IPD segment, or a one-day turn (2 NIPDs) or two (2) NIPD segments. |
| Long Range (LR) | 16:00 | 18:00 | 14:15 | A duty period may include (1) IPD segment (only) |
| Extended Long Range (XL) | Flt Time plus Sign in / Debrief Max 20:00 | Original scheduled duty plus 3:00 | N/A | A duty period may include one (1) IPD segment (only) |
*Exceeding sixteen (16) hrs on-duty maximum in actual operations will be subject to the two hundred percent (200%) pay premium (CBA 14.D)
Double-Up On-Duty Limitations
| Flying to Training | 16:00 hours | N/A |
| Training to Domestic Duty Period | 14:00 hours | 15:00 hours |
| Training to NIPD/IPD Duty Period | 14:00 hours | 16:00 hours |
| Domestic Duty Period to Domestic Duty Period | 14:00 hours | 15:00 hours |
| Domestic/NIPD/IPD Duty Period to NIPD/IPD Duty Period | 14:00 hours | 16:00 hours |
| NIPD/IPD Duty Period to Domestic/NIPD/IPD Duty Period | 14:00 hours | 16:00 hours |
A 30 minute buffer is required from the release of Sequence #1 to the report of Sequence #2 to scheduled a double-up. However, the buffer does not apply once sequence #1 blocks in.
When Do I Go Illegal?
The segment(s) within a duty period determine if the duty day legalities will fall under Domestic or International for that duty period, not the sequence header. International duty periods will be labeled with one of the following: NR, MR, LR, XL.
As an example, if you have a mixed sequence of NIPD and Domestic flying and there are no NIPD segments in the duty period you are calculating, you will refer to the domestic duty day legalities.
How To Calculate Your Legalities in Actual Operations
** Make sure to convert times to the timezone you started the duty period in. Then convert the time to the timezone you are currently in after you perform the calculations if different than your starting timezone. **
Your duty period is based on the scheduled flying within that duty period.
Duty period labels on an HI3 are NR, MR, LR, and XL for International. You will reference the CBA 14.D chart for all duty day legalities to determine if your assignments are legal, your max scheduled duty day, and your actual max duty day in operations. To calculate when you go illegal you will use your standby report time.
Standby Duty Limitations
Domestic/Canada Standby Duty Day Legalities
If your sequence is international, refer to the International Standby Duty Day Legalities Chart (CBA 14.D). The flying within the duty period determines if it is considered an INT or DOM duty period, not the sequence header.
Per CBA 11.G, your standby domestic duty-day maximums are in accordance with the charts in 11.E (column 1) and 11.F.
ESTABLISHING the SCHEDULED/RESCHEDULED/OPERATIONAL MAX Duty Day:
- Scheduled Maximum:Â To determine if you are legal to be assigned the sequence, refer to column 1 of the 11.E chart using the sequence report time.
- Rescheduled/Operational Maximum:Â Once assigned a legal sequence, to determine your rescheduled and operational on-duty maximum legalities refer to the 11.F chart using the sequence report time.
CALCULATING ACTUAL DUTY DAY LEGALITIES: The calculation to determine duty day clock begins at your standby report time. To determine when you will go illegal during actual operations you use your standby report time.
How to Calculate Your Domestic/Canada Legality
International Standby Duty Day Legalities (Mexico/Hawaii/NIPD/Mid-Range/IPD)
Your duty period is based on the scheduled flying within that duty period.
Duty period labels on an HI3 are NR, MR, LR, and XL for International. You will reference the CBA 14.D chart for all duty day legalities to determine if your assignments are legal, your max scheduled duty day, and your actual max duty day in operations. To calculate when you go illegal you will use your standby report time.
How to Calculate Your International Standby Duty Day Legality
Double-Ups
What is a Double-Up?
A Double-Up consists of two sequences within the same duty day with a minimum of 30 minutes between the release time of the first sequence and the report time of the second sequence (CBA 2.N).
Double-Up Duty Rules
- Unless you set a waiver, PBS will not award you a double up (Until PBS, lines will not be built with double up sequences)
- If you choose to double up, you cannot be scheduled to exceed FARs (Federal Aviation Regulation Legalities) (e.g., 24 in 7)
- When picking up a second sequence to be a double-up the combination of duty time between your first and second trip sequences, including the 30-minute minimum buffer between the release from sequence # 1 to the report of sequence # 2, cannot exceed 14 hours.
Example of a legal double-up: On the last day of your first trip, you report at 0600. Your release from duty is at 1000. You need a minimum buffer time of 30 minutes starting at 1000. Trip number 2 (the one you want to double up) has a report time of 1130 and a release time at 1800. For purposes of calculating your duty day, you have to count from 0600 to 1800. In this case, it’s 12:00 hours. Since the duty day maximum is 14:00 hours, it’s a legal double up.
Example of an illegal double-up: The last day of your first trip has a report time of 0600 and a release at 1200. The report time of the trip you want to double up is at 1400 with a release of 2100. For purposes of calculating your duty day, you have to count from 0600 to 2100. In this case it’s 15:00 hours – which exceeds the 14:00 duty day maximum – therefore making it an illegal double up.
Voluntary Extension of Flight Duty Limitations (VE)
What Does It Mean to Waive My Flight Duty Limitations?
When the combination of a delayed departure time and the scheduled flight time(s) projects the Flight Attendant’s duty to exceed the maximum duty limitations. Crew Schedule may offer, and a Flight Attendant may voluntarily agree to, but is not required to continue working beyond their contractual obligation.
Once a Flight Attendant has agreed to extend they may not be rescinded the extension.
The flight can operate with minimum crew if some of the crew chooses not to fly. Δ (L-34)
- When a Flight Attendant voluntarily agrees to remain on duty beyond the maximum flight duty limits as specified in Chart 11.F.
- When a Flight Attendant voluntarily agrees to continue working, in addition to any pay for the trip, the Flight Attendant will be paid, but not credited, at the rate of one (1) minute of flight pay for every two (2) minutes on duty for the entire duty period, starting at the duty period’s actual report time and ending fifteen (15) minutes after the actual block-in.
- Once a Flight Attendant has volunteered to exceed the maximum duty limitations, they will receive the pay specified above, even if the duty limitations are not exceeded. In such circumstances, the rest provisions contained in Paragraphs I and J, will apply at the end of the extended duty period.
- A Flight Attendant shall not be required to remain on-duty beyond the maximum flight duty limits as specified in Chart 14.D for a duty period containing an International segment(s) or International
- A Flight Attendant shall not be scheduled or rescheduled to remain on-duty in excess of fourteen (14) consecutive hours and, in no case, shall a Flight Attendant be required to remain on duty in excess of sixteen (16) hours during any such on-duty period.
- A Flight Attendant crew who agrees to remain on-duty for more than sixteen (16) hours shall receive pay for the duty period at a rate of two hundred percent (200%) including premiums and credited at one hundred percent (100%).
- Once a Flight Attendant has volunteered to exceed the maximum duty limitations, she/he will receive the pay specified above, even if the duty limitations are not exceeded. In such circumstances, the rest provisions contained in Paragraphs H and I, will apply at the end of the extended duty period.
- An on-duty period containing either one (1) Domestic segment and one (1) IPD segment, or a one-day turn consisting of two (2) NIPD segments that may be scheduled up to a twelve (12) hour block. A Mid-Range duty period must be scheduled over fourteen (14) duty hours.
- A Flight Attendant may be scheduled or rescheduled to remain on-duty up to fifteen (15) consecutive hours; however, in no case shall a Flight Attendant be required to remain on-duty in excess of seventeen (17) hours during any such on-duty period as specified in Chart 14.D.
- A Flight Attendant required to remain on-duty for more than sixteen (16) hours in actual operations shall receive pay for the duty period at a rate of two hundred percent (200%) including premiums and credit at one hundred percent (100%).
- If a Flight Attendant operates or deadheads on a mid-range duty period flight segment that touches 0300 HBT, the Flight Attendant shall be released for legal rest at the termination of such flight segment. b. Such flight requiring an operational fuel landing shall be operated using the eighteen (18) hour on-duty limitation.
- A Flight Attendant on a Long-Range duty period shall not be required to remain on-duty in excess of eighteen (18) hours as specified in Chart 14.D.
- A Flight Attendant crew who agrees to remain on-duty for more than eighteen (18) hours shall receive pay for the duty period at a rate of two hundred percent (200%) including premiums and credit at one hundred percent (100%).
- Once a Flight Attendant has volunteered to exceed the maximum duty limitations, she/he will receive the pay specified above, even if the duty limitations are not exceeded. In such circumstances, once a Flight Attendant has volunteered to exceed the maximum duty limitations, she/he will receive the pay specified above, even if the duty limitations are not exceeded. In such circumstances, the rest provisions contained in Paragraphs H and I, will apply at the end of the extended duty period. In no case will the duty day for the Flight Attendants on Long-Range Flying exceed nineteen (19) hours.
- A Flight Attendant who volunteers to exceed the maximum duty limitations and, as a result, subsequently becomes illegal for her/his next trip assignments) will be eligible for pay protection under the rules in effect at the time of the Voluntary Duty Waiver.
- When a Flight Attendant on a Double-Up Sequence is offered, and the Flight Attendant agrees to exceed the maximum flight duty limitations as specified in Section 11.F and the Double-Up Duty Limitations Chart
- The calculation for VE Pay shall start at the actual report time of the first sequence and end fifteen (15) minutes after the actual block in time of the second sequence within the Double Up as specified in CBA 11.0.
- All other provisions of CBA 11.0 with respect to voluntary waiver of flight duty limitations shall apply.
- When a Flight Attendant on an ODAN Sequence is offered, and the Flight Attendant agrees to exceed the maximum flight duty limitations as specified in Section 11.F.
- When a Flight Attendant voluntarily agrees to continue working, in addition to any pay for the trip, the Flight Attendant will be paid, but not credited, at the rate of one (1) minute of flight pay for every two (2) minutes on duty for the entire duty period, starting at the duty period’s actual report time and ending fifteen (15) minutes after the actual block-in.
- As an ODAN has a long break and time at a hotel, but not an actual layover, all of this time is still part of a single duty period. As a result, a VE during an ODAN sequence can be quite lucrative.
APFA Headquarters
1004 West Euless Boulevard
Euless, Texas 76040
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
Contract & Scheduling Desk
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
After-Hours Live Chat
Weekends / Holidays: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Currently, no scheduled events...
APFA Headquarters
1004 West Euless Boulevard
Euless, Texas 76040
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
Contract & Scheduling Desk
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
After-Hours Live Chat
Weekends / Holidays: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Currently, no scheduled events...
APFA Headquarters
1004 West Euless Boulevard
Euless, Texas 76040
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
Contract & Scheduling Desk
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
After-Hours Live Chat
Weekends / Holidays: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Currently, no scheduled events...