Captain Chris: Twice around the World in 28 days
Sharing the thoughts of Captain Chris from 17th May 2024. You can see more of his thoughts on social media / Instagram HERE
How many hours can a pilot fly?
Here’s a visual representation of my last month of flying. 104 hours in 28 days, including 12 long-haul sectors and covering a staggering 81,960 kilometres, which is just over twice around the world.🌎 The earths circumference (at the equator) is 40,075 kilometres.
In the US, the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) limit pilots to 36 flight hours in a week, 100 hours in 28 days, and 1,000 hours in a 365-day calendar period.
The only difference between EASA/UK CAA regulations and the FAA, is that European/UK pilots cannot exceed 900 hours in a calendar year, but they are allowed 1,000 hours within 12 consecutive calendar months, that takes some lateral thinking to understand this.
How did I manage to fly 104 hours without breaking any rules? The regulations are clear 100 hours in 28 days, but this doesn’t take into account time zone changes, plus the hours on Day 1 were earlier in the day than the hours I flew on Day 28, so they cancelled out by the time I landed on day 28.
Pilots and airline crew schedulers have to be meticulous about timekeeping, to avoid exceeding daily, weekly, monthly and annual limits.
Regulating pilots’ flying hours is essential for maintaining peak cognitive and physical performance, thus ensuring heightened safety standards within aviation.
By establishing these limits, authorities aim to mitigate the risks associated with fatigue, safeguarding both passengers and crew. These measures also promote a culture of wellness and resilience among aviation professionals, underscoring the industry’s unwavering commitment to safety.
After a few days at home, I’m back again, refreshed and ready to keep logging flying hours as I travel the globe.🌍