These times are standardised so that the company can plan and construct a rostered duty. That is distinct from what actually happens on a day to day basis. Obviously within this criteria there has to be an element of flexibility and common sense on both sides.
If post flight duties cannot be completed within the standard time allowed, then the reason should be written on the ops/flight paperwork, and the off duty time adjusted to reflect the actual situation, together with an explanation of the cause. The rest period would then be calculated from the actual off duty time. If a company is applying a constantly unrealistic standard off duty time, then it would seem to be self defeating, as it would be subject to constant disruption, with the knock on effect that would have to follow on duty report times.
As far as the rest time itself is concerned, how it is used is the responsibility of the individual. Where accomodation is provided by the company, the standard rest period is often reduced by one hour. This in turn is on the assumption that the travelling time between the airport and the accomodation is no greater than 30 minutes. Where this figure is exceeded then the rest time should be increased to reflect the additional travelling time. There is usually a stipulation that the hotel room must be available to the crewmember for a minimum period of time, in this case 10 hours. Rest is simply the period that is free of duty, it has nothing to do with "your head being on a pillow." If you use that time to watch TV, drive home, drive to work, meet up with friends, or anything else you choose, that is a matter for you. The actual rest or sleep you achieve is your responsibility, the company is only obliged to provide the time period.
To clarify, the rest period starts from when the duty period ends. The only travelling time that matters is when you are positioning as part of a duty for the company. When accomodation is provided by the company, and the travelling time between the airport and that accomodation exceeds 30 minutes, the rest period may need to be extended to ensure that a minimum of 10 hours in the accomodation is provided to the crewmember. The standard off duty time is a planning requirement and not an absolute. If the duty is extended for a valid reason, then the reported actual off duty time should reflect this. This time is then used to calculate the start time of the next available duty.
Last edited by Bealzebub; 9th Sep 2009 at 13:32.