Factoring
Factoring of ULR (or more correctly Augmented) flights concerns how hours are recorded for the purpose of logging flight time. Most countries and airlines regulate that for the purpose of logging time, each airborne hour counts as one hour towards a pilot's 28 day (100hr max) and annual (900hr max) flying limit.
Not so in Emirates Airline, as the OM(A) states that if you are operating as augmenting crew, then only the seat time counts towards your 28 day and 12 month limits. (eg DXB - IAH 16:30 block time may only record as 7 hours in the company's system.) Therefore, depending on how many augmented operations you fly, your actual 28 day block time may be well in excess of 100 hours, and similarly your actual annual block time may well exceed 900 hours.
The original intent was to not count hours in the bunk or resting for the purpose of licence or command upgrade, but the rule's migration into monthly and annual flying hour limits has somehow slipped into the system. The reality probably is that due to the uncontrolled expansion vs. pilot numbers, the company's operation would be somewhat curtailed if they had to abide by 100 hours in 28 days, and 900 in twelve months. There are currently pilots flying in excess of these figures, and some have been for a while now.
The GCAA are well aware this is going on, but are as yet unwilling to stop it happening. There is some suggestion that even our colleagues down the road in Abu Dhabi do not have to contend with this blatant abuse of the FTL scheme. Undoubtedly this adds to EK's SKF (sick fatigue) statistics.
Shame on EK for operating such a policy, and shame on the GCAA for allowing it to continue............
Last edited by Plank Cap; 6th Oct 2010 at 15:21.
Reason: Sp.