New US Rest and Duty Regulations

[sodapop]

Controlled Rest

In some parts of the world, catnapping is condoned. It is called controlled rest and has specific guidelines. Works like a charm.

A fatigue report may be filed and the duty and rest periods evaluated. Doesn't mean schedules will always change but we have seen changes to certain patterns.

Here is what is stated by EASA, formally the JAA.

European Aviation Safety Agency

Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC)

and Guidance Material (GM)

to

Part-CAT



GM1 CAT.OP.MPA.210 Crew members at stations

MITIGATING MEASURES – CONTROLLED REST

(a) This GM addresses controlled rest taken by the minimum certified flight crew. It is

not related to planned in-flight rest by members of an augmented crew.

(b) Although flight crew members should stay alert at all times during flight,

unexpected fatigue can occur as a result of sleep disturbance and circadian

disruption. To cover for this unexpected fatigue, and to regain a high level of

alertness, a controlled rest procedure in the flight crew compartment, organised by

the commander may be used, if workload permits and a controlled rest procedure is

described in the operations manual. ‘Controlled rest' means a period of time ‘off

task' that may include actual sleep. The use of controlled rest has been shown to

significantly increase the levels of alertness during the later phases of flight,

particularly after the top of descent, and is considered to be good use of crew

resource management (CRM) principles. Controlled rest should be used in conjunction with other on-board fatigue management countermeasures such as

physical exercise, bright cockpit illumination at appropriate times, balanced eating

and drinking, and intellectual activity.

(c) Controlled rest taken in this way should not be considered to be part of a rest

period for the purposes of calculating flight time limitations, nor used to justify any

duty period. Controlled rest may be used to manage both sudden unexpected

fatigue and fatigue that is expected to become more severe during higher workload

periods later in the flight. Controlled rest is not related to fatigue management,

which is planned before flight.

(d) Controlled rest periods should be agreed according to individual needs and the

accepted principles of CRM; where the involvement of the cabin crew is required,

consideration should be given to their workload.

(e) When applying controlled rest procedures, the commander should ensure that:

(1) the other flight crew member(s) is/are adequately briefed to carry out the

duties of the resting flight crew member;

(2) one flight crew member is fully able to exercise control of the aircraft at all

times; and

(3) any system intervention that would normally require a cross-check according

to multi-crew principles is avoided until the resting flight crew member

resumes his/her duties.

(f) Controlled rest procedures should satisfy all of the following criteria:

(1) Only one flight crew member at a time should take rest at his/her station; the

restraint device should be used and the seat positioned to minimise

unintentional interference with the controls.

(2) The rest period should be no longer than 45 minutes (in order to limit any

actual sleep to approximately 30 minutes) to limit deep sleep and associated

long recovery time (sleep inertia).

(3) After this 45-minute period, there should be a recovery period of 20 minutes

to overcome sleep inertia during which control of the aircraft should not be

entrusted to the flight crew member. At the end of this recovery period an

appropriate briefing should be given.

(4) In the case of two-crew operations, means should be established to ensure

that the non-resting flight crew member remains alert. This may include:

(i) appropriate alarm systems;

(ii) on-board systems to monitor flight crew activity; and

(iii) frequent cabin crew checks. In this case, the commander should inform

the senior cabin crew member of the intention of the flight crew

member to take controlled rest, and of the time of the end of that rest;

frequent contact should be established between the non-resting flight

crew member and the cabin crew by communication means, and the

cabin crew should check that the resting flight crew member is awake

at the end of the period.

(5) There should be a minimum of 20 minutes between two subsequent controlled

rest periods in order to overcome the effects of sleep inertia and allow for

adequate briefing.

(6) If necessary, a flight crew member may take more than one rest period, if

time permits, on longer sectors, subject to the restrictions above.

(7) Controlled rest periods should terminate at least 30 minutes before the top of

descent.