Should' is a vague instruction and open to abuse. CAD371 is based on the old UK CAP371 which is now defunct under EASA FTLs which have been in force since January. EASA FTLs do correct some of the discrepancies in CAP371 and tighten up some of the items open up for interpretation, but allow for longer working hours. Be careful what you wish for!
Hi Dan
Been working for couple of months under EASA and from the AOC side of the fence much better. The no limits on early/lates/night in a mature AOC protected by Union agreement and FRMS can mean better rosters. No factored sectors which was a CAP371 strange one left from days of Flight Engineers. Yes you can do a lot more hours early doors but that has been the norm for years in Europe.
Another Bus driver
Excerpt from our HK CAD 371 (edition 2) document:
"3.6 Factors to be considered when constructing crew rosters should include:
3.6.1 The undesirability of alternating day/night duties.
3.6.2 Avoiding scheduling rest periods of between 18 and 30 hours, except when rest is physiologically based.
3.6.3 The effect of consecutive flights through, or ending within, the window of circadian low.
3.6.4 The effect of consecutive transmeridian flights ensuring that sufficient rest, and where applicable sufficient physiological rest, is provided.
3.6.5 The notification of crews well in advance of days off. "
Accountants now running FOP departments IGNORE the INTENT of the above governing paragraph in the FTL's (CAD371 excerpt edn 2) because they state it says "SHOULD avoid", not "SHALL avoid". They say rostering in contravention of the above is OK because "it's legal", they completely IGNORE the purpose and intent of the above, which is clearly to avoid fatigue in air crews.
As evidence, check any one of CX Middle East or India flights where EVERY SINGLE flight pairing to those cities (Airbus regional fleet now) is rostered in direct contravention of the above paragraph. Back to back WOCL sectors separated by rest within 18-30 hour period. The only exception is where the flight pairing to some cities is not daily, so crew by default gain an extra night's rest.
The 18-30hr rest reg was introduced by the UK CAA for day / night rotations to Florida.
It therefore depends in what context the operation is; for example night/day rotations with 18-30hrs rest are scientifically proven to be a good pairing (depending on which route etc)