flying on the 7th day

[josh1987]

Hi all,

I'm a commercial pilot, currently working for a company under an AOC, and I'm a little confused about the 7 day rule.

CAO 48.1 states
1.12 A pilot shall not commence a flight and an operator shall not roster the pilot for a flight unless during the 7 days period terminating co-incident with the termination of the flight he or she has been relieved from all duty associated with his or her employment for at least 1 continuous period embracing the hours between 10 pm and 6 am on 2 consecutive nights.

CAO 48.0 states
1.3 The holder of a pilot licence other than a private pilot licence who engages in aerial work, charter, or regular public transport operations, shall be subject to the flight and duty time limitations specified by CASA in section 48.1 of this Part. Calculations of flight and duty time limitations made under the provisions of section 48.1 shall take into account any flight and duty time performed in the course of private operations.

And a tour of duty is defined in 48.0 as
tour of duty means the period between the time a flight crew member
commences any duties associated with his or her employment prior to making a flight or series of flights until he or she is finally relieved of all such duties after the termination of such flight or series of flights and includes reserve time at the airport.

So my question is, if I've worked 6 days, and want to take my son flying on the 7th day, is that legal? The way I read it, the hours will count towards the maximums, however, no duty will be burned, as it has nothing to do with employment therefore is legal.

Any help would be excellent!

[travelator]

Can't fly on your 7th day regardless of the category of that flight. "A pilot shall not commence a flight...". 48.1 as quoted.

[Ixixly]

It's in the wording, during that private flight with your son, are you conducting any duties associated with your employment? No, so therefore you have no busted that rule, have at it!

[Aussie Bob]

Just don't log it.

[CYHeli]

1.12 A pilot shall not commence a flight and an operator shall not roster the pilot for a flight unless during the 7 days period terminating co-incident with the termination of the flight he or she has been relieved from all duty associated with his or her employment for...
Travelator is partly correct, Ixixly gives the answer I agree with. The duty limits apply for commercial work only.


You can take your son flying and log it on the correct day.

[Squawk7700]

... and here I was thinking that this thread was going to be about religion!

[DeRated]

....as a younger commercial pilot, the rule was:

"six days shalt thou labour,
on the seventh, do thy washing."

[cogwheel]

Some years ago I queried this with the then regulator (48 was much the same) and they said ok, provided it was VFR and PVT ops. I recall they said also that combined I could not exceed 1000 hrs pa. Suited me at the time to fly my own acft. Fatigue wise not much different to othe activities you might do on the 7th day, eg drag racing!

[josephfeatherweight]

Typical, easy to understand Aussie Regs, with a few "tips and recommendations" thrown in for good luck!

[troppo]

....as a younger commercial pilot, the rule was:

"six days shalt thou labour,
on the seventh, do thy washing."

Or if you have been in the 'islands' for long enough... Lie n thieve for the first six days, repent on the seventh and repeat again :}

[troppo]

It's in the wording, during that private flight with your son, are you conducting any duties associated with your employment? No, so therefore you have no busted that rule, have at it!

+1 private being the operative word

[scavenger]

Travelator is correct. Any flight on the seventh day may not be commenced unless there has been one continuous period free from duty on two consecutive nights between 2200 and 0600 in the last seven days, which would not be the case if you had worked on each of the previous six days.

If you have not had the continuous period free from duty, you may not commence a flight, nor may you be rostered for a flight.

There is no limitation in the rule about the flight you may not commence.

[Ixixly]

Scavenger, there is a limitation, it says you must have a period "Free of all duty associated with his or her employment", so a private flight wouldn't be as part of his employment and as such is fine.