PPRuNe Forums

PPRuNe Forums (https://www.pprune.org/)
-   Middle East (https://www.pprune.org/middle-east-44/)
-   -   New GCAA Flight Time Limitations - It Could Not Be Any Worse (https://www.pprune.org/middle-east/555784-new-gcaa-flight-time-limitations-could-not-any-worse.html)

Rogerwilko 2nd Feb 2015 14:55

New GCAA Flight Time Limitations - It Could Not Be Any Worse
 
Heres an Extract from the GCAA Website

NPA 25-2014 CAR OPS1 - COMMERCIAL & PRIVATE AIR TRANSPORTATION (AEROPLANES)

https://www.gcaa.gov.ae/en/epublicat...s.aspx?dd=2759

The NPA closed 30th Nov 2014 with only two comments neither related to this huge policy change by the GCAA, which has been slipped through.

The two major UAE Carriers just got a massive New Years gift because in the coming months a return trip to New York will be LESS Hours than a London Heathrow.

In other words you can operate 4 USA ULR's, and still have time for 3 * Europe trips, Its quite staggering this has gone un noticed.

The Duty time limit means they can now roster you in effect as many working hours as an office worker with no regard whatsoever for time zone changes and the need to have any form of a life.

The interesting point is para in the NPA that says "Note: Unless otherwise specified, the UK Civil Aviation Authority document Civil Aviation Publication, CAP 371 and its applicable parts, with associated amending notices, shall be the basis of assessment of operator schemes"

How the below complies in any part with CAP 371 staggers the imagination.

The plot has truly been lost in the UAE ,


The NPA reads as follows :-

CAR-OPS 1.1125 Absolute Limits on Flying Hours

(a) No person shall act as an operating crew member of the flight crew of an aircraft if at the beginning of the flight the aggregate of all his previous flight times;

(1) during the period of 28 (twenty eight) consecutive days expiring at the end of the day on which the flight begins exceeds 100 (one hundred) block hours: or
(2) during the period of 12 (twelve months) expiring at the end of the previous month exceeds 900 (nine hundred) block hours:

(b) The maximum cumulative duty hours for Flight crew of an aeroplane shall not exceed;

(1) 55 hours in one week, but may be increased to 60 hours, when rostered duty covering a series of duty periods, once commenced, is subject to unforeseen delays.
(2) 95 hours in any 2 consecutive weeks, and;
(3) 190 hours in any 4 consecutive weeks.
(4) 2000 Hours in 12 consecutive months

Note 1: in relation with the 12 consecutive months cumulative limits, on the first day of January, April, August and November, a 25% of the GCAA accepted or approved mandatory regulatory footprint for On-line training or CBT courses, making 100% in total. Courses than can be conducted on remote and/or in flexibility schedule, are also included in this requirement.

Note 2: Post holders and managerial staff, as included in the OM A, that simultaneously maintain an operating flight crew member status, are limited on actual 12 consecutive months to 450 block hours , but their managerial activities are not considered administrative work “for duty” limits.

Note 3. A crew member is not considered Operating Crew Member, during the time spent at his/her rest period in an acceptable in-flight rest facility, or its equivalent under unforeseen circumstances, which will be reported to the GCAA. The duration of the flight rest time is not to be included in the flight time cumulative limits, but will be included in the Flight Duty Period Duty Time for cumulative limits consideration.

Issue: 04 Page 288 of 513 Issue Date: October 2014 Rev. 00 Revision Date: October 2014

helen-damnation 2nd Feb 2015 20:34

It's quite simple.

Press 2 and make sure it goes as FATIGUE if that's what it is. The data will eventually overturn the rule.

Desdihold 2nd Feb 2015 21:22

I have heard through a reliable source that we will have the following changes in the near future.......

5% pay rise during the normal pay review (is that April or may)

A few weeks later we will then have it taken back in the following manner:
Rostered up to 105 hrs per month
No credit for bunk time toward annual limit
Max of three days off at a time.
O
Maybe I should change my mind about Ryanair and go work for them (if they would have me)

The cancer has truly arrived and if these rumors are even half correct thenwe are all screwed!

Outatowner 2nd Feb 2015 23:42

Since the turn of the century I've watched a series of regressive steps in T&Cs with the exception of a couple of years around 2005-2007 where significant payrises were awarded which were subsequently erased with the increase to the overtime thresholds. You rolled with it all. But this if true it is truly depressing. I'm truly glad I have applications in with other airlines now. I no longer care about a pay cut, I just want to leave, under controlled conditions.

Speaking of overtime,

A few weeks later we will then have it taken back in the following manner:
Rostered up to 105 hrs per colander month,
No credit for bunk time toward annual limit
Max of three days off at a time.


As long as all those hours are credit hours, that won't cut your salary. It's more flying hours in a colander month will mean more salary due to overtime plus the flying pay. Except that the latest rumour I heard is the overtime threshold will be raised to 97/98/99/100 per month. If true, THAT'S where they'll take back some of the pay rise. They've used this sneaky trick before and it's nothing new or clever.

The hourly rate they are forced to pay their pilots must always go down in real terms. That's part of their rule of greed.

Marcellus Wallace 3rd Feb 2015 00:55

I am not so sure about the section:

(4) 2000 Hours in 12 consecutive months

Refers to duty hours - Sim, CRM, SEP, Standby(with the usual night period where half counts), FDP plus 30 minutes etc. Can you honestly say you have a program/log book that records all this? The operator should have and so should we.

It will now depend on what the definition of Block Hours is or will it be amended in the OM-A. Normally OFF CHOCKS to ON CHOCKS or rostered BLOCK hours.

Maybe I read it differently = end of factoring.

Which is a good thing is it not?

(1) during the period of 28 (twenty eight) consecutive days expiring at the end of the day on which the flight begins exceeds 100 (one hundred) block hours: or
(2) during the period of 12 (twelve months) expiring at the end of the previous month exceeds 900 (nine hundred) block hours:


Substitute the "block hours" for "flying hours" in OM-A and absence of extra "Notes" which define augmenting crew hours unless that portion is still approved in the OM-A in future.

Maybe I'm deluded.

lowstandard 3rd Feb 2015 01:13

I guess Note 3 on the bottom of the NPA is the killer. Stick time only counts, which is what I have been hearing.

The GCAA define long flights as the following

Long Range : 7 - 14hr flight time
Extra Long Range : 14:01 - 16hr flight time (two set of flight crew)
Ultra Long Range : 16hr + flight time


Even though according to the following;

CAR - OPS 1.1105 General principles

Factors to be considered when planning duty periods shall include:


(a)The allocation of work patterns, which avoid such undesirable practices as;


(1) alternating day/night duties,
(2) the positioning of crews so that a serious disruption of established sleep/work patterns
occur
(3) the scheduling of rest periods between 18 and 30 hours especially after long flights

crossing multiple time zones.

So the ORD layover amongst others, while legal, goes against the general principles of the GCAA CARs. No problem for EK as they have no principles.

EK says we can fly up to 14:59 minutes with 3 crew but cars says any flight between 14:01 - 16hrs requires 2 sets of crew.

These are very subtle changes but they will be maximised to EK's advantage and whomever else may be an operator in the UAE. These changes are going to be slowly introduced with a little $$$ thrown at us to make it all wonderful. At least you will be too tired to remember why you are tired.

I'm happy to say the bags are being packed and I'll be joining the line at the door soon.

Marcellus Wallace 3rd Feb 2015 02:20

Note 3. A crew member is not considered Operating Crew Member, during the time spent at his/her rest period in an acceptable in-flight rest facility, or its equivalent under unforeseen circumstances, which will be reported to the GCAA. The duration of the flight rest time is not to be included in the flight time cumulative limits, but will be included in the Flight Duty Period Duty Time for cumulative limits consideration.

I stand to be corrected, but believe the intent of this note to mean - yes only the stick time is calculated for the following:

(b) The maximum cumulative duty hours for Flight crew of an aeroplane shall not exceed;

(1) 55 hours in one week, but may be increased to 60 hours, when rostered duty covering a series of duty periods, once commenced, is subject to unforeseen delays.
(2) 95 hours in any 2 consecutive weeks, and;
(3) 190 hours in any 4 consecutive weeks.
(4) 2000 Hours in 12 consecutive months

BUT must still abide by the following:

CAR-OPS 1.1125 Absolute Limits on Flying Hours

(a) No person shall act as an operating crew member of the flight crew of an aircraft if at the beginning of the flight the aggregate of all his previous flight times;

(1) during the period of 28 (twenty eight) consecutive days expiring at the end of the day on which the flight begins exceeds 100 (one hundred) block hours: or
(2) during the period of 12 (twelve months) expiring at the end of the previous month exceeds 900 (nine hundred) block hours:


Which must still abide by the following:

CAR-OPS 1.1126 Duty cycle, days off and leave entitlement
Crew member;
(a) shall not be on duty more than 7 consecutive days between days off, but may be positioned , and operate only, under unforeseen circumstances, when any other prescriptive flight time or duty cumulative limits are not exceeded, to the usual operating base on the eighth day, provided they are then allocated at least 2 consecutive days off, and
(b) shall have 2 consecutive days off in any consecutive 14 days following the previous 2 consecutive days off, and
(c) shall have a minimum of 7 days off in any consecutive 4 weeks, and
(d) shall have an average of at least 8 days off in each consecutive 4 week period, averaged over three (3) such periods.
(e) Shall be entitled to a minimum calendar annual leave according the applicable labour regulation
(f) Wherever possible, by operational demands, should be provided with days off in the home environment.

There is a distinction between flight time(block hours) and Cumulative limits ( all duty time, stick time, Reserve, RTGS, SEP, CRM)

Still is a lot of flying/work!

Maybe, just maybe that's the reason the leave can't be allocated ......not enough resources.

jack schidt 3rd Feb 2015 02:56

We might try to follow EASA but are "NOT" EASA compliant as CAA Authorities like to hiold onto their FTLs

lowstandard 3rd Feb 2015 03:25

I think the fact that they do not consider you an "operating crew member" during the time spent at his/her rest period in an acceptable in-flight rest facility is what the sticking point is.

An Operating Crew Member is defined as:
a crew member carrying out his/her duties in an aircraft during a flight

On duty, in the company's eyes does not necessarily mean operating like positioning. I think they will take a liberty with that interpretation and like positioning, no credit.

Speaking of positioning...

burnable gomi 3rd Feb 2015 09:57

Marcellus,

I read it the other way. I think you've got it backwards. Time in the bunk does NOT count for absolute limit of flying hours (ie. 900 in 12 months and 100 in 28 days), but it does count for the limit on duty hours (ie. 55 hours in 1 week, 95 hours in 2 weeks..etc).

The rules all looked pretty normal until I got to that Note 3. That's just appalling.

SOPS 3rd Feb 2015 10:19

It's complete madness.

Marcellus Wallace 3rd Feb 2015 10:23

Not defending the GCAA or EK or whatever just trying to make sense of it all.

Not my definition - plucked from the CAR itself.

Flight time - The total time from the moment an aeroplane first moves for the purpose of taking off until the moment it finally comes to rest at the end of the flight.
Note.—“Flight time” as here defined is synonymous with the term “block to block” time or “chock to chock” time in general usage which is measured from the time an aeroplane first moves for the purpose of taking off until it finally stops at the end of the flight.

You will notice there are 2 distinct sections:

(a) No person shall act as an operating crew member of the flight crew of an aircraft if at the beginning of the flight the aggregate of all his previous flight times;

(1) during the period of 28 (twenty eight) consecutive days expiring at the end of the day on which the flight begins exceeds 100 (one hundred) block hours: or
(2) during the period of 12 (twelve months) expiring at the end of the previous month exceeds 900 (nine hundred) block hours:

(b) The maximum cumulative duty hours for Flight crew of an aeroplane shall not exceed;

(1) 55 hours in one week, but may be increased to 60 hours, when rostered duty covering a series of duty periods, once commenced, is subject to unforeseen delays.
(2) 95 hours in any 2 consecutive weeks, and;
(3) 190 hours in any 4 consecutive weeks.
(4) 2000 Hours in 12 consecutive months


(a) BLOCK HOURS MAX 100/900 (anytime in the airplane - as per definition above - flight time, block)
(b) means you can operate, jumpseat, deadhead, RTGS, SEP, CRM, SIM all you want but don't exceed the 55/95/190/2000 of cumulative duty hours (report to release, pre-flight to on chocks +30 minutes) limit.

Note 3: ....if you sleep you're not operating but you're still OFF BLOCKS to ON BLOCKS and all the time is used to calculate (b)

lowstandard - I see the point with positioning/deadhead - the CAR is clear what duty is and works towards cumulative limits but as to credit, it's not the CAR's business. SO the company could possibly roster you 100 hours block and 100 hours deadhead/SIM/RTGS/CRM/SEP in a month subject to all the proviso of duty hours being met.

Duty:
Any task that crew member is required by the Operator to perform, including, for example, flight duty, administrative work, training, positioning and standby when it is likely to induce fatigue.
Administrative work has to be understood as any task that a crew member is required to carry out associated with the business of an AOC holder, which is accepted or approved by GCAA under the regulatory framework.

That's how I read it. I'm not a lawyer I could be wrong.

What you guys say - don't get your knickers in a twist....just yet.

lowstandard 3rd Feb 2015 11:25

I'm with you 100% Marcellus, I think its good that everyone gets this figured out so we are all clear.

I think that Note 3 means you are not considered operating crew while in the rest facility (augmenting or operating ).

Therefore "The duration of the flight rest time is not to be included in the flight time cumulative limits, but will be included in the Flight Duty Period Duty Time for cumulative limits consideration."

So time in the bunk is included for flight DUTY PERIOD time, say ULR 22hr.

Bunk time will not count towards flight time cumulative time, similar to factoring but now using actual time in the seat for both sectors.

So on a 20hr duty period, you may only get 7hrs of time towards your absolute limits (900 hrs etc) for the time you were in the seat (stick) but your Flight Duty Period takes into account both bunk and stick time (for discretion etc).

Our flight time reports on the portal show full stick time for operating sector and whatever hours you sat in the seat on the augment sector. The way I understand it it will now show whatever hours you sit in the seat as your flight time towards your absolute limits.

Its how I understand it and more than willing to be corrected and should make for a good question during the ball washing exercise with management during ground school.

Marcellus, I follow you but what Rogerwilco is saying agrees with what I have been hearing from good sources.

Plank Cap 3rd Feb 2015 12:59

To summarise....
 
Surely for the slightly simple and slow witted of us here, lead by myself, what we are saying the proposed changes add up to is as below:

BEFORE: operating crew counted 100% of block hours towards 28 day and annual totals, whereas augmenting crew only counted stick time.

AFTER: operating and augmenting crew now count only stick time towards 28 day and annual block hours totals.

Anyone see it differently?

Rogerwilko 3rd Feb 2015 13:34

Marcellus

Im afraid it is what it says :-

Note 3 applies to what we would describe as "Block Hours" i.e. if your not in the operating seat you are not technically operating the aircraft and the time DOES NOT count towards the FLIGHT TIME LIMITS of 100 in a month or 900 in a year.

Your full time from Check IN (Dependent on your operator) to Check Out (30 minutes post block on same for both UAE Long Haul Operators) counts towards the 190 Duty Hours per 30 days, and 2000 Per Year.

So regardless of Operator's

To keep the maths simple lets just split the time in seat evenly between "Operating" and "Augmenting" Crew (in reality time in seat will be a little over 1 hour more per sector for the Operating crew)

Say you operate 3 ULR's pr month (currently the max) at 32 "Block Hours" per trip, thats 96 Hours total as we traditionally calculate it, so your done for the month!

Lets apply the GCAA change,

You have actually only spent 48 hours in a seat (the time in the crew rest facility does not count)

You have 52 Hours you may then still fly.

You can still operate as many augmented Long Range trips <14 hours as operator wishes to roster, so lets assume you do 3 SLR trips at 12 block each way (24 hours per trip)

3*24 = 72 Hours "Block Hours"

Time in seat is 12 Hours per trip, Flying time counted towards Flying limit is 36.

To Conclude from the Flying Time Limit you have done 3 * 32 "Block Hour" Trips and 3 * 24 "Block Hour" Trips but the operator under the new rule will conclude you have only flown:-

84 Hours Total and you have 16 "Flying Hours" to spare, you really flew 168 "Block Hours"

From a "Duty Time" perspective, all hours count, there is no deduction for time not spent in an Operating Seat.

So at The Airline that "Keeps Discovering", you check in 60 minutes prior to departure and check out 30 minutes after block on. You have flown 12 sectors thats

Pre and Post Departure Duty Time = 18 Hours
Duty Time in Aircraft = 168 Hours

Total Duty Time is 186 Hours versus the GCAA Limit of 190

ALL IS LEGAL ACCORDING TO THE GCAA


I have had this verified by the GCAA that this is the intent; if you fly Long Haul your productivity is about to be increase by almost 70%

DO NOT WRITE TO YOUR COMPANY, WRITE TO THE GCAA, WRITE TO IFALPA about the GCAA, your operators response is that they only comply with the law of the land.

THIS IS MADNESS AND ITS NO RUMOUR AND ITS DANGEROUS

SOPS 3rd Feb 2015 13:36

Agree 100% Plank. What happens now is you do a ULR for 16 hours each way, total 32 hours in the aircraft, but stick hours are only 16. So they can effectively get another Lonndon out of you.

It's crazy. But for me, I don't care anymore. But for my fellow pilots, I worry deeply.

break dancer 3rd Feb 2015 13:45

If the operating Captain signs the tech log accepting the flight, he/she should be then responsible for the entire period until chocks on and the release is signed. I'm thinking then that they should log the entire time of liability.

sunbird123 3rd Feb 2015 14:22

What a corrupt GCAA.
You can do 190 duty hours a month.
I bet nobody in the GCAA works 190 hours a month.Let alone 2000 duty hours a year.

jack schidt 3rd Feb 2015 16:20

Simply put

FCUK THIS!!

BigGeordie 3rd Feb 2015 16:49

So it would be possible to do 6 LAX trips a month as the three ULR restriction is only an EK requirement!


All times are GMT. The time now is 15:11.


Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.