SkyGuide for Crews
Pilot Rest, Duty, Reserve, and Fatigue Questions
Pilot Flight Duty Period vs. Duty Period
Part 117 defines flight duty period and duty separately, which matters for deadhead, training, administrative work, rest, and cumulative limits.
Reviewed against primary U.S. sources - July 15, 2026
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"What facts matter before I ask about this contract issue?"
Short answer
Under Part 117, duty is a broad category of tasks required by the certificate holder. A flight duty period is the more specific period that begins when the pilot is required to report for an assignment that includes flight and ends when the aircraft is parked after the final flight and no further movement is intended. Contract definitions may add another layer.
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My contract is supported - sign up Not listed? See the waitlist and progress optionsWhy the distinction matters
Deadhead transportation, training, administrative work, and other required tasks can be duty even when they are not a flight segment. Those hours can affect rest and cumulative calculations differently from a flight duty period.
Do not rely on one total
A schedule display may show block, credit, duty, and FDP values side by side. Capture each value and the underlying timestamps so the correct Part 117 and contract provisions can be tested.
Ask with the entire sequence
Include report, every leg, deadhead, training or ground task, final parking, release, and next assignment. A partial sequence can make an otherwise sound legality answer wrong.
This page provides general U.S. educational information, not legal advice or an individual legality determination. Regulations, agreements, side letters, policies, and facts can change the result. Use current official channels for safety decisions, discipline, medical or leave issues, and grievance deadlines.
Primary sources
Use the current regulation, agency guidance, and your current collective bargaining agreement for an individual decision.
- FAA: Flightcrew Member Duty and Rest Requirements Final Rule
Federal Aviation Administration - FAA: Guidance Associated with 14 CFR Part 117
Federal Aviation Administration
Related crew questions
How much rest do airline pilots get?
Under Part 117, covered passenger-airline pilots generally need a 10-consecutive-hour rest period that includes an opportunity for eight uninterrupted hours of sleep.
Pilot rest and fatigueCan a pilot accept an assignment when fatigued?
Part 117 makes fitness for duty a shared responsibility and bars an assignment after the pilot reports being too fatigued to perform safely.
Pilot rest and fatigueDoes deadhead count as pilot duty or rest?
Under Part 117, required deadhead transportation is duty and is not rest, although its treatment inside an FDP and under a contract requires closer review.
Pilot rest and fatigueHow do pilot reserve and rest rules work together?
Part 117 distinguishes airport/standby reserve, short-call reserve, long-call reserve, and reserve followed by an FDP; the exact limit depends on the sequence.