Glossary
Every term below is reproduced verbatim from the consolidated Canadian Aviation Regulations on the Justice Laws website, verified January 15, 2026. Anything marked note is our own plain-language clarification, not part of the regulation.
CARs 101.01 — general definitions
Terms that apply across the whole Canadian Aviation Regulations.
- flight time CARs 101.01
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the time from the moment an aircraft first moves under its own power for the purpose of taking off until the moment it comes to rest at the end of the flight
note Block time (chocks-off to chocks-on) — it includes taxi time. This is what section 700.27 limits.
- air time CARs 101.01
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with respect to keeping technical records, the time from the moment an aircraft leaves the surface until it comes into contact with the surface at the next point of landing
note Wheels-up to wheels-down. Not the same as flight time, and not what the fatigue limits use.
- flight duty period CARs 101.01
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the period that begins when the earliest of the following events occurs and ends at engines off or rotors stopped at the end of a flight: (a) the flight crew member carries out any duties assigned by the private operator or the air operator or delegated by the Minister before reporting for a flight, (b) the member reports for a flight or, if there is more than one flight during the flight duty period, reports for the first flight, (c) the member reports for positioning, and (d) the member reports as a flight crew member on standby
- fit for duty CARs 101.01
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in respect of a person, means that their ability to act as a flight crew member of an aircraft is not impaired by fatigue, the consumption of alcohol or drugs or any mental or physical condition
- unforeseen operational circumstance CARs 101.01
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an event, such as unforecast adverse weather, or an equipment malfunction or air traffic control delay, that is beyond the control of an air operator or private operator
note To be usable under section 700.63 it must occur within 60 minutes of the start of, or during, the flight duty period (AC 700-047 § 4.70).
- positioning CARs 101.01
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the transfer of a flight crew member from one location to another, at the request of an air operator, but does not include travel to or from suitable accommodation or the member’s lodging
- rest period CARs 101.01
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the continuous period during which a flight crew member is off duty, excluding the travel time to or from suitable accommodation provided by a private operator or air operator
- home base CARs 101.01
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the location where a flight crew member normally commutes to in order to report for a flight duty period or positioning
- suitable accommodation CARs 101.01
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a single-occupancy bedroom that is subject to a minimal level of noise, is well ventilated and has facilities to control the levels of temperature and light or, where such a bedroom is not available, an accommodation that is suitable for the site and season, is subject to a minimal level of noise and provides adequate comfort and protection from the elements
CARs 700.01 — Subpart 700 (Division III) definitions
Terms specific to the flight-crew fatigue rules.
- acclimatized CARs 700.01
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describes a flight crew member whose biorhythm is aligned with local time
note Section 700.28(5) sets out how much time in a zone counts as acclimatized; AC 700-047 §§ 4.22–4.26 explain how it is applied.
- early duty CARs 700.01
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hours of work that begin between 02:00 and 06:59 at the location where the flight crew member is acclimatized
- late duty CARs 700.01
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hours of work that end between midnight and 01:59 at the location where the flight crew member is acclimatized
- night duty CARs 700.01
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hours of work that begin between 13:00 and 01:59 and that end after 01:59 at a location where the flight crew member is acclimatized
- local night’s rest CARs 700.01
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a rest period of at least nine hours that takes place between 22:30 and 09:30 at the location where the flight crew member is acclimatized
- single day free from duty CARs 700.01
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time free from duty from the beginning of the first local night’s rest until the end of the following local night’s rest
- window of circadian low CARs 700.01
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the period that begins at 02:00 and ends at 05:59 at the location where the flight crew member is acclimatized
- flight crew member on reserve CARs 700.01
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a flight crew member who has been designated by an air operator to be available to report for flight duty on notice of more than one hour
note A flight crew member on standby is available on one hour’s notice or less.
- reserve availability period CARs 700.01
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the period in any period of 24 consecutive hours during which a flight crew member on reserve is available to report for flight duty
- reserve duty period CARs 700.01
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the period that begins at the time that a flight crew member on reserve is available to report for flight duty and ends at the time that the flight duty period ends
- class 1 rest facility CARs 700.01
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a bunk or other horizontal surface located in an area that (a) is separated from the flight deck and passenger cabin, (b) has devices to control the temperature and light, and (c) is subject to a minimal level of noise and other disturbances
- class 2 rest facility CARs 700.01
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a seat that allows for a horizontal sleeping position in an area that (a) is separated from passengers by a curtain or other means of separation that reduces light and sound, (b) is equipped with portable oxygen equipment, and (c) minimizes disturbances by passengers and crew members
- class 3 rest facility CARs 700.01
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a seat that reclines at least 40° from vertical and that has leg and foot support