Canadian Aviation Regulations · SOR/96-433
Split Flight Duty
A break of at least 60 minutes in suitable accommodation during a flight duty period lets the maximum FDP be exceeded — by 100% of the break (minus 45 minutes) overnight, or 50% during the day.
Applies to 703704705 · in force since December 12, 2020
Section 700.50 lets a flight duty period be scheduled longer than the 700.28 maximum when the flight crew member is given a break in suitable accommodation partway through it.
On the term. “Split flight duty” is not a defined term in the CARs (it is not in 101.01, 700.01 or 700.19) — it is only the heading placed over section 700.50. The regulation turns on a break, which AC 700-047 § 4.49 describes as “a period of time on the ground, shorter than a rest period, when the flight crew is free of all duties but still considered to be within a flight duty period” — it counts as part of the FDP but not as hours worked.
How much extra FDP the break buys
The break must be at least 60 consecutive minutes. Before the calculation, 45 minutes is subtracted from the break (to cover getting to bed, falling asleep, and waking up — 700.50(2); AC 700-047 § 4.50). Then:
| When the break falls (acclimatized local time) | Extra FDP allowed | CARs |
|---|---|---|
| 24:00 to 05:59 | 100% of (break − 45 min) | 700.50(1)(a) |
| 06:00 to 23:59 | 50% of (break − 45 min) | 700.50(1)(b) |
| Re-planned in flight for an unforeseen operational circumstance | 50% of (break − 45 min) | 700.50(1)(c) |
700.50(2) applies the 45-minute deduction “for the purposes of subsection (1)”, i.e. to all three rows. AC 700-047 § 4.49 phrases the UOC case as “50% of the duration of the break provided”; this page follows the regulation text.
Worked through: a 4-hour break overnight → (240 − 45) × 100% = 195 minutes (3 h 15 m) of extra FDP. The same break during the day → (240 − 45) × 50% = 97.5 minutes. A bare 60-minute break buys only 15 minutes (overnight) or 7.5 minutes (daytime). There is no cap on the total length of an FDP extended this way (AC 700-047 § 4.49).
Limits and conditions
- The break must be in suitable accommodation; travel time to and from it is not part of the break.
- On night duty, split duty may extend the FDP for at most three consecutive nights (700.50(3)).
- No extra rest is required afterwards beyond the normal 700.40(1) rest (AC 700-047 § 4.50(5)).
- On reserve: if assigned flight duty that includes split duty, the reserve duty period may be extended by two hours, and there may be no more than two flights after the break (700.50(5)).
Related
- FDP calculator — applies the split-duty adjustment
- Maximum Flight Duty Period (700.28)
- Split flight duty, explained — worked numeric examples
- Unforeseen operational circumstances (700.63)
Regulation text — CARs 700.50
Reproduced from the consolidated Canadian Aviation Regulations ( SOR/96-433) on the Justice Laws website. CARs 700.50
700.50 (1) A flight crew member’s flight duty period may exceed the maximum flight duty period set out in section 700.28 by the following amount of time, if the air operator provides the member with a break, in suitable accommodation, of at least 60 consecutive minutes during the flight duty period:
- (a) 100% of the duration of the break that is provided to the member during the period beginning at 24:00 and ending at 05:59;
- (b) 50% of the duration of the break that is provided to the member during the period beginning at 06:00 and ending at 23:59; and
- (c) in the case of an unforeseen operational circumstance, 50% of the duration of the break that is provided to the member in the case of the replanning of a flight duty period after it has begun.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the duration of the break provided to the flight crew member is reduced by 45 minutes before the calculation is made.
(3) If a flight crew member is assigned to night duty, their flight duty period may only be extended under subsection (1) for three consecutive nights.
(4) The time referred to in paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) is the time at the location where the flight crew member is acclimatized.
(5) If a flight crew member on reserve is assigned to flight duty that includes split duty, the air operator may extend the reserve duty period by two hours if a break in accordance with this section is provided. There shall not be more than two flights during the flight duty period following the break.
What changed in 2018
In plain language
The former split-duty rules required advance notice, a longer minimum break, and credited only part of it. Section 700.50 shortens the minimum break to 60 minutes, drops the advance-notice requirement, and credits the break by time of day (100% overnight, 50% daytime) after a fixed 45-minute deduction.
Paraphrased from Advisory Circular 700-047 .