Pilot work schedules to be changed in Azerbaijan

The working hours and rest periods of aircraft crews performing commercial air transportation will be regulated under new rules.

As reported by Oxu.Az, during today's session of the Milli Majlis, a draft law on introducing corresponding amendments to the law "On Aviation" was considered.

According to the document, the working hours and rest periods of aircraft crews carrying out commercial air transportation, including flight time and flight duty period, will be regulated in accordance with the law "On Aviation," international standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as well as rules established by the relevant authorized executive authority.

It should be noted that ICAO — a specialized agency of the United Nations founded in 1944 on the basis of the Chicago Convention — unites 193 states and establishes uniform flight safety standards, including fatigue management norms for flight personnel. Adherence to these standards is considered a mandatory condition for the integration of national airlines into the global air transport system.

Issues related to the working hours and rest periods of commercial aircraft crews not regulated by this law and the normative legal acts adopted on its basis will be regulated by the corresponding provisions of the Labor Code.

The working hours of aircraft crews performing commercial air transportation will be determined based on the following periods:

- maximum number of working hours during any 7 consecutive days;

- maximum number of working hours during any 14 consecutive days;

- maximum number of working hours during any 28 consecutive days;

- maximum number of working hours during any one calendar year.

The flight time of commercial aircraft crews will be determined based on the following periods:

- maximum number of flight hours during any 28 consecutive days;

- maximum number of flight hours during any 1 calendar year;

- maximum number of flight hours during any consecutive 12 calendar months.

The explanatory note to the draft law states that according to the current Labor Code, the normal daily working time may not exceed 8 hours, and the weekly working time may not exceed 40 hours. For flight and flight instructor personnel, the weekly working time is set at 36 hours. Under cumulative working time accounting, the daily working duration may not exceed 12 hours, and during night