When we picture a commercial pilot, the image that often comes to mind is a neatly uniformed professional in the cockpit of a large commercial aircraft. However, the daily responsibilities of a pilot go far beyond that. The number of flights a pilot flies each day is influenced by many factors, including the type of flight, duty limitations, and local aviation regulations. In this article, we explore the factors that determine the number of flights a pilot flies in a day, ranging from short-haul to long-haul routes.

Nature of Flights

The first thing to consider when discussing the number of flights a pilot operates in a day is the nature of the flights themselves. Short-haul and long-haul flights differ significantly in terms of duration and the number of sectors flown.

• Long-haul flights: Pilots who fly long-haul routes, which typically last more than six hours, generally operate one or possibly two sectors in a day. These long flights require fewer daily sectors due to their extended flight times and more demanding schedules.
• Short-haul flights: On shorter routes, pilots may fly up to four or five sectors a day. Pilots operating turboprop aircraft, which are often used for short, regional flights, can even fly more sectors in a single day.

The difference in the number of flights between short-haul and long-haul operations is largely due to duty limitations imposed on pilots to prevent fatigue.

Duty Limitation Regulations

Aviation authorities, including the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), enforce strict regulations that govern a pilot’s duty period. These regulations aim to ensure that pilots do not exceed safe working hours, thereby reducing the risk of fatigue-related incidents.

What is a Flight Duty Period (FDP)?

The Flight Duty Period (FDP) begins when a pilot reports for duty and ends when the aircraft is parked at the gate after the final flight. Several factors influence a pilot’s FDP, including:

• The time of day the pilot begins their duty.
• The number of sectors (flights) to be operated.
• The schedule history of the pilot.

The following table serves as a quick guide for pilots to determine their duty limitation period before flights. The data provided aligns with EASA standards, though the FAA’s regulations are quite similar.

The first column shows the time of day when the pilot reports for duty, while the remaining columns indicate the number of flights or sectors scheduled for that day. For example, if a pilot reports for duty between 06:00 and 13:29 and is scheduled to fly four sectors, the FDP is capped at 12 hours. Once this period ends, the pilot must take a rest period of at least 12 hours.

Duty Extensions

While there are strict limitations, pilots can sometimes extend their duty period in certain circumstances. However, even with these extensions, the maximum time a pilot can remain on duty is 14 hours. This flexibility is crucial for handling unexpected situations such as emergency landings or flight diversions, which might require pilots to work longer than initially scheduled.

Pilot Fatigue Management

The aviation industry takes pilot fatigue seriously and has implemented Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS) to prevent pilots from becoming overly tired while on duty. A typical FRMS includes:

• Monitoring pilot health and collecting data on fatigue levels.
• Scheduled rest periods during flights.
• Optimized flight schedules to balance workloads.
• Confidential fatigue reporting systems.

The importance of managing fatigue became evident during a well-publicized incident involving an Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET343 , during which both pilots fell asleep. The plane was in autopilot mode and it kept the plane cruising at 37,000 feet. When the plane overflew the runway where it was supposed to land, the autopilot disconnected. That triggered an alarm, which woke up the pilots. They then maneuvered the aircraft around for landing on the runway 25 minutes later. This highlights the necessity of regulations, as early in commercial aviation history, pilots could work up to 20 hours a day without restriction.

Read more about what happened during flight ET343 here

How Pilot Operations Are Changing

The world of aviation is evolving rapidly, and so is the daily experience of pilots. Two significant trends may shape the number of flights pilots operate in the future:

1. Global Pilot Shortages
With a growing shortage of pilots, regulatory authorities might be forced to loosen existing duty limitations to allow pilots to operate more sectors per day.

2. Increased Cockpit Automation
Automation in cockpits has already reduced the manual workload for pilots, and future advances may lessen it even further. Some industry experts are even advocating for single-pilot operations, a concept that is becoming more feasible as automation technology improves.

Related: Airbus and Cathay Pacific Partner To Cut Pilot Staffing On Long Haul Flights

The number of flights a pilot operates each day depends largely on the nature of the flights, duty limitations, and safety regulations. While long-haul pilots generally operate one or two sectors a day, short-haul pilots may fly four or more. Global pilot shortages and advancements in automation may soon alter these norms, but for now, duty limitations remain in place to protect pilots and ensure they are well-rested and ready to fly safely.

Sources:

• Simple Flying
• Featured image by Miguel Cuenca