Legal Interpretations
Leighton-TeamstersLocal1224 2012
Summary
The Question
May a pilot who has flown more than 8 hours in 24 consecutive hours complete remaining assigned flight segments before receiving the rest required by 14 CFR 121.503(b)?
Background
Teamsters Local 1224 reported that a carrier it represents read the term "further duty" in the FAA's 2011 Ennis interpretation of 14 CFR 121.503(b) and 14 CFR 121.505(a) as allowing such a pilot to finish the remaining flight segments of the assigned duty period first.
The FAA’s Interpretation
No. The FAA pointed to a separate interpretation issued to ABX Air, enclosed with its response, which found that once a pilot completes any flight segment and has flown more than 8 hours in a 24 consecutive hour period, the pilot may not delay receiving the 16 hours of rest required by 14 CFR 121.503(b) until after completing the previously assigned schedule.
- Requester
- Leighton
- Organization
- TeamstersLocal1224
- Issued
- May 7, 2012
- Subject
- Flight & Duty Time
Regulations Cited
Page 1
U.S. Deportment
of Transportation
Federal Aviation
AdminiStration
Russ Leighton
Aviation Safety Coordinator
Teamsters Local 1224
2754 Old State Route 73
Wilmington, OH 45177
Dear Mr. Leighton,
Office of the Chief Counsel 800 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20591
This letter responds to your January 3, 2012 inquiry regarding a recent interpretation issued by the FAA (Letter to Capt. Rodney C. Ennis from RebeccaB. MacPherson, Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulations, Nov. 2011 ("Ennis")), dealing with the application of the rest requirements found in 14 C.F.R. 121.503(b) and 121.505(a). Your inquiry mentioned that one of the carriers you represent interpreted the use of the tenn "further duty" in the Ennis interpretation to allow a pilot that has flown more than eight hours in a 24 consecutive hour period and who is now on the ground, to complete any remaining flight segments for that assigned duty period prior to receiving the rest required by§ 121.503(b).
Subsequent to your inquiry, our office received a request for a meeting from ABX Air, Inc. ("ABX"), to discuss their viewpoints on Ennis and other interpretations issued by the FAA. As a result of that meeting, ABX submitted several questions and scenarios for review. In response, the FAA is issuing an interpretation to ABX clarifying the application of the 16 hour rest requirement of§ 121.503(b), finding that once a pilot completes any flight segment and has flown more than 8 hours in a 24 consecutive hour period, that pilot may not delay receiving 16 hours of rest until after the completion of the previously assigned schedule. A copy of that interpretation is enclosed.
We appreciate your patience and trust that the above responds to your concerns. If you need further assistance, please contact my staff at (202) 267-3073. This letter has been prepared by Robert H. Frenzel, Manager, Operations Law Branch, Regulations Division of the Office of the Chief Counsel and coordinated with the Air Transportation Division of Flight Standards Service.
Sincerely,
Rebecca B. acPherson
Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulations, AGC-200
Encl:
Regulations Referenced
Snapshot retrieved August 6, 2026.