Flight duty period: Split duty

This regulation allows airlines to exclude rest time from a pilot's flight duty period calculation during "split duty" operations, but only for non-augmented crews and under strict conditions.

If a pilot gets a sleep opportunity in suitable accommodations (like a hotel room) during their duty day, that rest time doesn't count toward their maximum flight duty period limits—but only if all these requirements are met:

• The rest occurs between 10 PM and 5 AM local time
• It lasts at least 3 hours from arrival at the accommodation
• It was scheduled in advance before the duty period began
• The actual rest provided matches or exceeds what was scheduled
• It happens only after completing the first flight segment
• The total time (flight duty + rest) doesn't exceed 14 hours

This matters because it allows airlines to schedule longer duty days by inserting a rest break, giving pilots relief during extended operations while maintaining fatigue management protections.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*