In Azerbaijan, the working, flying, and rest times of aircraft crews performing commercial flights will be regulated by new rules. The changes are expected to facilitate the organization of long-haul flights and expand the flight geography of local airlines.
Modern.az reports that the proposed amendments to the Labor Code and the Law "On Aviation" were discussed at today's meeting of the Milli Majlis Committee on Labor and Social Policy.
According to the project, flight working time will begin from the moment a crew member arrives at the airport to perform one or more consecutive flights. This period will end after the last flight is completed and the aircraft's ground movement has completely stopped. The start time of the working period will be determined by the aircraft operator.
The maximum working time of crew members in commercial air transport will be calculated for the following periods:
7 consecutive days;
14 consecutive days;
28 consecutive days;
one calendar year.
The maximum flight time of the crew will be determined for 28 consecutive days, one calendar year, and 12 consecutive calendar months.
Currently, according to the Labor Code, the normal daily working time cannot exceed 8 hours, and the normal weekly working time cannot exceed 40 hours. For flight and flight instructor personnel, the weekly working time is set at 36 hours.
When cumulative accounting of working time is applied, the daily working period cannot exceed 12 hours, and work falling during nighttime cannot exceed 11 hours.
It was noted that these restrictions make it difficult to organize flights to New York, Seoul, and other distant destinations that last 13-14 hours, or make them economically inefficient. It is stated that the existing rules weaken the competitive capabilities of local airlines in the international market.
The new project envisages the regulation of the working and rest regime of aviation personnel separately from the general norms in the Labor Code. The rules will be developed based on the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization and the principles of crew fatigue management.
It was stated that in the USA and the European Union, the working and rest periods of flight crews are regulated by flexible limits for 7, 14, and 28-day, as well as annual periods.
If the changes are adopted, the Cabinet of Ministers will determine the specific limits for the maximum working, flying, and rest times of crews working on commercial flights.
The new rules are expected to increase the economic efficiency and international competitiveness of local airlines, while also creating conditions for opening new long-haul routes.
