Definitions marked [§700.01] are defined verbatim (or substantially verbatim) under CARs §700.01. Terms marked [CARs-specific] are concepts unique to the CARs framework with no direct Part 117 equivalent. Terms marked [App-specific] are ALPA FTDT application conventions not defined in CARs §700.01.
§700.01 Defined Terms
[§700.01] Acclimatized
A flight crew member whose biorhythm is aligned with local time.
CARs uses "acclimatized" (biorhythm alignment) rather than the Part 117 concept of "acclimated" (time-in-theater). Under CARs, specific acclimatization thresholds for FDP table lookup are defined in §700.28(5). Under Part 117, acclimation occurs after 72 hours in theater or 36 consecutive hours free from duty.
Acclimatization thresholds under §700.28(5):
Time Zone Difference
Acclimatization Condition
Less than 4 hours
Required rest provided AND 72 hours spent in the same time zone
4 hours or more
Required rest provided AND 96 hours spent in the same time zone
Any difference
24 hours in same time zone for each hour of difference from last acclimatized location
Reference for time-of-day calculations (§700.19(2)):
If acclimatized → use local time at current location
If not acclimatized → use local time at last acclimatized location
[§700.01] Rest Facility Classes
Rest facility class determines the maximum augmented FDP under §700.60:
Class 1 — A bunk or other horizontal surface located in an area that is separated from the flight deck and passenger cabin; has devices to control the temperature and light; and is subject to a minimal level of noise and other disturbances.
Class 2 — A seat that allows for a horizontal sleeping position in an area that is separated from passengers by a curtain or other means of separation; is equipped with portable oxygen equipment; and minimizes disturbances by passengers and crew members.
Class 3 — A seat that reclines at least 40° from vertical and that has leg and foot support.
CARs Class 2 explicitly requires portable oxygen equipment; Part 117 does not specify this. CARs Class 2 requires a "horizontal sleeping position" while Part 117 Class 2 requires "flat or near-flat sleeping position." Class 3 definitions are essentially identical.
Duty Type Definitions
[§700.01] Early Duty
Hours of work that begin between 02:00 and 06:59 at the location where the flight crew member is acclimatized.
CARs-specific: "Early duty" is a defined term used to trigger disruptive schedule rest requirements (§700.41). There is no equivalent defined term in Part 117; the WOCL (02:00–05:59) serves a similar purpose.
[§700.01] Late Duty
Hours of work that end between midnight and 01:59 at the location where the flight crew member is acclimatized.
CARs-specific: "Late duty" triggers disruptive schedule rest requirements (§700.41). No direct Part 117 equivalent.
[§700.01] Night Duty
Hours of work that begin between 13:00 and 01:59 and that end after 01:59 at a location where the flight crew member is acclimatized.
CARs-specific: "Night duty" is a defined term used to limit consecutive split flight duty periods (§700.50(3)). No direct Part 117 equivalent.
[§700.01] Window of Circadian Low (WOCL)
The period that begins at 02:00 and ends at 05:59 at the location where the flight crew member is acclimatized.
Identical to Part 117 §117.3 WOCL: 0200–0559. Both regulations anchor this period to acclimatized time.
[§700.01][CARs-specific] Local Night's Rest
A rest period of at least nine hours that takes place between 22:30 and 09:30 at the location where the flight crew member is acclimatized.
CARs-unique concept with no direct Part 117 equivalent. Defines both a minimum duration (9 hours) and a specific time window (22:30–09:30). Used in disruptive schedule rules (§700.41), time zone rest requirements (§700.42), consecutive FDP limits (§700.51), and reserve operations (§700.70).
Term
Duration
Time Window
CARs: local night's rest
≥9 hours
22:30–09:30 (acclimatized)
Part 117: physiological night's rest
10 hours
Must encompass 0100–0700 (home base or acclimated)
[§700.01][CARs-specific] Single Day Free from Duty
Time free from duty from the beginning of the first local night's rest until the end of the following local night's rest.
Used in §700.29 hours of work limits. No direct Part 117 equivalent; Part 117 uses 30 consecutive hours free from duty in 168 hours (§117.25(b)).
Reserve Duty Terms
[§700.01] Flight Crew Member on Reserve
A flight crew member who has been designated by an air operator to be available to report for flight duty on notice of more than one hour.
[§700.01] Reserve Availability Period
The period in any period of 24 consecutive hours during which a flight crew member on reserve is available to report for flight duty.
[§700.01] Reserve Duty Period
The period that begins at the time that a flight crew member on reserve is available to report for flight duty and ends at the time that the flight duty period ends.
CARs-specific: The "reserve duty period" is the combined reserve availability period plus the actual FDP once assigned. Maximum reserve duty period limits are set in §700.70(7)–(8).
Operational Terms
Flight Duty Period (FDP)
In CARs, the period during which a flight crew member is assigned flight duties, governed by the limits in §700.28 (unaugmented) and §700.60 (augmented). The FDP begins at the time the crew member reports for duty and ends when the aircraft is parked after the last flight with no intention of further movement.
CARs does not provide a standalone definition of "flight duty period" in §700.01 as Part 117 does. The concept is equivalent to Part 117 §117.3 "Flight Duty Period (FDP)."
Hours of Work
All duty performed by a flight crew member, subject to cumulative limits under §700.29. For reserve and standby operations:
Reserve availability period: 33% of reserve availability period time counts as hours of work (§700.29(3)(a))
Standby: 100% of standby time counts as hours of work (§700.29(3)(b))
Key difference from Part 117: Under Part 117, short-call reserve availability period (RAP) time counts as 100% duty for FDP purposes. Under CARs, reserve availability period counts as only 33% hours of work — a significantly more crew-favorable calculation.
Positioning
Travel required by the air operator that is not a flight segment for FDP limit calculation purposes. Under §700.28(6), positioning is not counted as a flight for purposes of determining the applicable FDP table column.
Similar to Part 117 "deadhead transportation." CARs uses "positioning" while Part 117 uses "deadhead." Both are duty but neither counts as a flight segment for FDP table purposes.
App-Specific Terms
[App-specific] FRMS Exemption
An air operator's active exemption from specific CARs Division III provisions under an approved Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS), as governed by §§700.200–700.234. When a crew member operates under an FRMS exemption, certain standard CARs limits may be modified per the approved FRMS plan.
[App-specific] Split Duty Break
A break of at least 60 consecutive minutes in suitable accommodation provided during an FDP under §700.50, which allows the FDP to exceed the §700.28 maximum. The effective extension is calculated as:
During 00:00–05:59: 100% of (break duration minus 45 minutes)
During 06:00–23:59: 50% of (break duration minus 45 minutes)
Similar to Part 117 §117.15 Rest Opportunity (RO). Key difference: Part 117 RO must occur between 22:00–05:00 and be ≥3 hours. CARs split duty break must be ≥60 consecutive minutes and can occur at any time, with the extension credit varying by time of day.
FDP Types (Canadian Operations)
Type
Description
Unaugmented
Two-person flight crew. Maximum FDP governed by §700.28 tables.
Unaugmented Reserve
Two-person flight crew; one or more crew members on reserve availability period.
Augmented
Three or four person flight crew. Maximum FDP governed by §700.60 table (additional crew × rest class).
Augmented Reserve
Augmented crew with one or more crew members coming from reserve availability period.
Split Duty
FDP extended beyond §700.28 maximum by provision of a qualifying break under §700.50.
Source: Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), SOR/96-433, §700.01 and related provisions. Consolidated to include amendments through SOR/2025-226. Always verify against the current version at Justice Laws website.