If you have 3+ FDPs of 12 hrs, can you decrease crew rest to 10 hrs?

The correct response is that it is permissible to decrease crew rest to 10 hours, but only for a 24-hour clock cycle. This is rooted in regulations that address crew rest requirements for flight operations, particularly in the context of fatigue management and operational readiness.

When a crew has completed more than three flight duty periods (FDPs) within a 12-hour timeframe, operational considerations may necessitate flexibility in crew rest duration. However, this flexibility is strictly limited to a single 24-hour period to ensure that the crew is not consistently deprived of adequate rest, which could lead to fatigue and negatively impact safety.

This regulation is designed to safeguard both the crew's well-being and the overall safety of the operation by allowing a slight reduction in rest time only as a temporary measure rather than a permanent adjustment. Extended reductions or changes in crew rest requirements could lead to adverse effects on performance and safety, which is why the regulation emphasizes the limitation to one day. It ensures that while operational demands can vary, the overarching concern for safety and crew performance remains prioritized.