14 CFR 135.267 — Flight Time Limitations and Rest Requirements

§135.267(a) — Cumulative flight time limits

Subsection (a) sets the long-horizon caps that accumulate regardless of duty period structure. A pilot may not fly more than 500 hours in any calendar quarter, 800 hours in any two consecutive calendar quarters, or 1,400 hours in any calendar year. These limits apply to total flight time across all Part 135 operations, not just flights for your certificate.

"No certificate holder may schedule a pilot to fly, in any 24 consecutive hours, any flight time in excess of 8 hours for a flight crew consisting of one pilot, or 10 hours for a flight crew consisting of two pilots. In any calendar quarter, no more than 500 hours of flight time; in any two consecutive calendar quarters, no more than 800 hours; in any calendar year, no more than 1,400 hours."

§135.267(b) — 24-hour flight time limits

Within any 24 consecutive hours, a single-pilot crew may not exceed 8 hours of flight time; a two-pilot crew may not exceed 10 hours. The 24-hour window is rolling — it does not reset at midnight. Operators must track from the first flight time logged in the lookback period, not from the start of the duty day.

"No certificate holder may schedule a pilot to fly in any 24 consecutive hours in excess of 8 hours flight time for a 1 pilot crew or 10 hours flight time for a 2 pilot crew."

§135.267(c) — Augmented crew exceptions

When a certificate holder provides a second in command who is qualified in the aircraft type, the flight time limits under (b) may be extended — but only if an FAA-approved rest facility is available in flight and each pilot receives a rest period of at least 8 hours during the flight. This provision is narrow and rarely applies to typical single- leg Part 135 operations.

"Notwithstanding paragraph (b) of this section, a certificate holder may schedule a pilot to fly up to 12 hours in any 24 consecutive hours if the certificate holder provides an approved rest facility on the aircraft and each pilot receives at least 8 hours of continuous rest during the flight."

§135.267(d) — Rest requirements

Before any assignment, each crew member must have received at least 10 consecutive hours of rest during the 24-hour period preceding the planned completion of the flight assignment. If reduced rest is taken under subsection (e), the floor is 8 hours — and compensatory rest of at least 10 hours must be scheduled before the next duty period. The rest period is measured from when the crew member is released from duty, not from when the aircraft lands.

"A certificate holder may schedule a pilot for flight duty only when the pilot has had at least 10 consecutive hours of rest during the 24-hour period preceding the planned completion of the flight assignment."

Common gotchas

• Rest starts at release, not at landing

  The 10-hour rest clock begins when the crew member is formally released from all duty — including post-flight paperwork, fueling supervision, and passenger handling. An on-wheels time of 21:00 does not mean rest starts at 21:00.

• A "10-hour rest window" is not 10 hours in the bunk

  The 10 hours is the required rest opportunity. If the hotel is 45 minutes from the airport, the crew member has 10 hours to get there, sleep, wake up, shower, eat, and get back. Effective sleep time is considerably less — which is why many GOM policies impose a higher floor.

• Augmented crew rules require both qualification and an on-board rest facility

  Having a second PIC aboard is not enough to invoke the augmented-crew exception. That pilot must hold an aircraft type rating for the operation, and an FAA-approved rest facility must be present and usable in-flight. Most Part 135 interiors do not qualify.

Worked example