Commercial pilots and ATPLs will no longer have to include recreational flying in their duty hours for the purposes of managing fatigue.
Under the newly-released CAAP 48-1, CASA has stated that recreational flying may not need to be counted if the company's policy allows it.
"A recreational private operation can be conducted by an individual and there are no current limits, beyond personal limits that may apply," is the advice given in the CAAP.
"In the normal course of events where an individual does some recreational private flying on a day off, there may be no need for the FCM [Flight Crew Member] to disclose this. However, the individual must be mindful of operators’ policies to fatigue and recreational flying."
The same rules will not apply to private operations that are not recreational, because the stress levels encounter will contribute to fatigue.
"There are individuals who undertake private flying that is not considered recreational —operations such as paid work, ferry flights, flight testing and conversion training," the CAAP continues.
"These operations are seen as more difficult to cancel or reschedule and thus may have an effect on a subsequent FDP [Flight Duty Period] for the pilot who is also employed by an operator. Again, there are no limits, except personal ones that apply, however, once the FCM is rostered by an operator, these activities should be declared as they will form part of cumulative flight time limits."
The move will enable CPLs and ATPLs to do such things as compete in aerobatic competitions or fly themselves to and from home base on weekends or rest days without affecting their duty times.