What does FTL stand for?

FTL stands for flight-time limitations — the regulatory limits on crew flight time, duty period and rest that manage fatigue.

How is FDP different from flight time?

Flight time is time in the air; the flight duty period (FDP) is the whole duty window that includes the flying plus pre- and post-flight duty. FTL limits both.

Flight-time limitations (FTL) explained

Flight-time limitations (FTL) are the rules that cap how long crew may be on duty and flying within given windows, to manage fatigue. They limit flight duty period (FDP), total flight time and duty, and require minimum rest.

Why FTL matters

Fatigue is a flight-safety risk, so regulators limit duty and flight time and mandate rest. Operators must not roster or dispatch a crew member beyond their limits — doing so is both a safety and a compliance failure.

The core limits

Flight duty period (FDP) — the maximum duty window that includes flying, varying with report time and number of sectors.
Cumulative flight time and duty — rolling limits over 7 days, 28 days and 12 months.
Minimum rest — the rest required before the next duty, extended after long or disruptive duties.

How software helps

Tracking FTL by hand is error-prone. Software records each duty period and flight, computes the rolling windows, and — crucially — checks limits at the moment of assignment, so a dispatcher sees before they commit whether a crew member would breach FDP, cumulative limits or rest.

Airlogical evaluates FTL across the fleet schedule and flags crew approaching or exceeding their limits, alongside licence, medical and recency checks. See the Crew module.