FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATM)Regulations (14 CFR 117/121/61)Medium
A flightcrew member is required to deadhead to another airport before beginning a scheduled flight duty period, and the deadhead occurs immediately prior to the FDP. Under 14 CFR Part 117, how is this deadhead transportation time treated?
- AIt counts as part of the flight duty period but not as flight time
- BIt counts as both flight time and flight duty period time
- CIt is not counted at all since the crewmember is not performing flight duties
- DIt must be scheduled as a separate rest period before the FDP begins
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. It counts as part of the flight duty period but not as flight time
Under 14 CFR Part 117, deadhead transportation that occurs immediately before or during a flight duty period is included in the FDP for calculating maximum duty limits, but it is not counted as flight time since the crewmember is not operating the aircraft as a required crewmember on that leg.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Deadhead is never counted as flight time since the crewmember isn't performing flight crew duties.
- C. Deadhead time is not ignored; it counts toward the FDP.
- D. Deadhead is duty time, not rest, so it cannot be treated as a rest period.
Deadhead Time (Part 117)
Transportation of a crewmember as a passenger or non-operating crewmember, which counts toward the flight duty period but not as flight time.
- Defined in 117.3
- Counted in FDP when immediately before/during an FDP
- Never counted as flight time
Memory trick: 'Deadhead adds to the day, but never to the pay-hours of flight.'