The following is Doc's response to the same question.
I would like to make sure I understand the "legal to start, legal to finish" rule.
I have a 10 leg day which is blocked for 6hrs 55min. If I have a daily total of over 8hrs before starting leg 10, can I complete that leg legally? No changes have been made to my schedule during the day.
Again, just want to make sure I don't get myself in trouble.
Thanks
Randy
Randy,
FAR 121.471(g) allows you to complete the scheduled day's flying, but there are some conditions....
1. The flights must "normally" terminate within the limits (e.g. 8 hours of flight time between rest periods). This is an issue of "realistic scheduling".
2. The reason for exceeding the limit(s) (any of them -- daily, 7-day, monthly, yearly) must be beyond the control of the certificate holder. Most operational delays are "beyond the control", and the FAA has interpreted this to include adverse weather, adverse winds, passenger problems (e.g. late connections), and maintenance delays.
3. The pilot must not violate any of the REST requirements of FAR 121.471, as there is no relief granted to these rules, assuming that you have already used the maximum allowable reduced rest provisions. The relief granted in FAR 121.471(g) applies only to the FLIGHT TIME limitations. So you must look at how long you have been on duty with respect to your last rest period, the number of hours flown, and whether you are eligible for reduced rest. If you will violate these requirements by flying the last leg of the day, you cannot depart.
As you can see, "legal to start, legal to finish" is usually valid, if the day's flight schedule was realistically scheduled, and delays occurred that were beyond the control of the certificate holder. However, even though you may be legal to exceed the flight time limitations, the rest requirements may be the show-stopper.
I hope this helps!
Regards,
Doc
FAR 121.471(g):
(g) A flight crewmember is not considered to be scheduled for flight time in excess of flight time limitations if the flights to which he is assigned are scheduled and normally terminate within the limitations, but due to circumstances beyond the control of the certificate holder (such as adverse weather conditions), are not at the time of departure expected to reach their destination within the scheduled time.