FAR 117 Compliance Tool

FAR 117 30 in 168 Calculator

Check whether a schedule contains at least 30 consecutive hours free from all duty within the last 168 consecutive hours (7 days), as commonly tracked for Part 117 fatigue-risk compliance workflows.

Calculator

Enter a period end time and duty blocks. The calculator reviews the prior 168 hours and finds the longest continuous off-duty interval.

Duty Periods

Add each duty period with start and end times. Overlaps are automatically merged.

# Start End Duration Action

Complete Guide: FAR 117 30 in 168 Calculator, Rule Meaning, and Scheduling Best Practices

If you are searching for a reliable FAR 117 30 in 168 calculator, you are usually trying to answer one practical question: does a pilot schedule provide the required uninterrupted recovery period inside a rolling 7-day window? For flight departments, dispatch teams, and compliance specialists, this single rule can be the difference between legal assignment and non-compliant duty planning.

The phrase “30 in 168” refers to at least 30 consecutive hours free from all duty in any 168 consecutive hours. In operational life, this is not always easy to verify manually because schedules evolve, pairings shift, reserve coverage changes, and irregular operations can alter rest opportunities quickly. A proper calculator makes that analysis fast, repeatable, and auditable.

What the FAR 117 30 in 168 rule means in practical terms

In practical scheduling language, this requirement asks whether a crewmember has received one uninterrupted block of at least 30 hours off-duty during the applicable 7-day period. It is not enough to collect multiple shorter breaks that add up to 30 hours. The key word is consecutive. If your schedule only contains 10-hour, 8-hour, and 12-hour off-duty periods, that is still not the same as one 30-hour continuous break.

That distinction is where most manual checks fail. People may total all “time off” and assume compliance, but compliance depends on the longest continuous off-duty interval, not the sum of several smaller intervals.

Why a dedicated FAR 117 30 in 168 calculator matters

How this calculator works

  1. You choose the end of the 168-hour review period.
  2. You enter duty blocks (start and end).
  3. The tool clips duties to the selected 168-hour window and merges overlapping records.
  4. It calculates all off-duty gaps between duty blocks.
  5. It identifies the longest uninterrupted off-duty period and checks against the 30-hour threshold.

The result provides a direct yes/no compliance determination for the selected window and highlights the exact maximum off-duty interval used to make that determination.

Common scheduling mistakes that cause “30 in 168” failures

Operational best practices for FAR 117 30 in 168 tracking

Strong compliance programs avoid last-minute surprises by building 30 in 168 checks into both planning and day-of-operations workflows. A common approach is to run the check at three points: initial roster build, post-bid optimization, and every major disruption event (weather, maintenance, crew swaps, or delays that trigger re-coverage).

It is also useful to apply a planning buffer. For example, teams may target 31–34 hours free from duty instead of exactly 30, reducing risk from small schedule shifts. That margin can be especially valuable in high-variability environments with frequent reassignment.

Example scenario

Suppose the 168-hour review ends at Sunday 18:00. A crewmember has multiple duty blocks throughout the week. After merging overlaps and checking all gaps, the largest uninterrupted break is Friday 08:00 to Saturday 11:30, or 27.5 hours. Even if the week includes many smaller breaks, the requirement is not met because no single off-duty period reaches 30 consecutive hours.

If schedule changes move a duty start to Saturday 15:00, that same break becomes 31 hours and now satisfies the threshold. This is why recalculation after adjustments is essential.

FAQ: FAR 117 30 in 168 calculator

Does this tool replace company policy or legal interpretation?
No. It is a calculation aid. Operators should always follow official regulations, approved manuals, and internal compliance procedures.

Can I enter overlapping duty periods?
Yes. Overlapping or touching periods are merged before computing off-duty gaps.

Do I need to enter duties outside the 168-hour window?
No. The tool clips data to the selected 7-day window, but complete and accurate records within that period are critical.

What if there are no duties in the period?
Then the entire 168 hours are off-duty, which exceeds the 30-hour requirement.

How to use this page for better roster planning

Start by setting the 168-hour end point to the time you want to evaluate, often “now” for operational checks or a forecast date for planning checks. Enter duty periods exactly as assigned. Run calculation and review the largest off-duty block. If non-compliant, identify whether moving a duty boundary, swapping a segment, or reassigning reserve can create a 30-hour uninterrupted recovery period.

When used consistently, this process improves schedule resilience, reduces reactive rework, and supports safer fatigue-risk outcomes.

Final note

This FAR 117 30 in 168 calculator is designed to make a complex rolling-window check simple and transparent. Use it as part of a broader compliance framework that includes accurate data capture, standardized review steps, and clear decision ownership.

Important: This page provides a planning and calculation utility only and is not legal advice. Always verify compliance using official regulatory text, company manuals, and approved operational control processes.