The FDP is the time from when reporting for duty until the engines are turned off on the last sector. Which term is this?

• A. Flight Duty Period
• B. Duty Period
• C. Standby
• D. Flight Time

Answer: (A)

The key idea is the window of a flight crew’s duties from the moment they report for duty until the engines are shut down after the final sector. This full span is called the Flight Duty Period. It includes everything the crew does from starting pre-flight checks on the ground, through taxi and takeoff, all in-flight legs, and any post-flight duties until the last engine is off. It’s broader than just air time because it accounts for all necessary ground work and responsibilities tied to that flight sequence.

Flight Time, by contrast, records only the actual time spent airborne. Standby refers to waiting with potential call-out and isn’t the active duty window for a specific set of flights. Duty Period is a more general term for the time someone is on duty, but Flight Duty Period specifically defines the period tied to a series of flight sectors ending with the final engine shutdown.