AC 121-31 - crew rests.pdf

7/27/2019 AC 121-31 - crew rests.pdf

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. U.S.Departmentof Transportation

Federal AviationAdministration

Subject:

Flightcrew Sleep ing Quartersand Rest Facilities

Date: g/30/94 ACNo:12~m 31

Initiated by: AFS _ 2 2 () Change:

1 . PURPO SE. This advisory circular (AC) provides methodsacceptable to the Administrator for Federal AviationRegulations (FAR) Part 121 certificate holders who conduct flagand supplemental operations to obtain a Federal AviationAdministration (FAA) finding regarding the adequacy of onboard

sleeping quarters for comp liance with FAR Sections 121.485(a)and 121.523(b). If, in addition to providing sleepingquarters, an operator voluntarily provides an area for storingpersonal articles and for changing clothing, then this ACprovides useful information and advice for their design andinstallation. These sleeping quarters and rest facilitieswould be used-by flight crewmembers to obtain sleep of adequatequality during flights scheduled for more than 12 hours duringany 240consecutive hours. Sleep of adequate quality andduration is needed during long-range flights to reducesleepiness and improve flight crewmember performance duringcritical phases of flight. Additionally, this AC references

FAA acceptable criteria which may be used for the design andinstallation of flightcrew sleeping quarters and restfacilities on commerc ial transport aircraft capable oflong-range operations with augmented or enlarged flightcrewcomplements.

2 * RELATED FAR SECTIONS.

a. Part 25, Subpart D - Design and Construction,Sections 25.791 and 251853.

-I

b Part 121, Subpart J -

Requirements.

Special Airworthiness

Section 121.285.

C Part 121, Subpart K - Instrument and Equipmen tRequirements. Sections 121.311(b), 121,317, and 121,327-329.

d . Part 121, Subpart R - Flight Time Limitations: FlagAir Carriers. Sec tion 121.485(a).

7/27/2019 AC 121-31 - crew rests.pdf


AC 121- 31 9[30/94

.- e. Part 121, Subpart S - Flight Time Limitations:Supplem ental Air Carriers and Comm ercial Operators.Section 121.523(b).

3 RELATED READING MATERIAL. This AC and Society ofAutomotive Engineers (SAE) Aerospace R ecommended Practice(ARP) 4101/3, Crew Rest Facilities, should be used in

conjunction with ARP4101, Flight Deck Layout and Facilities,for the design and installation of flightcrew sleeping quartersand rest facilities. The following SAE documents may also beapplicable and may be obtained for a fee from:

The Engineering Society for AdvancingMobility Land, Sea, Air, and Space International400 Commonwealth DriveWarrendale, PA 15096-0001

a. SAE ARP1323, Type Measurements of Aircraft InteriorSound Pressure Levels During Cruise.

bAcoustical

SA E ARP4245, Quantities for Description of theEnvironment in the Interior of the Aircraft.

4 DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this document, these termsare defined as follows:

a. Flightcrew Rest Facilities. An area designed for thepurpose of obtaining sleep, stowing personal articles, andchanging clothes in privacy for off-duty flightcrew.Flightcrew sleeping quarters may be an integral part of aflightcrew rest facility.

b Flightcrew Sleep ing Quarters. Any area designatedfor the purpose of obtaining sleep in an isolated space with ahorizon tal sleeping surface for off-duty flightcrew.

c. Sleeping Surface. Any horizontal surface such as abed or bunk the meets the guidelines referenced in this AC.

d Free Space. An area designated for the use of thecrew to change and stow clothing.

5 . OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS.

a. Flightcrew Sleep ing Quarters and Rest Facilities.The locati on of flightcrew sleeping quarters or rest facilitiesin an aircraft is an important decision that should be based on

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g/30/94 AC 121-31

' an analysis of the following factors to ensure that adequateenvironment is provided to enable flight crewmembers to obtainsleep of adequate quality.

(1) There should be a sufficient number of sleepingsurfaces provided to accommodate the maximum number of flight

crewmembers that would be expected to use these surfaces duringthe sam e period of time.

(2) For flightcrew sleeping quarters, adequatevolume should be provided for sleeping. The recommendedsleeping space volume per individua l is l.0m3 (35 feet3).

(3) For flightcrew rest facilities, adequate volumeshould be provided for sleeping, personal articles storage, andchanging of clothes. The following volumes are recommended:

(i) Individual sleeping space volume: l.0m3

(35 feet3).

(ii) Free space adjacent to the sleepingsurfaces for in ress

sand egress and changing of clothes:

1 85m3 (65 feet ).

b . Sleep ing Surfaces. The following are acceptablecriteria for sleeping surfaces:

(1) Dimensions for each sleeping surface of1.98 x 0.76m (78 x 30 inches).

(2) The sleeping surfaces should be designed so thatthey are as level as practicable during cruise flight.

(3) Suitable means should be provided to ensureoccupant privacy for each sleeping surface area, e,g., curtainsin an over-and-under arrangement or a divider curtain in aside-by-side arrangement.

c. Isolation. The flightcrew rest facility orflightcrew sleeping quarters should be in a location whereintrusive noise, odors, and vibration have minimum affect onsleep. The spectrum of the sound within these areas should be

limited to broadband without annoying tones. Special attentionshould be given to the existence of doors, passengerconvenience systems, public address systems, etc., in theimmediate area to minimize intrusive noise, A noise levelduring cruise flight in the range of 70 to 75 dB(A) isconsidered a reasonable design objective.

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AC 121-31 g/30/94

. d . Environmental. Airflow and temperature controlshould provide a uniformly well-ventilated atmosphere free fromdrafts, cold spots, and temperature gradient. The FAArecommends that the sleeping surface area be designated anonsmoking area.

e. Pub lic Address System. The FAA recommends that the

public address system or an alternative means should includeprovisions to provide only relevant information to flightcrewmem bers in the flightcrew rest facility (e.g., fire inflight, aircraft depressurization, prepara tion of compartmentoccupants for landing, etc,).

f Emergency Lighting. Emergency lighting should beprovided in flightcrew rest facilities.

g Stowage and Restraints.applicable FAR,

In accordance with thesuitable personal articles stowage and occupant

restraint systems must be provided to each occupant of sleeping

surfaces as well as each occupant of any seats located inflightcrew rest facilities.

h . Emerqencv and Other Equipment.

(1) Approved oxygen equipment must be provided forI each, crewmember who uses a sleeping surface and flightcrew rest

facility seat.

(2) There should be one or more lighted "'FASTEN SEATBELTS " signs within the view of the occupants of each sleepingsurface and seat located within a flightcrew rest facility.

(3) If the opera ting rules and the operator permitsmoking in a flightcrew rest facility, the following apply:

(i) One or more lighted "NO SMOKING" signswithin the view of the occupants of each sleeping surface andseat located in the facility should be provided; and

(ii) An adequate number of self-contained,removable ashtrays for each seat in the facility must beprovided.

(4) If the opera ting rules and the operator do notpermit smoking in a flightcrew rest facility, then one or more"NO SMOKING" placards legible to the occupants of each sleepingsurface and seat located in the facility should be provided.

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g/30/94 AC 121-31

6 . REQUEST FOR ADEQUACY DETERMINATION FINDING. If theoperator wants a formal FAA determination on the adequacy offlightcrew sleeping quarters and flightcrew rest facilityinstallations, such requests should be forwarded to thefollowing address:

Federal Aviation AdministrationATTN: Aircraft Evaluation Program Staff, AFS-60800 Independence Avenue, SW ,Washington, DC 20591

a, These requests will then be forwarded to theappropriate aircraft evaluation group by AFS-60 for evaluationand decision regarding whether or not to issue a finding thatproposed installations are adequate for their intended functionunder FAR Sections 121.485(a) and 121.523(b).

b Operators can have their crewmembers use sleepingquarters without a formal FAA adequacy determination. However,enforcement action may be taken if the FAA later determines

arters were inadequate.

William J. wh keDeputy Director

Flight Standards Service

Par 6 U.S. G.P.0.:1994-387-549:71

7/27/2019 AC 121-31 - crew rests.pdf


AC 121-31 - crew rests.pdf

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