Commander’s Discretion: Use it right – or not at all

Updated in 2025, the Commander’s Discretion Guide by ECA clarifies this critical safety & flexibility provision.

Here’s what you need to know:

• It is a tool for unforeseen circumstances, an exceptional ‘fix’ for uncertainties in aviation, not a fix for airlines’ poor planning or systemic scheduling failures.


• It is at your Captain’s discretion – no one else’s.


• You must consult the crew, assess fitness levels, and determine whether it is safe to extend the maximum flight duty. If not, do not.


• If you feel pressured to use discretion or see it being used routinely, document and report it to your union.


• Commander’s Discretion is not only a one-way-street. It is also a tool to reduce the flight duty period or to increase the rest, in case you or your crew are facing unexpected fatigue during the rotation, making it unsafe to continue. If needed, use it that way too.


• We are aware that airlines exert pressure on pilots to use discretion. We have alerted authorities but if you have proof of systemic abuses, report it to your National Authority and via the EASA Confidential Safety Reporting (CSR).

Publicerad 2025-06-23 av Rebecca