Under FAA Part 121 regulations, which govern major commercial airlines, a pilot is limited to flying a maximum of 1,000 hours in any 12-month period. This is a hard "flight time" limit designed to prevent pilot fatigue and ensure the safety of the flying public. Beyond the annual limit, there are several other critical restrictions: a pilot cannot fly more than 100 hours in any 28-day period. There are also "Duty Time" limits, which include the time a pilot spends at the airport, in briefings, and during delays, even if they aren't actually in the air. For a typical airline pilot in 2026, this usually translates to about 75 to 85 flying hours per month. It is important to note that "flight time" only counts from the moment the aircraft moves under its own power for the purpose of flight until it comes to a rest at the destination. While a pilot might "work" 160 hours a month, only the time spent with the "wheels up" or taxiing counts toward that 1,000-hour annual cap. This strict record-keeping is a fundamental pillar of modern aviation safety standards.