RPTR COMPLAINT OF EXCEEDING SCHEDULED ON DUTY TIME DUE TO ARPT PROB STANDARDS.
Synopsis
RPTR COMPLAINT OF EXCEEDING SCHEDULED ON DUTY TIME DUE TO ARPT PROB STANDARDS.
Narrative
DEPARTING SJU ENCOUNTERED CEILINGS OF 1500 FT/2000 FT; DIVERTING FROM A DIRECT COURSE TO AVOID RAIN SHOWERS ENRTE TO FAJ; WHERE IT LANDED TO PICK UP PAX; PLANNING TO CONTINUE ON TO VQS AND THEN ON TO STX. AFTER LNDG AT FAJ IT WAS UNABLE TO CONTINUE AS SCHEDULED DUE TO WX AND DARKNESS COMBINING TO PROVIDE INSUFFICIENT VISIBILITY TO CONTINUE. NEIGHBORING HILLS LACK OBSTRUCTION CLRNC LIGHTS AND ARPT LACKS ANY INST APCH/DEP PROC OR FACILITY. CREW HAD GONE ON DUTY AT AM45 MAY/AB/93 AND FINALLY GOT OFF DUTY AT STX AT AM20 MAY/AC/93 AFTER WAITING OUT THE STORM AT FAJ FOR 5 HRS; DUE TO THE WX DELAY; LACK OF FACILITIES AND LOCALIZED FLOODING. DUTY TIME WAS 17 HRS 35 MINS; NOT MEETING THE 8 HRS REST IN 24 HRS AS DESCRIBED IN FAR 135.265; BUT CAUSED BY WX CONDITIONS. THE HILL TOPS OFF THE ENDS OF BOTH RWY 7 AND RWY 25 ARE UNMARKED AND IN LOW VISIBILITY A HAZARD TO FLT; NOT TO MENTION THE HAZARD POSED TO NAY NIGHT FLT INTO OR OUT OF FAJ. (VASI LIGHTS AT FAJ AND VQS ARE ALSO NEEDED.) OBSTRUCTION CLRNC LIGHTS ARE NEEDED ON THE HILLS. AN INST FACILITY LIKE AN NDB AND ACCOMPANYING APCH AND DEP PROC WOULD ALSO HELP.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.