PIC FOR A COMMUTER ACR COMPLAINS OF HIS AIRLINE MGMNT POLICY ON FLC WORK SCHEDULING.

Date: 1995-06

Anomalies: other-unspecified

Synopsis

PIC FOR A COMMUTER ACR COMPLAINS OF HIS AIRLINE MGMNT POLICY ON FLC WORK SCHEDULING.

Narrative

I AM A PLT FOR ACR 'X;' AIRLINES. WE ARE ON RESERVE 24 HRS A DAY FOR 4-6 DAYS AT A TIME. WE ONLY HAVE 1 1/2 - 2 HRS TO GET TO THE ARPT AFTER THEY CALL. I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL FAA INSPECTORS FROM REGIONAL FSDO'S; AS WELL AS THE CHIEF COUNSELS OFFICE IN WASHINGTON DC. EVERY ONE OF THEM AGREES THAT THIS SCHEDULING PRACTICE IS IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF FAR 121.471. THE FAA HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS FAR VIOLATION FOR SEVERAL YRS; AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. ONE OF THE INSPECTORS I SPOKE WITH SAID THAT OUR PLT'S UNION SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS PROB. I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS THE FAA'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENFORCE THE REGS. SEVERAL WKS AGO I RECEIVED A CALL FROM CREW SCHEDULING; ASKING ME TO FLY A TRIP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT; AND THEY NEEDED ME THERE IN 2 HRS. I HADN'T EVEN GONE TO BED YET; SO I WOULD HAVE HAD TO FLY WITH NO SLEEP SINCE THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. I CHOSE TO NOT ACCEPT THE TRIP. THE COMPANY'S RESPONSE WAS TO REMOVE ME FROM DUTY FOR 24 HRS; DOCK MY PAY FOR MORE THAN $100; AND PLACE A WRITTEN WARNING IN MY PERSONNEL FILE (STRIKE 1; LEAVING 2 MORE; AND THEN I'M FIRED). THIS IS EXTREME PRESSURE FROM MGMNT; FOR US TO FLY WITHOUT REST. PRACTICALLY EVERY TIME I FLY; I AM BREAKING REGS; SINCE I HAVEN'T HAD THE REQUIRED REST PERIOD; IN THE PREVIOUS 24 HRS. TIME SPENT ON RESERVE CANNOT BE CONSIDERED REST ALSO. IT'S ONE OR THE OTHER. ACR 'Y' HAS AN EXCELLENT; LEGAL RESERVE SYS; THAT SHOULD BE USED AS A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE INDUSTRY.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.