FLC IS UNCERTAIN ABOUT OXYGEN REQUIREMENTS FOR A FLT AT CRUISE ALT.

Narrative

THIS WAS A SCHEDULED CARGO FLT FROM PARIS; FRANCE; TO MEMPHIS; TN. THE TRIP STARTED OUT BADLY WHEN THE SCHEDULED GND XPORTATION ENDED UP BEING 40 MINS LATE. THIS RESULTED IN THE CREW RUSHING ITS PREFLT DUTIES TO MOVE THE ACFT OUT ON TIME. THE FLT IS A VERY HIGH YIELD ONE (IE; MONEY); THUS THE 'CORP CULTURE' TENDS TO PUSH AIR CREWS TO BE ON TIME WHEN OPERATING THIS FLT. WHEN THE CREW ARRIVED THERE WERE SEVERAL MEL'S ON THE ACFT. SOME OF THESE THE CAPT AND I WERE AWARE OF SINCE WE HAD FLOWN THE SAME ACFT ON JUL/XX/96. HOWEVER; A NEW ONE HAD BEEN ADDED SINCE OUR PREVIOUS FLT. THIS MEL CONCERNED THE AFT 2 JUMPSEATS BEING BLOCKED OFF DUE TO THE OXYGEN SYS BEING DEACTIVATED. UPON CHKING THE MEL IT ONLY STATED THAT 'THESE SEATS WERE NOT TO BE USED DURING FLT.' HOWEVER; IT DID NOT ADDRESS USING THE SAME AREA FOR CREW REST ON AN 8+ HR FLT. THE CAPT; FO; AND MYSELF DISCUSSED THIS SIT; BUT DID NOT HAVE THE TIME TO CALL OUR OPS; AND DECIDED THAT WHEN ONE OF US USED THE REST FACILITY A PORTABLE OXYGEN WALKAROUND BOTTLE WOULD BE CARRIED. AFTER THE FLT I LEARNED THAT THIS MAY NOT BE A PROPER FIX FOR THIS MEL AND THE FLT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN OPERATED OVER 8 HRS. I FEEL THE MEL SHOULD BE CHANGED TO REFLECT THIS SIT SINCE IT LEAVES TOO MUCH TO INTERP BY THE CREW.