RPTR CAPT WITH A CARGO CARRIER FAULTS HIS COMPANY AND THE UNITED STATES GOV FOR ALLOWING POLICIES THAT KEEP THE CREW WORKING FROM XA00-XQ00 NEXT DAY. RPTR HAS BEEN FATIGUED 12-15 TIMES IN THE PAST YR.

Date: 1998-03 · Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing · Phase: ground

Anomalies: other-unspecified

Synopsis

RPTR CAPT WITH A CARGO CARRIER FAULTS HIS COMPANY AND THE UNITED STATES GOV FOR ALLOWING POLICIES THAT KEEP THE CREW WORKING FROM XA00-XQ00 NEXT DAY. RPTR HAS BEEN FATIGUED 12-15 TIMES IN THE PAST YR.

Narrative

IN THE PAST 2 YRS; I'VE BEEN A JR CAPT FOR ACR X. WE OPERATE UNDER DOMESTIC; 121.471. OUR OVERNIGHT EXPRESS BUSINESS MAKES US FLY FROM XA00 TILL XQ00 THE NEXT DAY (16 HRS). MOST OF OUR TRIP PAIRING IS FROM THE EAST COAST; WEST COAST; BACK TO THE EAST COAST; WITH UP TO 4 OR 5 LEGS EACH NIGHT. WITH OUR RESERVE POLICIES; A LOT OF OUR JR PLTS ARE FACED WITH THESE TRIPS; UP TO 6 WKS; WITHOUT A BREAK OF MORE THAN 3 DAYS (SAT; SUN; MON). ALL THIS COMBINED; LONG NIGHT DUTY; POOR REST AT MY REST LAYOVERS; AND CONTINUOUS DUTY; HAS LED ME TO THE POINT; WHERE I AM FATIGUED ON A REGULAR BASIS. SOMETIMES; I JUST BREAK DOWN ILL. OTHER TIMES; I TRY TO EASE MY WORK SCHEDULE; SO I DON'T BREAK DOWN ILL. IN THE PAST 2 YRS; I'VE BEEN FATIGUED ABOUT 12-15 TIMES. FOR WRITTEN RPTS OF THESE; WE KEEP RECORDS AT OUR PHL PLT GROUP CHARTER OFFICE. CURRENTLY; WE ARE IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS; IN HOPES TO CHANGE OUR POLICY. HOWEVER; THIS WHOLE PRACTICE IS ONLY BECAUSE OF OUR GOV'S LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY TO AVIATION SAFETY; BY ALLOWING SUCH ABUSIVE SCHEDULING PRACTICES. NO OTHER COUNTRY ALLOWS NIGHT OPS TO SCHEDULE UP TO 14 HRS AND CONTINUE UP TO 16 OR MORE HRS DUE TO WX OR MAINT. I HOPE NASA RPTS LIKE THIS WILL FUEL AN EFFORT TO MAKE THE CHANGES.

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