A B747 FLC WAS ORDERED TO FLY IN VIOLATION OF FAR FLT DUTY HR LIMITATIONS.

Narrative

OPERATING A FLT FROM JFK-ORD-LAX. FLT CONTINUES TO AUSTRALIA AFTER LAX. PLANNED OP IS TO PICK UP CARGO IN JFK AND ORD; NO OFFLOAD. PRIOR TO DEP IN JFK; PLAN IS NOW TO OFFLOAD AND ONLOAD CARGO IN ORD. ENRTE TO ORD; FO REALIZES POSSIBLE 30 IN 7 PROB AND SELCALS COMPANY. COMPANY'S RESPONSE WAS TO CALL AFTER ARR IN ORD. AFTER ARR IN ORD; COMPANY PLANS REPLACEMENT OF FO WITH A CAPT; BUT CAPT REQUIRES MORE REST; SO COMPANY REASSIGNED FO TO TRIP. I HAVE A PHONE CONVERSATION WITH VICE PRESIDENT OF OPS CONCERNING LEGALITIES OF SUCH A FLT. HE TELLS ME HE HAS TALKED TO THE FAA AND THAT THE ORD-LAX TRIP IS UNDER INTL RULES. THEREFORE; FO WOULD NOT HAVE A 30 IN 7 PROB. HE SAID HE WOULD FAX A LETTER STATING FO BEING LEGAL TO FLY. I TELL FO THE ABOVE AND HE CALLS SCHEDULING AND VICE PRESIDENT OF OPS. HE ALSO CONTACTS PLT GROUP REPRESENTATIVE WHO ADVISES FO TO FLY THE TRIP AND HAVE ALL CREW MEMBERS FILL OUT NASA RPTS. WE RECEIVE THE FAX STATING THAT FO IS TO FLY THE TRIP. WE FLY ORD-LAX. CONCERNS: 1) STATES FLT WITHIN THE 48 CONTIGUOUS STATES DOMESTIC (GOM 2-18). 2) DOES NOT STATE WHEN YOU CAN CHANGE FROM DOMESTIC TO INTL RULES. 3) THE TRIP FROM JFK-ORD WAS DOMESTIC. WAS THE TRIP FROM ORD-LAX INTL? THESE CONCERNS WERE BROUGHT UP BY MYSELF AS WELL AS FO TO VICE PRESIDENT OF OPS (2 SEPARATE PHONE CONVERSATIONS). HE ASSURED ME THAT HE HAD TALKED TO THE FAA AND THAT FLT FROM ORD-LAX WAS UNDER INTL RULES. THESE CONCERNS WERE ALSO BROUGHT UP TO PLT GROUP REPRESENTATIVE.