A CHK CAPT'S RPT REGARDING SCHEDULED FLT TIMES AND THE EXTENSION OF DUTY HRS AT HIS DOMICILE.

Date: 2002-02 · Aircraft: B737-300

Anomalies: other-work-scheduling

Synopsis

A CHK CAPT'S RPT REGARDING SCHEDULED FLT TIMES AND THE EXTENSION OF DUTY HRS AT HIS DOMICILE.

Narrative

RECENTLY I HAVE NOTICED AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF TRIPS WITH NEARLY 14 HR CREW DUTY DAYS. SCHEDULED CREW DUTY DAYS OF 14 HRS LEAD TO PLT FATIGUE AND ARE UNSAFE. AS A COMPANY; WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF SAFELY SCHEDULING OUR CREWS. THIS IS NOT A UNION ISSUE; THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. AS A CHK AIRMAN; I HAVE WATCHED CREW PERFORMANCE DECREASE DRAMATICALLY TOWARDS THE END OF THE SIMULATOR PERIOD. WE ALL KNOW THE RESULTS OF FATIGUE AFTER A LONG DAY. IT JUST MAKES COMMON SENSE TO AVOID EXTREMELY LONG CREW DUTY DAYS THAT ARE NEARLY 14 HRS. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT OUR COMPANY LIMIT OUR SCHEDULED CREW DUTY DAY TO 12 HRS. IF WE HAVE A CREW INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON A LONG CREW DUTY DAY; HOW CAN WE RATIONALIZE THIS TO OUR PAX? OUR JOB IS SAFE TRANSPORTATION. IT IS NOT ABOUT THE FAA LIMIT OR A PLT ORGANIZATION CONTRACT; IT IS ABOUT OUR COMPANY SAFELY SCHEDULING OUR CREW. THIS IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. WE HAVE ALWAYS TOLD OUR PLTS TO STOP IF IT IS NOT SAFE TO CONTINUE A FLT. WE NEED TO SET UP A BETTER SCHEDULING BARRIER TO TRAP FATIGUE ERRORS. THE 4TH DAY OF THE TRIP INVOLVED A SCHEDULED 13 HRS 49 MINS CREW DUTY DAY. ONCE I WAS ASSIGNED PAIRING; I REQUESTED THAT THE DAILY SCHEDULER ALLOW ME TO GET OFF THE TRIP AS IT PASSED THROUGH MY BASE ON THE LAST DAY DUE TO THE SCHEDULED 14 HR CREW DAY. SHE SAID THAT SHE WAS UNABLE. I ASKED HER TO MAKE A REMARK IN THE COMPUTER THAT THE CAPT FEELS THE 14 HR CREW DUTY DAY IS UNSAFE DUE TO FATIGUE AND REQUESTS TO SPLIT OFF FOR THE LAST 2 LEGS. NOTE: 24 TRIPS ORIGINATED IN ZZZ ON THE B737-300 ON FEB/MON/02. 12 OF THEM; 50%; CONTAINED CREW DUTY DAYS LONGER THAN 12 HRS.

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