DC10-30 CREW WAS SCHEDULED TO EXCEED MAX FLT TIME BY THE COMPANY FLT CREW SCHEDULERS; BECAUSE THE FLT WAS TO BE A PART 91 FLT.

Narrative

WE ARE OPERATING THE ACFT UNDER CONTRACT TO THE DEPT OF DEFENSE PURSUANT TO THE CRAF PROGRAM. ON THIS TRIP; WE FLEW THE FINAL LEG OF A MAIL RUN FROM LIRF TO ZZZZ. WE WERE SCHEDULED TO FLY ONLY THIS LEG; FOLLOWED BY CREW REST AT ZZZZ. WE SUSPECTED; HOWEVER; THAT WE WOULD BE ASKED TO FLY THE RETURN LEG WHEN CREW SCHEDULING TOLD US THAT THERE WAS NO CREW WAITING AT ZZZZ. THE LIRF-ZZZZ LEG WAS SCHEDULED FOR 7 HR 30 MIN BLOCK TIME; ALTHOUGH NORMALLY SUCH A FLT WOULD ONLY BE ABOUT 6 HR BLOCK. THE EXTRA TIME IS REQUIRED DUE TO CIRCUITOUS ROUTINGS NECESSARY ON ACCOUNT OF THE CURRENT POLITICAL SIT IN THE MIDDLE EAST. WE COMPLETED LEG #1 AT 6 HR 30 MIN BLOCK TIME. SURE ENOUGH; UPON ARR AT ZZZZ; OUR OPS REPRESENTATIVE ADVISED US THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO FLY THE ACFT ASAP BACK TO LIRF. CREW SCHEDULING SAID THE 12 HR FLT TIME LIMIT (FAR 121.521A) WOULDN'T APPLY BECAUSE THE RETURN TRIP HAD NO REVENUE PAYLOAD; HENCE WOULD OPERATE UNDER PART 91. THIS SIT ARISES PERIODICALLY; AND WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH CASES WHERE THE FAA AND NTSB HAVE RULED AGAINST PLTS IN SIMILAR SITS. WE DISCUSSED THE SIT AND DETERMINED THAT THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION WOULD BE TO PROCEED; AS WE WERE ALL STILL REASONABLY ALERT AND COHERENT. THE RETURN TRIP BLOCKED AT 6 HRS 54 MINS FOR A TOTAL BLOCK TIME OF 13 HRS 24 MINS IN THE DUTY DAY.