RPTR STATES AND HISTORICALLY DOCUMENTS ACR'S ACTIONS TO REDUCE SCHEDULE BLOCK TIME ON AN INTL SEQUENCE BELOW 8 HRS; THUS PRECLUDING THE FAR REQUIREMENT FOR A RELIEF PLT.

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WE WERE RECENTLY INFORMED THAT BLOCK TIMES OF THE JFK ZZZ TRIP HAD BEEN ALTERED FROM 8 HRS 6 MIN TO 7 HRS 58 MINS. THIS REDUCTION OF BLOCK TIME MEANS THAT A 3 PLT CREW WILL NO LONGER BE NEEDED FOR THIS TURN; AND THE COMPANY WILL SAVE THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL PLTS AND THEREFORE SAVE MONEY. HERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE LAST 2 WKS OF BLOCK TIMES FOR THIS TRIP. THIS DATA REFLECTS AN AVERAGE BLOCK TIME OF 8 HRS 26 MINS. THE TRIP HAS EXCEEDED 8 HRS 74% OF THE TIME DURING THE SAMPLE. THE PREVIOUS YEAR SHOWS A BLOCK TIME OF 8 HRS 9 MINS SCHEDULED FOR THIS SAME TRIP DURING THE MONTH OF JULY. THERE IS NO REASONABLE HISTORICAL PRECEDENT TO ASSUME THAT THIS TRIP WILL OPERATE UNDER 8 HRS IN THE FUTURE. MGRS HAVE RELATED THAT A NEW ROUTING WILL SHAVE 9 MINS OFF THIS BLOCK TIME. THIS REDUCTION WILL NOT BRING THE FLT UNDER THE 8 HR THRESHOLD BASED ON EMPIRICAL DATA. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THIS COMPANY CANNOT MAKE DECISIONS THAT PUT FINANCIAL INTERESTS OVER SAFETY. WITH THE SCRUTINY WE FACE FROM THE FAA; WE CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT COULD RESULT IN ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS OR FINES. I AM NOT SUGGESTING THAT THE COMPANY MADE A DECISION BASED ON FINANCES; BUT I HOPE THAT THIS IS RECOGNIZED AS AN ERROR AND WILL BE CORRECTED PROMPTLY. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THIS FLT OPERATES WITHOUT A RELIEF PLT; SAFETY WILL BE COMPROMISED.