A FLT ASSIGNMENT IS REFUSED BY AN ACR PLT WHO CITED LACK OF REST EVEN THOUGH THE SCHEDULING FIT THE LETTER OF THE REG CONCERNING SCHEDULING AND REST LIMITS.

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THIS INCIDENT INVOLVES OUR RESERVE SYS AT COMPANY AND IS INTENDED TO SHOW THE INCREDIBLE PRESSURE ON BOTH OUR SCHEDULERS AND PLTS TO RESPOND TO CONTINGENCIES. IN EARLY JANUARY; I HAD A 4 DAY RESERVE PERIOD. AT THE END OF THE SECOND DAY WHEN ARRIVING HOME; I WAS CALLED BY THE CREW DESK AT XA00 HRS FOR AN XE40 DEP. THIS REQUIRES THAT I LEAVE HOME AT XB40 TO GIVE ME A FEW MINS PAD. I WENT TO BED AT XB00 HRS; THEN WAS CALLED BY THE CREW DESK AT XA30 CHANGING MY DEP TIME TO XF05. I COULD NOT GET BACK TO SLEEP BEFORE I HAD TO GET UP AT XB15. TOTAL SLEEP = 6 1/2 HRS. FLEW DEN-SLC-ORD ALL WITH SNOW; THEN DEADHEADED HOME FROM ORD. BLOCKED IN AT XP45; GOT TO PARKING LOT AT XQ15; HOME BY XR15. CALLED ENRTE BY CREW DESK AT XR00 FOR XA40 DEP NEXT DAY. AFTER 15 1/2 HRS TRAVELING AND AFTER 6 1/2 HRS OF SLEEP; THE CREW DESK WAS ASKING ME TO FLY AFTER LESS THAN 7 HRS SLEEP ONCE AGAIN. I REFUSED THE ASSIGNMENT AND THEY GAVE ME A LATER FLT; WHICH WAS FINE WITH ME. ALL I ASK FOR IS A FULL 8 HRS SLEEP AND TIME TO TAKE A SHOWER AND MAYBE EAT SOMETHING. THIS IS ALL LEGAL ACCORDING TO THE PLT CONTRACT. I HAVE BEEN FLYING 35 YRS; SPENT 21 YRS IN THE USAF; SQUADRON COMMANDER OF 2 DIFFERENT FLYING SQUADRONS; AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED FOR ALLOWING MY PLTS TO DO WHAT THE CREW DESK ASKED ME TO DO. I BELIEVE WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO A SERIOUS INCIDENT RESULTING FROM LACK OF REST WITH OUR CURRENT RESERVE SYS. AT BEST; THE WORSE CASE IS WE KILL SOMEBODY. THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE NEED MORE TIME OFF FROM BLOCK IN TO BLOCK OUT TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO OUR PAX; CATCH THE BUS TO THE PARKING LOT; DRIVE HOME; EAT; SHOWER AND SLEEP A MINIMUM OF 8 HRS.