FLT CREW COMPLAINT ABOUT FAA FLT TIME DUTY TIME REG. FLT CREW HAD ALT DEVIATION; CLIMBED PAST 2000' TO 2300'.

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I WAS THE F/O. WE DO THIS; CLBING OR DSNDING TO AN ALT; PROBABLY 10000 TIMES A YEAR AND NEVER MISS. THIS TIME WE MISSED BY 300'; IE; 2300' AND FRANKLY WOULD HAVE LIKELY CONTINUED TO CLB IF JAX CENTER HAD NOT CALLED US. WITH ALL THE THINGS TO DO; WE USUALLY GET IT RIGHT. WE GOOFED; IT WAS OUR FAULT. HOWEVER; THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS WHICH I BELIEVED CONTRIBUTED: WHEN WE WERE 'CLRED ON COURSE.' THIS PHRASE SEEMS TO CARRY WITH IT MUCH MORE WEIGHT THAN SIMPLY A HDG CHANGE OF 20 DEGS. AS I RECALL IT; THE TKOF INSTRUCTION WAS: 'CLRED FOR TKOF; CLB ON COURSE.' THIS ALMOST INVITING A MISTAKE. IF THE TWR IS SERIOUS ABOUT IT; THEY COULD HAVE SAID; 'CLRED FOR TKOF; FLY HDG 020 DEGS; MAINTAIN 2000'.' 'CLB ON COURSE' GIVES ONE THE IMPRESSION THAT THE ALT LIMITATIONS NO LONG APPLY; THOUGH I REALIZE THIS IS NOT TECHNICALLY TRUE. I HAVE TO BELIEVE SOMETHING WAS DIFFERENT; AS WE HAVE NEVER; AT LEAST IN THE LAST YEAR; MISSED AN ALT. WHILE I BLAME NO ONE BUT MYSELF; I STILL FEEL AS IF I WERE LEAD INTO IT. PREVENTION: MAKE DIRECTION AND ALT A PART OF EVERY TKOF CLRNC ISSUED BY THE TWR. NOTE: AT CSG I NEARLY ALWAYS HAVE TO ASK TWR CTLR IF HE WANTS US TO FLY RWY HDG OR TURN ON COURSE AS THE CLRNC IS ALWAYS GIVEN AS: 'IO; CLRED FOR TKOF.' PLTS ARE TIRED; AND THE REGS ALLOW THIS. IT IS AMAZING TO ME THAT THE REGS DO NOT SERIOUSLY ADDRESS THE PROB OF TOTAL DUTY TIME. GENERALLY; 8 HRS OF FLT TIME IS ALLOWED IN A 24 HR PERIOD. BUT IT CAN; AND USUALLY DOES; TAKE 12-14 HRS TO FLY AN 8 HR FLT TIME DUTY DAY. TO COMPOUND THE PROB; WITH 8 HRS REST; THE PLT CAN BE SENT OUT AGAIN FOR ANOTHER 12-14 HR DUTY DAY. HOW WOULD LIKE FOR YOUR FAMILY TO BE ON THE FLT WHERE THE PLTS WERE AT THE END OF THEIR THIRD 14 HR DUTY DAY IN A ROW SHOOTING THE APCH TO MINIMUMS; IN MODERATE TURB WITH AN ENG OUT. IT'S RIDICULOUS. PREVENTION: I REALIZE THAT SOME FLTS REQUIRE MORE THAN 12-14 HR DUTY DAYS; IE TRANSOCEANIC; ETC; BUT WHAT ABOUT THIS--FOR ALL FLTS HAVING MORE THAN 4 TKOFS AND LNDGS; THE DUTY DAY MAY NOT EXCEED 10 HRS.