Narrative:

Before taxi ATIS was recorded -X 2F/39 degree/39/330 04 a fog bank was moving over the airport from the south. After pre-departure checklist was completed I asked the first officer to call our dispatch and get a takeoff alternate. When we called ready the tower issued a new WX, -X 1/8 F/33 degree/33/120 O6/30.45 and reported the RVR system unavailable, then cleared us for takeoff. When taking the runway we noted that the (approximately) 2000' was in the clear before hitting the fog. We reached V1, rotated, climbed to our altitude and completed the flight normally. Human performance considerations. The crew reported for duty at XA45 for a scheduled departure at XB45 and arrival 1 hour 15 mins later. Due to maintenance and WX our departure was 1 hour 30 min late. I was in my hotel room at XD00 and reported back at the airport at XG00 with only 3 hours rest. The crew was very fatigued yet legal according to FARS. I feel this kind of scheduling of 'stand up overnight' duty is an attack on safety. No one can maintain a high level of safety with only 3-5 hours rest at 3RD shift. We (pilots) and the airlines should stop taking chances with peoples lives.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER LTT MADE A TKOF AT PVD IN WX REPORTED BELOW ARPT MINIMUMS FOR TKOF.

Narrative: BEFORE TAXI ATIS WAS RECORDED -X 2F/39 DEG/39/330 04 A FOG BANK WAS MOVING OVER THE ARPT FROM THE S. AFTER PRE-DEP CHKLIST WAS COMPLETED I ASKED THE F/O TO CALL OUR DISPATCH AND GET A TKOF ALTERNATE. WHEN WE CALLED READY THE TWR ISSUED A NEW WX, -X 1/8 F/33 DEG/33/120 O6/30.45 AND RPTED THE RVR SYS UNAVAILABLE, THEN CLRED US FOR TKOF. WHEN TAKING THE RWY WE NOTED THAT THE (APPROX) 2000' WAS IN THE CLR BEFORE HITTING THE FOG. WE REACHED V1, ROTATED, CLBED TO OUR ALT AND COMPLETED THE FLT NORMALLY. HUMAN PERFORMANCE CONSIDERATIONS. THE CREW RPTED FOR DUTY AT XA45 FOR A SCHEDULED DEP AT XB45 AND ARR 1 HR 15 MINS LATER. DUE TO MAINT AND WX OUR DEP WAS 1 HR 30 MIN LATE. I WAS IN MY HOTEL ROOM AT XD00 AND RPTED BACK AT THE ARPT AT XG00 WITH ONLY 3 HRS REST. THE CREW WAS VERY FATIGUED YET LEGAL ACCORDING TO FARS. I FEEL THIS KIND OF SCHEDULING OF 'STAND UP OVERNIGHT' DUTY IS AN ATTACK ON SAFETY. NO ONE CAN MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF SAFETY WITH ONLY 3-5 HRS REST AT 3RD SHIFT. WE (PLTS) AND THE AIRLINES SHOULD STOP TAKING CHANCES WITH PEOPLES LIVES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.