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A regional airline captain submitted what he calls 'another letter' to complain about the continuous duty overnights that his company allows. In the reporter's opinion, such policies are dangerous.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 453648 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199911 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : dfw.airport |
| State Reference | TX |
| Altitude | agl single value : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Weather Elements | Windshear |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | ground : parked |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5200 flight time type : 4000 |
| ASRS Report | 453648 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | FAA Company |
| Primary Problem | Company |
Narrative:
This letter is another in a long list that I have sent concerning continuous duty overnights. Note: I have the same rest issues concerning scheduled reduce rest, ie, 8 hours block-to-block. I just finished another continuous duty overnight, departed dfw at XA00 with arrival into dfw next morning at XM00, with approximately 5 hours of sleep at best. How can a person be allowed to operate an aircraft with 5 hours sleep? No other profession allows these schedules! Give the FAA this form with my name and address. I dare them to say this is not unsafe. To top it off, I had a brand new first officer who was 2 mi behind the airplane. I had to be extra vigilant while I was working with 4-5 hours sleep. Thank goodness it was cold outside and the temperature kept me somewhat awake. I have waited long enough (6 yrs) for the FAA to do something. I want them to call me and explain themselves. Help us please NASA. Now I'm going to bed, it's XA00 on nov/tue/99.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A REGIONAL AIRLINE CAPT SUBMITTED WHAT HE CALLS 'ANOTHER LETTER' TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE CONTINUOUS DUTY OVERNIGHTS THAT HIS COMPANY ALLOWS. IN THE RPTR'S OPINION, SUCH POLICIES ARE DANGEROUS.
Narrative: THIS LETTER IS ANOTHER IN A LONG LIST THAT I HAVE SENT CONCERNING CONTINUOUS DUTY OVERNIGHTS. NOTE: I HAVE THE SAME REST ISSUES CONCERNING SCHEDULED REDUCE REST, IE, 8 HRS BLOCK-TO-BLOCK. I JUST FINISHED ANOTHER CONTINUOUS DUTY OVERNIGHT, DEPARTED DFW AT XA00 WITH ARR INTO DFW NEXT MORNING AT XM00, WITH APPROX 5 HRS OF SLEEP AT BEST. HOW CAN A PERSON BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE AN ACFT WITH 5 HRS SLEEP? NO OTHER PROFESSION ALLOWS THESE SCHEDULES! GIVE THE FAA THIS FORM WITH MY NAME AND ADDRESS. I DARE THEM TO SAY THIS IS NOT UNSAFE. TO TOP IT OFF, I HAD A BRAND NEW FO WHO WAS 2 MI BEHIND THE AIRPLANE. I HAD TO BE EXTRA VIGILANT WHILE I WAS WORKING WITH 4-5 HRS SLEEP. THANK GOODNESS IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE AND THE TEMP KEPT ME SOMEWHAT AWAKE. I HAVE WAITED LONG ENOUGH (6 YRS) FOR THE FAA TO DO SOMETHING. I WANT THEM TO CALL ME AND EXPLAIN THEMSELVES. HELP US PLEASE NASA. NOW I'M GOING TO BED, IT'S XA00 ON NOV/TUE/99.
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.