Narrative:

After an 18 hour duty day (far part 121 supplemental) and 9 actual hours of flying, we were told that we must ferry the aircraft under far part 91. This is common practice in the 'supplemental' airline business. I do not agree with this practice, but it is commonplace in the charter business. After many duty hours and flight hours a pilot should not be pressured into ferrying a passenger jet under far part 91 rules. This should be addressed in the interest of safety. Long hours are long hours, part 121 or part 91. We were cleared to cross knuck intersection at 10000 ft, 250 KTS. I read back the clearance. Copilot was flying. Leaving 11000 ft, approach controller asked our speed. I replied '250 KTS.' he then asked our altitude. I replied 'leaving 10500 ft for 10000 ft.' he stated that we were 'cleared to 11000 ft,' but to 'maintain 10000 ft.' no conflicts occurred and we proceeded to dulles airport and landed without incident. Although the PIC has the final authority/authorized on when to stop flying, there is an incredible amount of pressure put on crews to ferry aircraft after long duty and flying days.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 CAPT FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL ACR COMPLAINS THAT THE COMPANY ASSIGNED HIM TO REPOS THE ACFT AFTER AN 18 HR DUTY PERIOD AND 9 HRS OF FLYING.

Narrative: AFTER AN 18 HR DUTY DAY (FAR PART 121 SUPPLEMENTAL) AND 9 ACTUAL HRS OF FLYING, WE WERE TOLD THAT WE MUST FERRY THE ACFT UNDER FAR PART 91. THIS IS COMMON PRACTICE IN THE 'SUPPLEMENTAL' AIRLINE BUSINESS. I DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS PRACTICE, BUT IT IS COMMONPLACE IN THE CHARTER BUSINESS. AFTER MANY DUTY HRS AND FLT HRS A PLT SHOULD NOT BE PRESSURED INTO FERRYING A PAX JET UNDER FAR PART 91 RULES. THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY. LONG HRS ARE LONG HRS, PART 121 OR PART 91. WE WERE CLRED TO CROSS KNUCK INTXN AT 10000 FT, 250 KTS. I READ BACK THE CLRNC. COPLT WAS FLYING. LEAVING 11000 FT, APCH CTLR ASKED OUR SPD. I REPLIED '250 KTS.' HE THEN ASKED OUR ALT. I REPLIED 'LEAVING 10500 FT FOR 10000 FT.' HE STATED THAT WE WERE 'CLRED TO 11000 FT,' BUT TO 'MAINTAIN 10000 FT.' NO CONFLICTS OCCURRED AND WE PROCEEDED TO DULLES ARPT AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. ALTHOUGH THE PIC HAS THE FINAL AUTH ON WHEN TO STOP FLYING, THERE IS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE PUT ON CREWS TO FERRY ACFT AFTER LONG DUTY AND FLYING DAYS.

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.