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MD11 pilot is concerned with the company schedule and fatigue associated with long haul flts across the pacific.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 698150 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200605 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001 To 0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : anc.airport |
| State Reference | AK |
| Altitude | agl single value : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-11 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | ground : parked |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 11500 flight time type : 350 |
| ASRS Report | 698150 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Company |
| Primary Problem | Company |
Narrative:
I was called by crew scheduling that another crossing flight was added to my line. The flight was supposed to be flight from anc-hkg. I advised the crew scheduler that I have already had 8 xings of the pacific ocean in the last 14 days. Once during this period; I exceeded 20 hours block in 48 hours. All of the rest periods were 15-18 hours with exception of a 24 hour layover. The crew scheduler said the trip was legal per FARS and contract. I advised her I agreed with that but there was no consideration for circadian rhythm. In 18 yrs of part 121 airlines operations; I have never been pushed/forced to such limits (fear of losing the job). On my last 2 xings; there were 2 times where I spent 15 mins trying to make 1 plot. Both times I thought I was 5 degrees off course; until I realized I was on course all along. Fatigue was at its maximum. After being assigned the abovementioned trip; I tried to get a good night's rest; unable to do so and 5 hours prior to show; I had to call in fatigued for this assignment. To provide between 9-18 hours rest between international flts is an accident waiting to happen. This is the first report I have ever filed. Thankfully there were no incidents or violations that I am aware of but then again the fatigue was so bad I could be mistaken.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: MD11 PLT IS CONCERNED WITH THE COMPANY SCHEDULE AND FATIGUE ASSOCIATED WITH LONG HAUL FLTS ACROSS THE PACIFIC.
Narrative: I WAS CALLED BY CREW SCHEDULING THAT ANOTHER XING FLT WAS ADDED TO MY LINE. THE FLT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FLT FROM ANC-HKG. I ADVISED THE CREW SCHEDULER THAT I HAVE ALREADY HAD 8 XINGS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN IN THE LAST 14 DAYS. ONCE DURING THIS PERIOD; I EXCEEDED 20 HRS BLOCK IN 48 HRS. ALL OF THE REST PERIODS WERE 15-18 HRS WITH EXCEPTION OF A 24 HR LAYOVER. THE CREW SCHEDULER SAID THE TRIP WAS LEGAL PER FARS AND CONTRACT. I ADVISED HER I AGREED WITH THAT BUT THERE WAS NO CONSIDERATION FOR CIRCADIAN RHYTHM. IN 18 YRS OF PART 121 AIRLINES OPS; I HAVE NEVER BEEN PUSHED/FORCED TO SUCH LIMITS (FEAR OF LOSING THE JOB). ON MY LAST 2 XINGS; THERE WERE 2 TIMES WHERE I SPENT 15 MINS TRYING TO MAKE 1 PLOT. BOTH TIMES I THOUGHT I WAS 5 DEGS OFF COURSE; UNTIL I REALIZED I WAS ON COURSE ALL ALONG. FATIGUE WAS AT ITS MAX. AFTER BEING ASSIGNED THE ABOVEMENTIONED TRIP; I TRIED TO GET A GOOD NIGHT'S REST; UNABLE TO DO SO AND 5 HRS PRIOR TO SHOW; I HAD TO CALL IN FATIGUED FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT. TO PROVIDE BTWN 9-18 HRS REST BTWN INTL FLTS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THIS IS THE FIRST RPT I HAVE EVER FILED. THANKFULLY THERE WERE NO INCIDENTS OR VIOLATIONS THAT I AM AWARE OF BUT THEN AGAIN THE FATIGUE WAS SO BAD I COULD BE MISTAKEN.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.