An air carrier pilot reports that during a scheduled 3+16 break; extended to 5 hours; he called in f...

Attributes
ACN	760769
Time
Date	200711
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	760769
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

We were supposed to have a 3:16 layover. The delay for XXX started marching. The situation extended to just under 5 hours. Hotel rooms were not allowed due to it being a marching delay. Upon arrival at the aircraft; we learned that the aircraft was scheduled for a 5 hour maintenance check. I informed the crew desk that I had been up since XA00 home time; and as things stand; would be on final approach at ZZZ at XV00 my time and would be too tired to fly due to being awake 22 hours straight. The crew desk was professional; but informed me that despite my sleep habits; I was still legal to fly and was therefore responsible (ie; would be docked pay for refusing). Maintenance then miraculously completed the 5 hour check in just under 40 mins; but we were reassigned to another aircraft. I should have called in too tired to fly; but not being sure; and not wanting to lose pay or strand air carrier's customers; I mistakenly elected to fly it. As it turned out; I was very tired throughout the flight. I took oxygen to relieve symptoms. We landed just before XT00 am home time for a 20 hour day. To make matters worse; the crew meals were not reboarded on the new flight. Therefore; our air carrier had 2 pilots ending a 20 hour day on empty stomachs (except for the caffeine in the coffee).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR PILOT REPORTS THAT DURING A SCHEDULED 3+16 BREAK; EXTENDED TO 5 HRS; HE CALLED IN FATIGUED BECAUSE THE DAY WAS EXTENDED TO 20 HRS. HE WAS THREATENED INTO CONTINUING TO FLY.

Narrative: WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A 3:16 LAYOVER. THE DELAY FOR XXX STARTED MARCHING. THE SIT EXTENDED TO JUST UNDER 5 HRS. HOTEL ROOMS WERE NOT ALLOWED DUE TO IT BEING A MARCHING DELAY. UPON ARR AT THE ACFT; WE LEARNED THAT THE ACFT WAS SCHEDULED FOR A 5 HR MAINT CHK. I INFORMED THE CREW DESK THAT I HAD BEEN UP SINCE XA00 HOME TIME; AND AS THINGS STAND; WOULD BE ON FINAL APCH AT ZZZ AT XV00 MY TIME AND WOULD BE TOO TIRED TO FLY DUE TO BEING AWAKE 22 HRS STRAIGHT. THE CREW DESK WAS PROFESSIONAL; BUT INFORMED ME THAT DESPITE MY SLEEP HABITS; I WAS STILL LEGAL TO FLY AND WAS THEREFORE RESPONSIBLE (IE; WOULD BE DOCKED PAY FOR REFUSING). MAINT THEN MIRACULOUSLY COMPLETED THE 5 HR CHK IN JUST UNDER 40 MINS; BUT WE WERE REASSIGNED TO ANOTHER ACFT. I SHOULD HAVE CALLED IN TOO TIRED TO FLY; BUT NOT BEING SURE; AND NOT WANTING TO LOSE PAY OR STRAND ACR'S CUSTOMERS; I MISTAKENLY ELECTED TO FLY IT. AS IT TURNED OUT; I WAS VERY TIRED THROUGHOUT THE FLT. I TOOK OXYGEN TO RELIEVE SYMPTOMS. WE LANDED JUST BEFORE XT00 AM HOME TIME FOR A 20 HR DAY. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE; THE CREW MEALS WERE NOT REBOARDED ON THE NEW FLT. THEREFORE; OUR ACR HAD 2 PLTS ENDING A 20 HR DAY ON EMPTY STOMACHS (EXCEPT FOR THE CAFFEINE IN THE COFFEE).

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.

An air carrier pilot reports that during a scheduled 3+16 break; extended to 5 hours; he called in fatigued because the day was extended to 20 hours. He was threatened into continuing to fly.