Narrative:

The initial flight plan time for this flight was 12 hours 3 mins operating westerly with winds 070 degrees at 12 KTS. I knew there would be a departure delay for an easterly takeoff; which we required. I placed the required calls (schedules; chief pilot on duty) to request another pilot. None was available. Working with dispatch; the flight time was reduced to 11 hours 59 mins. I did not get as much rest as I had hoped for the night prior; and felt; given the delayed departure and time of day; coupled with the aircraft status (below); taking this flight might not be the smartest decision I have made. At the aircraft; there was an issue with a center hydraulic demand pump (placarded) with a status message for APU bleed. Maintenance was able to clear the status message; making us legal per MEL. We spent much time securing the proper documents (tps; new flight plan; etc) to allow this flight to depart on runway 7L; against flow. The ground delay was approximately 40 mins for the clearance to depart opposite direction. As a crew; we looked at every issue in detail; and subsequently departed uneventfully. This flight is scheduled under 12 hours; but historically it exceeds (flight plan) 12 hours in excess of 70% of the time; with a fourth crew member denied. I strongly feel we are pushing safety. FARS state only the flight has to be scheduled over 12 hours before another pilot is required. Maybe the FAA should look at the historical frequency of the flight plan times over 12 hours on this route.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B777 CAPT REPORTS THAT AN INTL FLT EXCEEDS 12 HOURS MORE THAN 70% OF THE TIME BUT HIS ACR WILL ONLY SCHEDULE 3 PLTS; VIOLATING FAR 121.473.

Narrative: THE INITIAL FLT PLAN TIME FOR THIS FLT WAS 12 HRS 3 MINS OPERATING WESTERLY WITH WINDS 070 DEGS AT 12 KTS. I KNEW THERE WOULD BE A DEP DELAY FOR AN EASTERLY TKOF; WHICH WE REQUIRED. I PLACED THE REQUIRED CALLS (SCHEDULES; CHIEF PLT ON DUTY) TO REQUEST ANOTHER PLT. NONE WAS AVAILABLE. WORKING WITH DISPATCH; THE FLT TIME WAS REDUCED TO 11 HRS 59 MINS. I DID NOT GET AS MUCH REST AS I HAD HOPED FOR THE NIGHT PRIOR; AND FELT; GIVEN THE DELAYED DEP AND TIME OF DAY; COUPLED WITH THE ACFT STATUS (BELOW); TAKING THIS FLT MIGHT NOT BE THE SMARTEST DECISION I HAVE MADE. AT THE ACFT; THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH A CTR HYD DEMAND PUMP (PLACARDED) WITH A STATUS MESSAGE FOR APU BLEED. MAINT WAS ABLE TO CLR THE STATUS MESSAGE; MAKING US LEGAL PER MEL. WE SPENT MUCH TIME SECURING THE PROPER DOCUMENTS (TPS; NEW FLT PLAN; ETC) TO ALLOW THIS FLT TO DEPART ON RWY 7L; AGAINST FLOW. THE GND DELAY WAS APPROX 40 MINS FOR THE CLRNC TO DEPART OPPOSITE DIRECTION. AS A CREW; WE LOOKED AT EVERY ISSUE IN DETAIL; AND SUBSEQUENTLY DEPARTED UNEVENTFULLY. THIS FLT IS SCHEDULED UNDER 12 HRS; BUT HISTORICALLY IT EXCEEDS (FLT PLAN) 12 HRS IN EXCESS OF 70% OF THE TIME; WITH A FOURTH CREW MEMBER DENIED. I STRONGLY FEEL WE ARE PUSHING SAFETY. FARS STATE ONLY THE FLT HAS TO BE SCHEDULED OVER 12 HRS BEFORE ANOTHER PLT IS REQUIRED. MAYBE THE FAA SHOULD LOOK AT THE HISTORICAL FREQUENCY OF THE FLT PLAN TIMES OVER 12 HRS ON THIS RTE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.