Narrative:

While on the final day of a 3-day trip; I took myself off the trip due to fatigue. This was a demanding 3-day trip with 20 hours of flight time; multiple legs and 2 late-night layovers. While flying the first leg of day 3; both the captain and I remarked several times that we were very tired. Following our arrival; we were scheduled for a turn to finish the trip. While briefing in operations; dispatch informed us that we would be changing planes for the return flight and departing late (approximately 45 minutes). While walking to the gate; dispatch called the captain with an updated plan which would put us back in base after midnight; nearly 3 hours late. When the captain informed me of this; I became extremely angry. We discussed our fatigue and the possibility of taking ourselves off of the turn. The captain decided to continue and told me he supported whatever decision I made regarding the trip. He departed for the plane and told me to do what I needed to do. I pulled out my cell phone and began to make a call to scheduling; but instead of completing the call; I hurled my phone against the wall. Since there was no activity at the gate; I don't think anyone witnessed my anger; but as I was picking up the pieces of my shattered phone; I realized I was in no condition to fly. I returned to operations; called scheduling to inform them that I was fatigued and would not be flying the turn. This incident was not the result of a one-time late-night flight; but the cumulative effects of several months of fatigue; stress and frustration. I realize that most every pilot is dealing with these problems. The past 6 months for me have been particularly difficult due to a series of never-ending colds; extreme chronic fatigue; and a rash of late-night arrivals; deferred maintenance; trip changes; musical captains; merger rumors and other stress at work. When [I am] at home; I must assume parental duties first thing in the morning to accommodate my wife's work schedule. (You can't support a family in this area on A320 first officer pay.) because of this; I am often unable to recover from one trip before beginning another. This situation has been exacerbated recently because I have flown several trips which have arrived back at home base 3 or 4 hours later than scheduled. I am in a state of extreme fatigue all the time; and as a result; I have become unreasonably irritable. I have reacted to minor problems and inconveniences with anger in some cases and apathy in others.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 First Officer describes a demanding trip and home life that results in a fatigue call to crew scheduling.

Narrative: While on the final day of a 3-day trip; I took myself off the trip due to fatigue. This was a demanding 3-day trip with 20 hours of flight time; multiple legs and 2 late-night layovers. While flying the first leg of day 3; both the Captain and I remarked several times that we were very tired. Following our arrival; we were scheduled for a turn to finish the trip. While briefing in Operations; Dispatch informed us that we would be changing planes for the return flight and departing late (approximately 45 minutes). While walking to the gate; Dispatch called the Captain with an updated plan which would put us back in base after midnight; nearly 3 hours late. When the Captain informed me of this; I became extremely angry. We discussed our fatigue and the possibility of taking ourselves off of the turn. The Captain decided to continue and told me he supported whatever decision I made regarding the trip. He departed for the plane and told me to do what I needed to do. I pulled out my cell phone and began to make a call to scheduling; but instead of completing the call; I hurled my phone against the wall. Since there was no activity at the gate; I don't think anyone witnessed my anger; but as I was picking up the pieces of my shattered phone; I realized I was in no condition to fly. I returned to Operations; called scheduling to inform them that I was fatigued and would not be flying the turn. This incident was not the result of a one-time late-night flight; but the cumulative effects of several months of fatigue; stress and frustration. I realize that most every pilot is dealing with these problems. The past 6 months for me have been particularly difficult due to a series of never-ending colds; EXTREME CHRONIC FATIGUE; and a rash of late-night arrivals; deferred maintenance; trip changes; musical Captains; merger rumors and other stress at work. When [I am] at home; I must assume parental duties first thing in the morning to accommodate my wife's work schedule. (You can't support a family in this area on A320 First Officer pay.) Because of this; I am often unable to recover from one trip before beginning another. This situation has been exacerbated recently because I have flown several trips which have arrived back at home base 3 or 4 hours later than scheduled. I am in a state of EXTREME FATIGUE all the time; and as a result; I have become unreasonably irritable. I have reacted to minor problems and inconveniences with anger in some cases and apathy in others.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.