Commuter light transport flight crew questions legality of trip scheduling and crew rest.

Attributes
ACN	97695
Time
Date	198811
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	97695
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 131 flight time total : 1510 flight time type : 193
ASRS Report	98388
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Enclosed is an explanation of the schedule I was assigned. Do to a disagreement between airlines and the pilots on the rest requirements, I feel it necessary to file this report. I feel that pre and post-flight duty are included in the duty period. Scheduling has stated that they feel the trip schedule enclosed is legal and disciplinary action could be taken if refused. The FAA has been notified and are looking into the situation. I am also scheduled for the same trip later in the month. I feel the air carrier has a habit of scheduling our rest periods to the reduced minimum and then even to the minute. This often pressures us to hurry and alter duty times to fit the schedules, not to mention the fatigue incurred. I would be safer to require a minimum rest of 9 hours only to be reduced if we arrive late rather than purposely schedule 8 hour rest requirements.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER LTT FLT CREW QUESTIONS LEGALITY OF TRIP SCHEDULING AND CREW REST.

Narrative: ENCLOSED IS AN EXPLANATION OF THE SCHEDULE I WAS ASSIGNED. DO TO A DISAGREEMENT BTWN AIRLINES AND THE PLTS ON THE REST REQUIREMENTS, I FEEL IT NECESSARY TO FILE THIS RPT. I FEEL THAT PRE AND POST-FLT DUTY ARE INCLUDED IN THE DUTY PERIOD. SCHEDULING HAS STATED THAT THEY FEEL THE TRIP SCHEDULE ENCLOSED IS LEGAL AND DISCIPLINARY ACTION COULD BE TAKEN IF REFUSED. THE FAA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND ARE LOOKING INTO THE SITUATION. I AM ALSO SCHEDULED FOR THE SAME TRIP LATER IN THE MONTH. I FEEL THE ACR HAS A HABIT OF SCHEDULING OUR REST PERIODS TO THE REDUCED MINIMUM AND THEN EVEN TO THE MINUTE. THIS OFTEN PRESSURES US TO HURRY AND ALTER DUTY TIMES TO FIT THE SCHEDULES, NOT TO MENTION THE FATIGUE INCURRED. I WOULD BE SAFER TO REQUIRE A MINIMUM REST OF 9 HRS ONLY TO BE REDUCED IF WE ARRIVE LATE RATHER THAN PURPOSELY SCHEDULE 8 HR REST REQUIREMENTS.

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