Big Tudour
Getting into the 'grey' areas of 371, which we have been living with for years I know but...
There is, I would argue, an 'implict' responsibility to be rested for the next allowable Duty Period. An airline's FTL scheme should recognise the operating environment and the potential for longer actual duties than scheduled. It's stretching it somewhat for a crew member to refuse a duty that falls within the allowable FDP on the basis that he/she isn't rested for that length of duty period. For example, if crews pitched up rested only for the scheduled round trip time to PMI, how would we/they deal with, say an hour or two ATC or tech delay? I've never had the CAA take issue with that notition nor can I think of a crew member ever refusing, unhappy yes, but not refused. There will be exceptions to this of course.
Also, and I know I am being a bit pedantic here BT, but the use of the word fatiqued is often used instead of tiredness, they have two different meanings in this context. Fatique means unable to operate due to exhaustion, tiredness is a normal condition we all experience and doesn't impair our ability to operate. A crew member should never become 'fatiqued in flight' it would likely equal incapacitation in that event.
Last edited by no sig; 4th February 2004 at 01:37.