BOAC, first of all there were 3 pilots on the flight deck not two, but the third one isn't a relief pilot, therefore no relief was provided. The FPD tables we are using imply factors like acclimatized and not acclimatized dependable on departure time and either two, three or with relief. It would simply explode the scope on that forum trying to explain and to copy all the tables. I can tell you that the table gives you 13 hours FDP with 3 flight deck crew (no relief pilot) and that's a fact. With the relief pilot, rest taken in the seat, you can go up to 15 hours FDP. That's, what we used to do during winter season. 1hour pref light+12:45 block=13:45, ergo you need a relief pilot to go above 13 hours. What happened on this flight is that switching to summer time table the flight time is supposed to be not longer than 11:30, which wasnt the case. The summer time table shows a block of 11:45 for the record. Once again that's the initial situation. Now, lets try not to make make it too complicated. My question is simple: If you see on your flight plan that you will bust max allw. FDP because of the longer flight time, are you good to go using commander's discretion or not? Is that a common practise to do it that way? Isn't dispatch supposed to check if the planed FDP can be satisfied prior to departure?
That's what I found on the CAA web side:
4.5 Commander’s Discretion
Q. In what circumstances can exercising Commander’s Discretion be requested?
A. Whilst there are a number of myths surrounding the exercise of Commander’s Discretion, it is purely a safety-based decision contingent upon events on the day. Where there is disruption to an operation through unplanned and unforeseen circumstances an operator may request a commander to consider an extension to the normal FDP, to allow recovery of operational plans, if he is satisfied it is safe to do so. On the day there is no restriction on departing from home base, in the knowledge that the exercise of discretion is likely to be required to extend the FDP, provided the extension is within the specified limitations. In determining the circumstances of other crew members, any crew member who considers himself likely to be suffering from fatigue at the end of the proposed FDP, such that the safety of the flight or passengers may be compromised, should not be required to operate. The commander, in completing the Discretion Report, should note the factors on which the decision was based.
Here we go again: "unplanned and unforeseen" Is a flight time of 12:12 unplanned and unforeseen, if you see it in front of you on the flight PLAN?
Thanks.