Skydrifter,
Just to clarify, your above post deals with a separate (but equally important) flight time/duty time regulation (16 hr duty day), as championed by APA's Rich Rubin.
AA pilots' DFW-HNL "problem" stems from the wording of FAR 121.483 which essentially says "if you can plan/schedule a flight for less than eight hours it's legal for 2 crew operations, even if using unrealistic planning information".
Regardless of the outbound flight time, the return leg (7hr30min) is much more dangerous because it operates at 11pm to 6am Dallas body time. AA's press releases make reference to "the 26 hour layover" and that responsible crews should be "well rested".
I'd rather save the salary of this
PR idiot (and ex-Lorenzo mouthpiece) and spend the money on an expert to identify circadian rythmn patterns which are harmful to flight operations.
To suggest that someone is capable of sleeping on command is ignorant, at best.
What it all boils down to is a Chief Pilot that's forgetting who'll be in the spotlight if there's an accident/incident.
Is the risk worth it? Never.
Now we've seen the FAA finally grow some cajones maybe they'll tighten up this rule also.
Kaptin...wish I could agree with you but it makes no sense to take out our frustration with a puppet Chief Pilot on AA's passengers.
There are many great people in AA management, who are as frustrated by this as line pilots. Their hands are somewhat tied by a guy who's forgetting AA's one big (and unnecessary) accident away from the likes of the dodo.
Sometimes you just gotta tell the beancounters "it's not about the money, it's about doing the right thing". This is a prime time.
DD