Well said Devil 49. Scheduling and shift hours have been a favorite issue for me.
I believe we need to rewrite our FARs for Part 135 HEMS (the only ones that fly nights in helicopters for profit on a regular basis) scheduling to include extended rest periods after a late flight. A 24 hour off cycle after a flight that begins or terminates after midnight is reasonable. Obviously this will throw a huge wrench into the system. More pilots will be required to be hired, schedules managed more proactively etc. All distasteful to the operators.
The only reason paperwork mumbo jumbo has been added is to let the ope rator's off the hook. In case of another CFIT accident, the company can wash their hands off and say that the pilot was negligent and in violation of the Ops Specs.Ultimately, it is all about liability.
Alt3