Recently attended an annual recurrent safety course at my operator.
The training staff raised the subject of 'Commanders' Discretion, which makes a change.
Did any of the pilots think it was being abused within that operator?
Every single pilot had a story about being coerced into discretion by the crewing department ........
MO:-
1) Pilot contacts crewing with concern about FTL.
2) Crewing argue that limits will not be exceeded.
3) Flight departs, then pilots almost immediately receive an ACARS from crewing telling them they will be in discretion, and are they happy to continue (aircraft already in the air).
Been going on for years.
Only option is to get into conflict with the operator, as management ALWAYS take the side of the crewing officer, never the pilot.
Conflict = sanction / threats / loss of job.
CAA simply do not care, which is odd for a safety regulator.
P.S. Only solution is to remove discretion from the rules. While it is available TO CREWING, it will always be liable to this unsafe abuse.
P.P.S. Other solution would be for the crewing officer to be onboard the aircraft, after 13 hours duty. Would they behave in the same way if they had to be in the aircraft with the crew??
P.P.P.S. Contracted taxi drivers now HAVE to stop every two hours for a mandatory rest break with this operator. I assume this is on the grounds of safety. There is no discretion about this - they have to stop. Well overdue IMO.