ASA Pilots Beware

[jetstream]

ASA crew scheduling is sending pilots revised schedules via ACARS. Some of these schedules are illegal. If you acknowledge the message when you recieve it and then later discover that it is illegal scheduling will tell you too bad, that by acknowledging the message you accepted the schedule.

Print out the revised schedule first. Then review it carefully to make sure it is legal. Add up the block times to ensure that the total block indicated is correct, make sure the turn times are realistic, etc. Once you have ensured that it is a legal schedule acknowledge the message. If it is an illegal schedule DO NOT acknowledge the message and then deal with it when you are on the ground.

 

[damnflyboy]

I thought that pushing any button on the FMS acknowledges the receipt of the ACARS message. Is the ACK option the only way to truly accept the Reschedule/assignment?

On the bright side, a printed ACARS would be an awesome "exhibit A" to counter such an illegal assignment. I was extended with a fed on the jump-seat, and he requested a printed copy of the extension message.

I was legal to do it, but he was more interested in the fact that extensions to line-holders are a safety hazard. And I quote: "Making a pilot fly after boiling his blood is a really bad idea."

 

[jetstream]

I was legal to do it, but he was more interested in the fact that extensions to line-holders are a safety hazard. And I quote: "Making a pilot fly after boiling his blood is a really bad idea."[/QUOTE]


I agree. That is why, in the days before ACARS, ASA had to stop the practice of telling crews to call scheduling when they made the in range call. Instead of our minds being focused on flying, these notifications distract us with whatever scheduling is trying to do to us.

We are short staffed and that fact is being magnified by the summer increase in block hours. Scheduling is desperate to cover trips and they are resorting to questionable and sometimes illegal practices to do it.

 

[johnpeace]

Do you guys include as part of the brief at the beginning of the trip how to handle crew sched issues?

I usually tell the other crewmembers that I won't communicate with crew scheduling on their behalf if they'll extend the same courtesy, that I don't advise answering the phone and that we should ignore any sched related ACARS messages until safely at the gate.

 

[bigshooter107]

Sked can't force u to accept an illegal assignment, outside the contract sure.

 

[LazyLightnin']

Why in hell would ANYONE acknowledge an acars extension??

Sack up fellas! Dayum!

 

[jetstream]

Sked can't force u to accept an illegal assignment, outside the contract sure.

True, but they can make a schedule appear to be legal when in fact it is not. I'm just saying check it very carefully.

 

[COOPERVANE]

ASAP it EVERY time. Especially during sterile cockpit.

I keep hearing stories about Feds on jumpseats not being happy with this practice, but so far, they don't REALLY seem to care.

 

[Varmint]

About 12 months ago I had this happen to me. I ignored the acars, got on the ground and submitted an ASAP and a NASA report on the attempted extension. About 4 weeks later, I got a letter back from NASA saying they were opening a file to investigate such incidents. That was the day I decided to leave the ********************hole formerly known as ASA.

 

[Speedtape]

I doubt seriously that anyone was extended with an illegal schedule because the software they use will not generate an illegal schedule.

 

[jetstream]

I doubt seriously that anyone was extended with an illegal schedule because the software they use will not generate an illegal schedule.

Interesting. The pairing I received showed just over 8 hours total flight time for the day. Then when I added up the individual leg times it was even more.

 

[jetstream]

Then there was the time they wanted me to deadhead to Canada to pick up a plane. After I got there I was going to have to clear Canadian customs, then clear US custom, then get the plane ready. In order to keep me from exceeding my duty day they showed my doing all that in 23 minutes.

Where is the oversight and accountability of these people?

 

[777forever]

Blah blah blah. When I see it ill believe it

 

[johnpeace]

I had a 7:56 overnight the other night...I can show you a screenshot on my iPhone when we run into each other.

 

[pave driver]

Hmmm.

 

[Freebrd]

Blah blah blah. When I see it ill believe it

You cooking up anymore wisdom there junior? you know, like your public service announcement. :smash: