SWA Steady She Goes

[chase]

Flight Time

It is rather complicated but due to the accident you mentioned & other comments by pilots up the change there has been a recent change that allows pilots to terminate their flying whenever there becomes an obvious conflict. We received a simple chart that is very useful for on the ground situations prior to push or even after push when delays often occurs which can impact duty day/flight time. Whenever it becomes apparent either one of the restrictions will be exceeded the pilots will return to the gate for a crew change or if at the gate contact scheduling with a drop dead time or that the flight can't be flown & still meet all the FARS.

I've not seen in my experience where the schedulers are forcing pilots to fly fatigued. I believe the pressure to meet "the schedule" comes mostly from the pilots themselves at times but I am realistic enough to know there are obviously times where external pressure is applied. I just haven't seen it but again I'm an FO!!! Will pilots take on more than they should at times? That's another thread for another time.

 

[embdrvr]

I'm gonna ask an idiotic question.....If they have you guys scheduled right up to 7.55,what happens if you guys take an extended delay somewhere? I once took a very extensive delay outta BWI and when I asked the F/O how much longer the crew was legal for, I got the smart ass answer "Until we feel fatigued!". I remember after the AA accident at Little Rock they were talking about reducing crew duty times but I never head what came of it.

I think the only hard limit is the 16 hour duty day and that's only because of the 24 hour lookback. Compensatory rest could cause a later start the following day but they can work you over 8 hours.

 

[intel33]

This may be silly, but besides the sore butts, what does the crew do for an empty stomach? I like peanuts as much as the next guy, but what about real food? With less than 30 minute turns it doesn't leave much time for standing in line at Chili's Express in the terminal either.

 

[BobbyB]

I have done 10.5 hours on an ejection seat with no meal service, no lav, and constantly having to top off my 15000# fuel capacity just to make it to the next divert if something goes wrong. A cup of coffee would have been nice.

 

[SilentDave]

This may be silly, but besides the sore butts, what does the crew do for an empty stomach? I like peanuts as much as the next guy, but what about real food? With less than 30 minute turns it doesn't leave much time for standing in line at Chili's Express in the terminal either.

Just brown bag it. Nothing like a pbj on the fly.

 

[Snoopy58]

If you're doing a 30 minute turn, there's generally time for both guys to go grab whatever they each want (tho Chilli's express tends to be a bit much of a wait). If it's a 20 minute turn, the captain may grab food for both. Sometimes one of the FA's is going on a food run for the other 2, and you can give her some $ to bring you a burger also.

There's ways to do it, and you get used to it after a while (tho running late on a full day of 20 minute turns it does become a bit more challenging).

 

[Sierra-Hotel]

If you really get to know the ops agents at certain stations,we'll do a food run for you guys when you call "In-Range". I used to do it for a couple pilots. However don't start that "hold the pickle,no mayo" stuff!