Originally Posted by
Mesabah
They will be signing it, and they will be flying it, that's the whole point of it not being legal. Pilots fly what is legal, not what is safe, that's been going on in the industry forever, don't be naive. If we can police our own fatigue then why have 117 at all?
Pilots can be unfit for duty under the FDP limits and the FAA has mandated that they shouldn't be signing the fit for duty statement if they are not fit for duty. How do you suggest regulating that beyond the fit for duty statement?
I don't disagree that the reserve limits are too long, but pilots also shouldn't be flying illegally. The company is just as responsible for making sure their pilots are fit for duty, but that doesn't mean the pilot can just use the excuse "I signed the fit for duty statement because 117 says I was legal" The FAA would answer that by saying, "You signed the fit for duty statement illegally knowing that you were in fact not fit for duty"
Again, if the pilots feel pressured into flying unfit for duty, then they should be filling out ASAP reports.