Originally Posted by
404yxl
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.
Yes, because a pilot would admit they wrongfully signed being fit for duty in lieu of an incident, come on. Of course pilots fly unfit for duty in the legal duty period. The FAA puts out a framework for rules they think are safe, and then hope for the best. The rules will always be stretched to their breaking point, no ASAPs will be filed. The only protection of safety is for the FAA to mandate a hard number.