Originally Posted by
MikeF16
He relayed how he and his captain were forced to repeatedly explain their reasoning to higher and higher levels of authority before they were finally released to go to the hotel.
In the past when this has happened to me and fatigue is an issue, I have told tracking that we are going to the hotel.... I am turning my phone off... After we are rested, I will make whatever calls are necessary... Sometimes you have to be a Capt.
As far as fit for duty... Had a deal in Asia recently where we were not getting enough rest after multiple re-routed long days... Called tracking 13hrs ahead to inform them we were not continuing after landing (So they could recover the next flt... It was the NRT hotel with multiple re-crewing options)... Tracking tried to force us to continue via acars in route with min rest... I said nope... Went to hotel for 24hr needed break, then continued on... Stood my ground with the Chief (who was very understanding with zero push back)... Again, sometimes you have to be a Capt...
P.s. As long as we're in the pointy end, there can be no compromising safety...
P.p.s. We should have SW's wording in our contract: "No CPO involvement for fatigue or fit for duty calls... all pay protected". Period. (They have the same wording for sick calls... )