Originally Posted by
bluejuice
Also, does anybody else think the SIG might have the CDG-STN/MAN-MEM wrong? All of these trips are good trips except for the last leg, which is perfectly legal leg and we have been flying it for years. Why is the SIG picking this particular sequence to wage war on? There are much worse trips that are not disputed.
Good question. The reason this sequence is disputed is that it is scheduled right up to the allowed max crew duty day limit of 13:30 hrs. However, that is NOT an FAR, nor a hard and fast limit; the company can currently overwork us past that time with no repercussions at all. And no extra pay.
Big picture-wise, this trip is similar to some of the Asia trips that are also scheduled to 13:30. And they go over that limit routinely. By disputing these, the SIG's position is to attempt to break the sequence up with an added layover, or reschedule to a shorter duty period.
For those not in the MD11, you've no doubt heard of the flights such as MEM-NRT, or CDG-SFS with block hrs nearing 14 hrs. An unrestricted Optimizer would string several duty days like this along on one trip, by adding intermittent cities. It would become a typical trip. The company would love it. MBO points all around.
What the fools that fly DP's don't realize is that by not supporting the SIG, in the not-too-distant future it would be the norm to get off the airplane drooling and needing a shave.