Originally Posted by
SmoothOnTop
When I had 10 duty free days per month at the airlines I didn't see them as 10 days off when I had to cross the country between home and base.
The 10 days duty free days became 5 or 6 days off at home when I subtracted out the commute.
Year 1, I would commute the day before my show time and spend the night with ear plugs in and sleep mask over my eyes (resting) in a crash pad that made europe's worst hostels look and smell like 5 star hotels.
If anyone else was there, I'd set the alarm 1/2 hour earlier to avoid the morning bathroom/shower wait. Sometimes when that wouldn't work, I would have to do the Tom Hanks 'Terminal' kitchen sink shower&shave.
Year 2 and beyond, I would commute the day before my show time and spend the night with ear plugs in and sleep mask over my eyes (resting) in a crash pad that smelled a little better.
My point: Rest - Who's Responsible?
§ 91.3 Responsibility and authority of the pilot in command.
(a) The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft.
121.471 has joint responsibility.
Was I doing my part???
91 wins. The PIC is responsible.
Now if you ask if you could get fired for following 91.3 and calling off a flight because you couldn't get a good night's sleep. You sure can.
Part 121 is regulating the Airline, not the Airline Pilot. 121.471 only limits what your company can make you do. And by extension exactly what they will demand of you. It's PIC's job to ensure that the crew is really rested not the 121 definition of rest.
The company could care less however, it's your responsibility to fly ACTUALY rested (IM SAFE), not "Legaly" rested (121.471). How you manage to do that is concidered your own problem.