Originally Posted by
skybob
I am curious. Now that SR22 has presented reams of documentation to support his conclusion, will someone from the other side defend their position?
Not from "the other side", but if I were subject to a 135 company and it's scheduling "whims".... this is what I'd do...
1) Do you still think it is legal to do 24/7 call?
Based on the presented evidence, I think it is legal if and only if you are called and told that you are "NOW" in rest and that they'd like you to report in 10 hours. Since I've never scheduled 135, I don't know how that would work, but I think it'd kill the on demand aspect.
2)Do you do it yourself and/or require others to do it?
I do not, and would only with the stipulation as above. Any call immediately places me in rest for 10 hours with an assignment to follow.
3)would you still threaten to fire someone for following the FARs?
Heck no. I would like to see companies become more liable for this behavior, rather than going after the pilots. It's like going after the symptom, not the problem, and things won't change until it's the company who is held responsible for pilot pushing.
4) If you would still require other pilots to operate this way; what other FARs would you include as too expensive to follow?
FAR = Bible.
5)How do you differentiate between what rules to follow and which ones not to follow (These rest rules would seem to have a major impact on safety since they have been on the NTSB's Most Wanted list for years and years now meaning that even if the rules are followed in their present form they are stilll not enough)?
All rules are meant to be followed.
6)Are you honest with your employers, the FAA, aircraft owners, and customers that some aviation regulations are just too expensive to comply with and are therefore overlooked?
Would be.
7)What would you say to a customer/employer who insisted you break the law in order to remain employed?
One, if the FAA would have the cajones to back up the people it certifies, that I'd be happy to take the issue to the FAA. And two - I am not doing it.
The reason I ask these questions is that before engaging in this conversation one could claim ignorance on this topic. Although that is a little scary that a professional pilot doesn't even know what the FAA considers rest, especially with all of the fatigue stuff all over the news after several high profile incidents. But now that the info has been laid out for you so eloquently by SR22, will it change anything?
Already understood rest regs.
As a professional pilot, what are your responsibilities in this area? I ask these questions because I am curious about how pilots as a group view their responsibilities? Also, for anyone who has followed what is going on with the regionals and the crapstorm that Congress and the FAA are giving them over rest issues, as an industry, we should note that if we don't police ourselves; they will be happy to do it for us?
As it stands today... an aviators primary responsibility is to uphold safety through FAR compliance which enables him or her to retain earned certificate. Do what you can to police yourself - and don't let companies bully you.