BTW, congrats on the "Guppy Captain!" Hope life is great in the "Kingdom!"

Just an update...I'm still not sure what the correct interpretation is. BUT...I was just scheduled to deadhead to ORD to pick up the second half of a day's flying that previously we were doing as an augmented crew.

I don't know if this is an admission by the company that they had previously been doing it wrong...or just the fact that they didn't have enough crews at the starting base to augment the trip.

The DO and CP also got fired last week...not necessarily connected to this.

It is legal in domestic ops, just so long as none of the 3 pilots exceed 8 hours. ie fly 4 hours, rotate one pilot, fly 4 more hours rotate the other pilot, fly 4 more and you're done, every pilot has 8 hours of front seat time and the plane has moved for 12 hours. I'm looking for the reg now, but feel free to contact the "East Michigan" FSDO for further. ;) Did it for years and it sucked, lol

The reg is 121.507 - 3 pilot crews. Just to clarify, it does not matter whether it is domestic or international.

For the domestic vs int'l rule:
Usually the only time that the international vs domestic thing burns you is when you are operating a 2 pilot, 1 FE aircraft, crewed as such, on a "international" trip. (I think our Boeing 727 brethren feel this the most)

Then, you can use the flight time limitations spelled out in 121.521, because 121.513 says you can for "international" trips.

Those limits are:
1) No more than scheduled 12 hours flight in a 24 hour period.
2) NO DUTY DAY RESTRICTION. That is, you could be on duty almost 6 days and fly 12 hours. The next limiting factor for duty time would be the 1 in 7. 121.503(c)

In my opinion the Feds really messed up on this one.

3 Pilots, max duty of 18 hours
2 Pilots, 1 FE, max duty of 6 days.

This is safe how?

Do it all the time in the classic 74.... basic crew CA, FO, FE.... 12 hours flight time..( contractual to 18 hours duty )......our Gucci brothers :), would not see more than 8 hours in the seat..... crazy. OH..and if the company declares it a part 91 flight... well now all bets are off.

Its worse on planes with the FE...you are all stuck up there for all 12 hours. I did it on the L-1011 and 747-200. I can't sit for more than 2 hours now without getting the urge to land somewhere.

Routine, every day operations here at Xtra...