how to handle ? Fatigue scenario/bosses
 

Of course this is hypothetical

Part 91 corporate pilots Capt Bob and FO Steve are on a 3-week trip, with occasional "down days" sprinkled here and there but down days are while TDY/on the road and never "at home" in their warm beds.

At end of 3-week trip, they drop that plane (Plane-1) off at a location, and are to airline out, and are instructed to pick up another company plane (Plane-2) out of maintenance, somewhere else. They are to airline to the location of Plane-2. This travel involves an international flight of 6 hours back to USA, then a connection 3 hours after arrival, then a 1 hour flight to pick-up location. Observe a check-in time two hours before the flight leaves the gate also.

Capt Bob, within his authority/power imposed by the company, elects that they will have 24 hours "down" in place, after the 3-week trip, then airline out. His boss yells at him "why didn't you just airline out the next day, we need to get Plane-2 out of maintenance" etc etc blah blah. You can "rest" on the airline flight home.

Capt Bob explains hey we have been on the road 3 weeks, we have a suitcase full of dirty clothes, and we are worn down. In the interest of safety/etc we elected to do it as decided

Boss does not want to hear it.

How does Capt Bob handle (without having a stroke ?) this/etc reg quotes/fatigue studies/etc above and beyond what he already tried to say ? Part 91 op, no 121 regs/etc.

Oh the open ended directions this will go.....

Fairly simple in fact! If your not fit to fly, DONT fly!
We have all flown tired, sick, cranky and down right miserable. We've looked back and thought....ehhh, probably should have called in sick or fatigued on that one. But you and only you know when not to shut the door and crank up.
You scenario really leads to a predicament of CA Bob just wants to be at home rather than being fatigued.
In this case, CA Bob signed up for the gig and he is expected to go get Plane 2 and bring her home. He can discuss the details of why the schedule isn't working with the boss during a "sit down".
There are many gigs that guys face this and they turn into revolving door ops.

Any legit boss/CEO will want you in shipshape form if your gonna be flying him, business or his family.
Remember that walking away with your license, life, pride and clear conscience intact is a good day, even if you do get fired.

If you need a reg to quote to your boss, Mr. Dumass. (Pronounced doo-mah of course).
91.103 Careless and Wreckless Operation. Always there in your back pocket.

I think that answer is Capt. Bob will fly further in Plane-2???

The difference is whether or not Bob is b*tching because he's on the road for so long or if he's truly feeling fatigued.

If he's b*tching about being on the road for so long, then he has a crappy job, , but he better fly the Plane-2 if he wants to keep the job.

If he's truly fatigued and needs a stand-down, then this is where he mans up, steps up to the plate and point blank says he's tired and needs a break, and offers alternatives.

Now, Bob also may need to have a sit-down with the boss and present a nice brief on crew fatigue and how this may impact the big man's personal safety, the safety of his loved ones, or his company, etc.

You can look at NBAA for help on this as well.

And I would still look elsewhere. Aircraft owners who don't understand fatigue and the risks of fatigued crews need to hear it from multiple people on multiple occasions before they accept it, and in the process they'll fire crews thinking they're whiners... and Bob doesn't want to get caught with his pants down.

Show him some fatigue related accidents.....

Seems as though this operator could use an active Safety Management System/program. IF it already does this would be a great subject to engauge the operators safety representative.

There are some great products supported by economial companies that could offer the proper risk mitigation tools, pilot/operator awarness classes and program support.

If you are interested in more info please PM me and we could discuss a possible route in that direction.

v/r - MPA

All great replies, thank you

Or the GIII accident that went into the side of the hill in Aspen when the lead passenger put the pressure on the crew to get in... during a snow shower...after dark...into the mountains.

No Operations Manual?
No SMS?
No rules?

Duty is duty and rest is rest, its pretty cut and dry with rules in place.

none of the above? Its your word against the bosses, and we know who eventually always wins.

1 plane or 6, every department should have reasonable flight and duty time limitations in place.

This isn't difficult - We can do anything they want, and do it safely.....all it takes is lots of airplanes, lots of crews, lots of airline tickets, lots of hotels.

I never say NO, I just present what it will take to do it.

The owner needs a summary of fatigue related accidents and fatalities...Wait, maybe that's my next CRM business idea. Educating owners on human factors issues. No, they offered that at FlightSafety. No one showed up.