I thought you have to make a verbal agreement on a recorded line for extensions, not just the usual sign on the FFD line on the release?

 

Depends on the airline. I think some outfits use ACARS.

Nu

 

As of now, you can "pre-agree" simply by signing. This is (arguably) mutually beneficial to the pilot and the company because if you didn't pre-agree, then you would have to actively agree to the extension and in many cases could end up getting burned over a 1 or 2 minute duty day over run when you were willing to extend because it benefitted you. There is nothing inherently wrong in the pre-agree concept, as long as there is a zero jeopardy, non punitive way out any time by the pilot.

I also don't see how a company can force someone to call fatigued. No company has the power or the authority to do that. They can't make you call in sick either. They have zero power in that regard. None whatsoever. If you just kept saying, on a recorded line, every time they asked "so you are calling in fatigued then?" the same response of "I am unwilling to extend past my normal FAR 117 maximum duty day at this time, you can direct any further inquiry to the Federal Aviation Administration, and if there is any additional issue I will be contacting them immediately" there wouldn't be jack squat they could do about it and if they tried they would be a world of hurt by the FAA. Empty threat.

 

This new law just came out, and company's are trying to tweak it in there favor. Complete BS. The law states that the PIC must agree to the extension. Where is the PIC's authority? Also, I could only hope the PIC would make a joint decision with the SIC to determine if the flight can depart safely.

 

No where in 117 does it say you automatically agree to an extension when you sign the release! It is your decision in black and white.

 

Seems a call to your POI is in order for verification. He/she may be unaware this is even going on.

 

Now I realize where this info came from. Cut and pasted right from BluePilots. He was called in for dependability because he punched out 9 times since December 1st not because he refused extension. Once again a little bit of information can be spun into all kinds of rumors. Once the whole picture is unveiled the picture becomes very clear. Pilots like this one are the reason JB management came out with the poorly rolled outdependability policy.
Once again sick calls are the only thing that can trigger a dependability review. Fatigue and duty extensions currently do not. Let's keep it that way and vote in a CBA.

 

Douch bags like this are the reason we have the new sick policy ,,,, guys have ruined a good sick policy ( non existent ) and made is suffer cause they call out 30 times a year. ...,,,

 

Huh just half the story on bluepilots, I wish I could say I'm shocked.
They are all upset about this and if it is pilot pushing that's one thing but I have a feeling there is way more to the story.
I just wish they could learn running around spreading rumors makes them look bad. We are at a time where we need FACTS not hyperbolae. O well back to the rumors.

 

This is bad information.

Also, when we sign the release as a pilot (all pilots sign it now for those not at DL) we are agreeing to the 2 hour extension until we notify otherwise. You can refuse the extension at any time.

We're grown adults, individuals, and professional pilots... why make a deal about the captain accepting it and us not? If you're done, you're done. Who cares if he's fine- he might have slept wonderfully while you were dealing with family issues. That's how it goes. Don't make a big emotional deal about it, and they have no room to do the same.

I had a tracker give me a deal about throwing down a pumpkin time when I felt our eastbound afternoon westcoast flight would become a redeye due to our rolling delay. He asked me if I reported not ready to fulfill my contract. I asked him "If something in the contract was legal, is it automatically safe?" He said yes. I told him that we could no longer have a productive discussion and to hand me over to the supervisor or duty pilot. Backpedalling ensued and the situation was resolved very quickly.