“Getting home” is the absolute worst reason to extend. You’ll be crucified if anything happens. I just don’t see any reason to extend. None.

Had an old instructor tell me “There’s nothing we have to do today that can’t be done tomorrow.”

For the United extension pay, what you failed to mention is that it’s designed for augmented operations, (any FRMS exemption flight gets the add pay automatically) and if unaugmented it is only available if there is just a single leg in that duty period.


5-F-1-h-(1) For unaugmented Duty Periods, this Section 5-F-1-h shall apply only if there is a single flight in the Duty Period (for purposes of this Section 5-F-1-h, a deadhead deviation shall not be considered to be a flight in the Duty Period), a ground return shall be considered to be a flight in the Duty Period, and an air return shall be considered to be a flight in the Duty Period). ‘A single flight in the Duty Period’ means there is only one legal flight in the unaugmented Duty Period, as measured at the actual time of take-off of the first flight in the unaugmented Duty Period.


So for most domestic ops, there is no add pay for extending ones duty day.

I agree, but see this with mixed emotions if we continue to crap on our passengers.

Who is the CS manager that keeps pushing crews and withholding premium pay?

Yep. If I’m not fatigued I extend. Sometimes we forget there are 200 customers who you are going to strand.

Now come January 1st things may change. But for now I will continue to extend if I am fit.

Keep leaning forward. If I’m in back, I don’t want a dude who’s been up 16-20 hours operating. Mission hackers gonna hack I guess.

Do you think having pilots available to fly for you after 12-14 hours of duty is maybe something the company should think about?

Considering most commuters have 16+ hour days on their first day there really is no leg to stand on.

There are guys that commute cross country on a red eye to start their full day of flying that morning...

That's what the FO on Colgan 3407 did.

She flew in the Fedex redeye but her trip didn’t report until the afternoon. As it turned out their EWR-ROC turn cancelled and they had to fly just the BUF leg that night. Theoretically she could have had some sleep in the morning and afternoon in her duration at the crew room.

That’d be a stretch. Never flew for Colgan but the Commuter Airline crew room had no option that allowed for sleep where I was at.