Reporter, a pilot for a major air carrier, complains the scheduling of reserve pilots is onerous and...

Attributes
ACN	618294
Time
Date	200405
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	618294
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

I have been on reserve since nov/03. Simply put, I am running out of steam, and quite frankly, I think it's just a matter of time before I end up in the hospital. Last week, I had 6 days on and 2 days off, really 1 day off because I commute, which I realize is my choice. This week, I was back for 6 more days of reserve and flew all 6 days. On my last day, I was inbound to chicago and the crew desk sent me a message over ACARS saying they had more flying for me for the day. I had trouble sleeping last night and was very tired. I called the crew desk and told them I could not accept the assignment because I was fatigued. I am very concerned about company's current reserve system. I don't think it's safe to be flying around tired all the time, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR, A PLT FOR A MAJOR ACR, COMPLAINS THE SCHEDULING OF RESERVE PLTS IS ONEROUS AND DEBILITATING, RESULTING IN TIRED AND UNSAFE FLT CREWS.

Narrative: I HAVE BEEN ON RESERVE SINCE NOV/03. SIMPLY PUT, I AM RUNNING OUT OF STEAM, AND QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I END UP IN THE HOSPITAL. LAST WK, I HAD 6 DAYS ON AND 2 DAYS OFF, REALLY 1 DAY OFF BECAUSE I COMMUTE, WHICH I REALIZE IS MY CHOICE. THIS WK, I WAS BACK FOR 6 MORE DAYS OF RESERVE AND FLEW ALL 6 DAYS. ON MY LAST DAY, I WAS INBOUND TO CHICAGO AND THE CREW DESK SENT ME A MESSAGE OVER ACARS SAYING THEY HAD MORE FLYING FOR ME FOR THE DAY. I HAD TROUBLE SLEEPING LAST NIGHT AND WAS VERY TIRED. I CALLED THE CREW DESK AND TOLD THEM I COULD NOT ACCEPT THE ASSIGNMENT BECAUSE I WAS FATIGUED. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT COMPANY'S CURRENT RESERVE SYS. I DON'T THINK IT'S SAFE TO BE FLYING AROUND TIRED ALL THE TIME, AND I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO FEELS THIS WAY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Reporter, a pilot for a major air carrier, complains the scheduling of reserve pilots is onerous and debilitating, resulting in tired and unsafe flight crews.