B767-300 first officer is coerced into flying a multi-day trip with only 3 hours sleep when the orig...

Attributes
ACN	692248
Time
Date	200603
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lax.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 32000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767-300 and 300 ER
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	692248
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other oversight : coordinator
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

The issue arose in the timeframe preceding the trip. I was on reserve only mar/xx; but contacted approximately XA00 by the crew desk to cancel my day off and assign an XJ35 departure on mar/xa. I indicated 'fatigue' and asked about other alternatives and legalities. At the time of the call; I would only have a maximum of 5 hours to sleep under perfect conditions. The crew desk denied my 'fatigue' statement and indicated I had enough time to sleep preceding the assignment. I spoke with the duty manager; who indicated the trip was legal and I must fly. After packing and the stress of canceling major plans; I could only manage 3 hours of sleep. Upon departure; I missed radio calls; routine items; and fought to stay awake. I was not an asset to the captain and unfit to fly. My sleep was also compromised by the need to pack and other items not anticipated when scheduled for 1 day of reserve and subsequently assigned a multi-day trip. Despite my indication of stating fatigue; the crew desk compelled me to fly in condition where I clearly felt unfit for duty. Although there wasn't a specific SOP or far violation; I acted in contrast to the FARS; which require I report rested and fit for duty.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B767-300 FO IS COERCED INTO FLYING A MULTI-DAY TRIP WITH ONLY 3 HRS SLEEP WHEN THE ORIGINAL SCHEDULE ON RESERVE ONLY SHOWED A SINGLE DAY OF AVAILABILITY.

Narrative: THE ISSUE AROSE IN THE TIMEFRAME PRECEDING THE TRIP. I WAS ON RESERVE ONLY MAR/XX; BUT CONTACTED APPROX XA00 BY THE CREW DESK TO CANCEL MY DAY OFF AND ASSIGN AN XJ35 DEP ON MAR/XA. I INDICATED 'FATIGUE' AND ASKED ABOUT OTHER ALTERNATIVES AND LEGALITIES. AT THE TIME OF THE CALL; I WOULD ONLY HAVE A MAX OF 5 HRS TO SLEEP UNDER PERFECT CONDITIONS. THE CREW DESK DENIED MY 'FATIGUE' STATEMENT AND INDICATED I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO SLEEP PRECEDING THE ASSIGNMENT. I SPOKE WITH THE DUTY MGR; WHO INDICATED THE TRIP WAS LEGAL AND I MUST FLY. AFTER PACKING AND THE STRESS OF CANCELING MAJOR PLANS; I COULD ONLY MANAGE 3 HRS OF SLEEP. UPON DEP; I MISSED RADIO CALLS; ROUTINE ITEMS; AND FOUGHT TO STAY AWAKE. I WAS NOT AN ASSET TO THE CAPT AND UNFIT TO FLY. MY SLEEP WAS ALSO COMPROMISED BY THE NEED TO PACK AND OTHER ITEMS NOT ANTICIPATED WHEN SCHEDULED FOR 1 DAY OF RESERVE AND SUBSEQUENTLY ASSIGNED A MULTI-DAY TRIP. DESPITE MY INDICATION OF STATING FATIGUE; THE CREW DESK COMPELLED ME TO FLY IN CONDITION WHERE I CLRLY FELT UNFIT FOR DUTY. ALTHOUGH THERE WASN'T A SPECIFIC SOP OR FAR VIOLATION; I ACTED IN CONTRAST TO THE FARS; WHICH REQUIRE I RPT RESTED AND FIT FOR DUTY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

B767-300 first officer is coerced into flying a multi-day trip with only 3 hours sleep when the original schedule on reserve only showed a single day of availability.