A321 flight crew is concerned with fatigue and rest issues during flight.

Attributes
ACN	723131
Time
Date	200701
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : gve.vor
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A321
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 125 flight time total : 21000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	723131
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Due to long duty days and short overnights you cannot stay alert and it is virtually impossible to stay awake at times. This was one of those times. The first officer and myself were tired. It was day 3 of 4. The first officer was flying. I just nodded off! I had been fighting it and it finally won! I was only out for 4 or 5 mins but when I woke up the first officer had fallen asleep too! The little time for genuine rest. This 'it's legal' method of scheduling flight crews has to stop!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A321 FLT CREW IS CONCERNED WITH FATIGUE AND REST ISSUES DURING FLT.

Narrative: DUE TO LONG DUTY DAYS AND SHORT OVERNIGHTS YOU CANNOT STAY ALERT AND IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STAY AWAKE AT TIMES. THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE TIMES. THE FO AND MYSELF WERE TIRED. IT WAS DAY 3 OF 4. THE FO WAS FLYING. I JUST NODDED OFF! I HAD BEEN FIGHTING IT AND IT FINALLY WON! I WAS ONLY OUT FOR 4 OR 5 MINS BUT WHEN I WOKE UP THE FO HAD FALLEN ASLEEP TOO! THE LITTLE TIME FOR GENUINE REST. THIS 'IT'S LEGAL' METHOD OF SCHEDULING FLT CREWS HAS TO STOP!

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.