An air carrier pilot reports flying in the constant state of fatigue because of long flight days; hi...

Attributes
ACN	774347
Time
Date	200802
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	774347
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Company FAA
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Several times during the descent and approach; I found myself taking micro-naps (with my eyes open) due to fatigue. At one point the first officer asked me if I was 'in the zone' because I hadn't moved in several mins. We had an XA00 show (our body clock) and then flew ZZZ1-ZZZ2. We sat for a couple of hours and then flew ZZZ2-ZZZ3 which would be a flying day of 7 hours 58 mins. The trip is all day flying; and is quite efficient. I don't think the trip itself would be fatiguing; but I now operate in a constant state of fatigue. Every month my schedule is built to 93+ hours with 12-14 days off. In months past; I have had some modest success dropping/trading trips to reduce the amount of flying that is in my line. This month we went to a new trip trading system in which I was unable to reduce my flight time at all; despite putting in about 9 trades this month. I am now on my 4TH or 5TH straight week of 4 on; 3 off. My last trip started on day #1 with an XA00 show and ended on day #4 with an XS00 arrival. When I took off from ZZZ2; I felt that I was safe to continue; despite feeling some fatigue. It became apparent about 1/2 way through the flight that I was starting to deteriorate to the point of being dangerous. Next month my schedule is 92 hours and 12 days off. Chronic fatigue has become a serious; daily problem for me.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR PILOT RPTS FLYING IN THE CONSTANT STATE OF FATIGUE BECAUSE OF LONG FLT DAYS; HIGH MONTHLY FLT TIME; AND TOO LITTLE TIME OFF DURING THE MONTH.

Narrative: SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE DSCNT AND APCH; I FOUND MYSELF TAKING MICRO-NAPS (WITH MY EYES OPEN) DUE TO FATIGUE. AT ONE POINT THE FO ASKED ME IF I WAS 'IN THE ZONE' BECAUSE I HADN'T MOVED IN SEVERAL MINS. WE HAD AN XA00 SHOW (OUR BODY CLOCK) AND THEN FLEW ZZZ1-ZZZ2. WE SAT FOR A COUPLE OF HRS AND THEN FLEW ZZZ2-ZZZ3 WHICH WOULD BE A FLYING DAY OF 7 HRS 58 MINS. THE TRIP IS ALL DAY FLYING; AND IS QUITE EFFICIENT. I DON'T THINK THE TRIP ITSELF WOULD BE FATIGUING; BUT I NOW OPERATE IN A CONSTANT STATE OF FATIGUE. EVERY MONTH MY SCHEDULE IS BUILT TO 93+ HRS WITH 12-14 DAYS OFF. IN MONTHS PAST; I HAVE HAD SOME MODEST SUCCESS DROPPING/TRADING TRIPS TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF FLYING THAT IS IN MY LINE. THIS MONTH WE WENT TO A NEW TRIP TRADING SYS IN WHICH I WAS UNABLE TO REDUCE MY FLT TIME AT ALL; DESPITE PUTTING IN ABOUT 9 TRADES THIS MONTH. I AM NOW ON MY 4TH OR 5TH STRAIGHT WK OF 4 ON; 3 OFF. MY LAST TRIP STARTED ON DAY #1 WITH AN XA00 SHOW AND ENDED ON DAY #4 WITH AN XS00 ARR. WHEN I TOOK OFF FROM ZZZ2; I FELT THAT I WAS SAFE TO CONTINUE; DESPITE FEELING SOME FATIGUE. IT BECAME APPARENT ABOUT 1/2 WAY THROUGH THE FLT THAT I WAS STARTING TO DETERIORATE TO THE POINT OF BEING DANGEROUS. NEXT MONTH MY SCHEDULE IS 92 HRS AND 12 DAYS OFF. CHRONIC FATIGUE HAS BECOME A SERIOUS; DAILY PROB FOR ME.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.

An air carrier pilot reports flying in the constant state of fatigue because of long flight days; high monthly flight time; and too little time off during the month.