at6d

Im die hard PM as well. I started on a late PM last month which turned into back to back long days and 11 hour overnights from PM to AM. On the last day they wanted to add three legs. I told them it was likely I’d have to call in fatigue for that last day and the scheduler said, “well we have to try.” Well, I was sure to be detailed in my fatigue report.

e6bpilot

I have quit even trying with schedulers except to just tell them "I am fatigued". It's pointless. They are just messengers for a computer system.
I do fill out the reports with detailed info.

mulcher

Thats a good way to put it. They just fill seats. If it’s legal. They don’t care.

flyguy81

Last time they gave me that kind of trip I told them flat out it wasn’t going to work. They put me on hold, pulled the trip, and gave me something else.

If you’re not willing to speak up beforehand, that’s fine. Do what you gotta do when you gotta do it. You never know what they’ll do if you don’t try though.

e6bpilot

Thats honestly great, I am glad that worked out. Any time I have spoken up they have asked me to "try" or just said that it's a legal assignment and to call fatigued when I need to. I have done the d1ck dance with the NOC CP with the "I've got one more leg in me" situation too. I may try again at some point, but I am getting tired of saving them from themselves. I think letting it play out and then sending in a report is much more helpful to them and us.
I don't get emotional over it. I just make the best call that I can based on the info that I have.
I had a cancellation one day in Dallas and they wanted me to wait 6 hours for a deadhead to a min rest overnight. I suggested just staying there and then deadheading in the morning (for no extra pay, I may add) and they were like nah, that's not what skysolver says to do. So I just called fatigued on the spot. They got me a hotel. I deadheaded in the morning and had a productive day the following day. Win/win.
Captains, I have also noticed that FOs will more often than not follow your lead. If you are trying to push through, they will probably do it as well. In my last two fatigue calls, the FO decided to call fatigued as well. I always tell them that what they do is up to them and not to feel pressured one way or another. We are truly the last decision maker in the process. Make the right call.

Also, don't waffle when you call the schedulers. Just like a sick call...I am fatigued. I need 12 hours in a hotel. They appreciate it and so will you.

hoover

had a PM reserve, got called to DH to ELP for a 0500 report next day. I said there is no way I'll be able to get rest for that. He said try and call fatigued if you have to.
I asked if they could cover that flight if called fatigued at 0445? He said he didnt know and that was the end of the call. 5 min later scheduling called back and took away the trip.
never hurts to try and have a common sense conversation.

flyguy81

Yup. Last time even I told them I’d be rested and legal 10 hrs later. He refused to fix it then and told me I had to set an alarm to wake up in 5 hrs so that I could call in fatigued. I said that was the dumbest thing I’d ever heard…the fact I was on the phone with him inside 8 hrs to show proved I didn’t have legal rest. He said, “how am I supposed to know when you’ve had 8 hrs rest?” Fought me on it and then hung up on me without telling me what my fatigue schedule fix was. Saw I was dhd-ing the next day and reported everything in the fatigue report. SWAPA called me and told me scheduling was getting retrained on how they talk to us when we call in due to it. That was a couple years ago so hopefully it’s better now.

Cyio

Its easy as hell now. "I am calling in fatigued for my trip". Scheduler says OK, please hold and a minture or so later they are back releasing you with your new schedule. If you are not rested after your period, call back and extend it.

gipple

Waste of time writing fatique reports. Do you think yours is the first time the fatigue monkeys have seen your report? Another full time trip pull for a SWAPA Klingon. Dead silence would let the cubicle dwellers know that we have quiet quit. Nothing changes based on fatigue. Nobody on either side GAS. Club 5/20.

Grumpyaviator

Hadnt thought of that, good point.