Date: 201906
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: Large Transport
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Workload; Situational Awareness; Distraction
Second reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; First Officer
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: Pre-flight
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Company Policy

Narrative: After a [long] delay due to maintenance; then no flight attendants; then no ground crew; we were boarded waiting for baggage to be removed from the Jet-way. My First Officer got a call from tracking saying she was illegal to continue flying without taking a 2 hour extension to call back. With the toxic environment at [Airline] scheduling no one returns calls because of constant reassignments. We both started the trip at the same time and we both had the same [start] time which was about 3 hours later. We could not figure out how she could be illegal. So rather than violate FAR 117 she decided to call tracking. The scheduler immediately said she was legal and he said that just to get her to call to reassign her to another flight. He threatened her with a refusal to fly and I told her to hang up so we could shut the door and continue our flight. We were both very upset and angry that [airline] had to blatantly lie about your legality to get you to call because they have a crew shortage. Scheduling has no credibility. My First Officer was still upset taxiing out so I pulled over in the penalty box so we could both regroup and make sure we were both in the green.[The airline] is primarily responsible for agreeing to the worst scheduling contract in the industry by allowing the constant reassignments which has created an environment where pilots won't return calls so scheduling has to do whatever it can to get in touch with them.[Airline] Scheduling is the greatest threat when I am at work. It dominates all conversations. Scheduling should not be able to call a pilot while on the flight deck because they are a major detraction and a threat to a safe operation.


Second narrative: The flight was delayed for mechanical reasons followed by having to wait for flight attendants to.[Scheduler A] from crew tracking left a voice mail informing me that I was illegal to go on to ZZZ1. He said it was going to cancel; and that they had no fix for it. He needed me to call as soon as possible to see if I would extend.Captain got involved because he had the same report time as me; which would make him illegal as well. We checked our [start times] on the release against the FAR 117 chart and found no reason I would be illegal. In fact we had another 4 hours to be legal without an extension. Due to the seriousness of the allegation and possible FAR violations; Captain and I thought it prudent to clarify this matter. [Crew tracking] told me the legality issue was a mistake; but while he had me on the phone he was going to reassign me to an even later flight.I could barely contain my disbelief. I was duped/lied to in order to make voice contact for a reassignment. He kept asking if I was refusing to fly. I tried to remain calm and told him as politely as I could manage that I was hanging up now to fly this flight. I terminated the conversation and Captain immediately called [the airline] to report the abuse and seek guidance for me. The lead Flight Attendant overheard and commented that scheduling should not be allowed to contact us within minutes of departure and treat us that way because it 'messes with pilot psyches' she said.We departed minutes afterward; but that was a poor judgment call on my part. I grew increasingly more agitated that I was put in this situation. I was getting distracted. We were flying into a special qualifications airport at night and needed to be 100% focused on the flight; not wondering if I was going to be reprimanded by my superior for refusing to fly after being blatantly lied to by my own company.If I ever feel this type of pressure again; I will go to a hotel and reassess my fitness for duty. I felt bullied and felt that [crew tracking] created a hostile working environment. This pilot pushing has become routine but has now has reached an all-time low.[Crew tracking] and the entire scheduling department needs to understand the distraction created by these reassignments and rude behavior can jeopardize lives. It's not just a fill-a-seat game for those of us who are out on the line. The way scheduling is operating is endangering passengers. It must be addressed before we lose a lot more than our tempers.Thank you for helping to convey the seriousness of this type of behavior.


Synopsis: Air Carrier flight crew reported being confused by crew scheduling if they were legal to fly.