Date: 201310
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight phase: Parked
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain
Human factors: Fatigue
Anomaly: No Specific Anomaly Occurred All Types
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Routine Inspection
Result: Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Contributing factors: Company Policy; Human Factors
Primary problem: Company Policy

Narrative: I will start with a lead-in history of the factors that contributed to the fatigue call. Five days on; two off with a midnight return on day five followed by an early commute back to another five day on stretch. How is reasonable rest possible when at 1500 on a scheduled day off; one is required to check a schedule? Then; by determining that after conversion from long call reserve to short call reserve and assigned an availability time of 0200 hrs to cover the base with no open trips; is forced to commute on short notice on that day off. Arriving in base between 2200 and 2330 (earliest possible arrival with commuter policy compliance) and checking into a hotel and only offered a two hour sleep opportunity before Scheduling called promptly at 0201 hours at circadian low to farm me out to another Base at 0650 (0500 hours wake up) to fly a trip I could not pick up even if I wanted to because it did not match my days of availability. I know. I tried earlier to pick up another trip with deadhead on the front of it in order to mitigate all of the above mentioned nonsense. Why do we continue to apply antiquated and draconian policy and put the fatigue issue front and center yet again after all of the efforts to identify and reduce it with sensible planning? One is left with very little choice until FAR 117 but to exacerbate Scheduling's shortfall problems with a fatigue call. I was not yet at my limit though. I hung in there and flew [two legs] and managed to get to bed at a reasonable hour. I was then awakened by an unscheduled wake up at 0000 hours. The schedule was for 0330 hours or 0230 in my time zone. Again; poor sleep; disrupted sleep and poor circadian management. The hotels excuse was an earlier occupant of the room must have set it up and they did not check their automated system. No matter; for me; I was off to rescue [sequence] now with a trip that included two domestic and two international legs and finally an airport layover. I was whipped. Next day; middle seat non reclining exit row deadhead to base; [we] sat reserve overnight. Converted from late reserve to early reserve for the fourth time and yet another 0200 hours availability. No call out. Finally; I was told on day five 'nothing for you; back to long call reserve'. I was on my way to reconstitute and then they retracted the plan; released me to rest and put me on a 0600 show to ferry Base to ZZZ and deadhead back to Base. Upon arrival in ZZZ; I was told by Gate Agent to contact Scheduling. They wanted to roll my day off to day six in order to wait until 1400 and fly an international trip. I was unable to even get a water for the ferry flight into ZZZ let alone nutrition for the early flight for either of us flight crew. I was up at 0430 to perform my scheduled trip. There is just not a shred of sense in continuing to rise to Scheduling's staffing shortcoming challenges. I am sad to say this is the first time in my twenty four years of flying that I had to use a fatigue call in order to in good conscience protect the safe operation of the Company by removing myself from duty. It is my hope the scenario aforementioned would illustrate the staffing shortcomings and the need to draw a limit. I pride myself on my work ethic and professionalism; and I am disappointed to have been put in this position when there are alternatives.




Synopsis: Reserve Captain describes a grueling schedule that results in a fatigue call.