Date: 201905
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ORD.Airport, IL
Flight conditions: Marginal
Weather elements / visibility: Thunderstorm
Light: Night
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
ATC / advisory: Ramp ORD
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Fatigue; Physiological - Other; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Pre-flight
Result: General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Contributing factors: Company Policy; Human Factors; Weather
Primary problem: Company Policy

Narrative: Apologies for abruptness I am on an iPhone in the back of the plane. Besides potentially fatiguing deadhead reassignments and operation into WOCL (Window of Circadian Low operations); I am concerned about the fact that scheduling contacted my First Officer shortly prior to pushback on Flight XXX and asked if he'd entertain a FDP (Flight Duty Period) extension on Flight XXXY. First Officer and I had discussed earlier in the day that we'd take it leg by leg per FAR 117. He is on probation and told Scheduling he would not extend. Scheduler stated that he'd start working First Officer's removal. I found it odd that no attempt was made to contact me as we were both under the same FDP constraints. We were running behind and I decided to deal with it upon arrival in ORD. Upon arrival in ORD; First Officer assumed he was released and began his trek to commute home. I checked schedule and contacted Scheduling who said they knew we weren't extending but that we had to try to make the flight go. We arrived late; had no flight attendants; and the ramp was closed due to lightning. I explained this to the scheduler who; I assume by extension from 'the tower'; demanded that we board the aircraft and try to push. A storm that was forecast for more than 24 hours prior does not fall under the following definition of unforeseen operational circumstance: 'An unplanned event of insufficient duration to allow for adjustments to schedules; including unforecast weather; equipment malfunction or air traffic delay that is not reasonably expected.' This is an attempt at pilot pushing to an unsafe and illegal degree. It is unfortunate that passengers were boarded knowing full well the airplane would not push in time. Furthermore; it is inexcusable to push crews into a 'rushed' situation when the crew absolutely knows the conditions on the ground and in the air will not allow for the planned schedule. Couple this with an alleged comment to the First Officer from an unknown person on the crew tracking line stating that they were 'running a few tests' to see how they could make the flight work and we have a definitive case of attempts at unrealistically changing flight plans to avoid FAR limitations. The ramp remained closed well after we were released. Had we accepted the extension; we would have potentially violated actual flight time limits as well.It should be obvious; but lack of staffing; poor communication; and failure to plan on [the company's] part does not constitute an emergency on my part. Stop trying to force the operation and listen to the professionals on the ground. Poor leaders and organizations force issues; solid leaders empower the folks doing the hard work on the ground and underwrite decisions and risk.




Synopsis: Air Carrier pilot reported operations was forcing the flight crew to try to extend their Flight Duty Period when known delays were in effect due to weather and a ramp closure.