Captain Rich Hughey, FedEx Express MD11 Chairman, ALPA President s Committee for Cargo Member, ALPA FT/DT Committee
Fatigue Calls: In the Past Irregularity Report (IR) system: appeared punitive Testing the Waters Scheduler would revise a trip, Then ask the pilots to fly revision, Pilot s self-assess & say they are too fatigued, Skeds re-revises the pairing back to original Pilots never knew to report the event D.O. never knew to document the event
Fatigue Calls: Here and Now Automated & initiated only by a Duty Officer (pilot) Objective documentation and input for: Scheduling Improvement Group (SIG) review Fatigue Event Review Committee (FERC) analysis Acknowledge friction of competing interests. Fitness for Duty vs. Sick Leave deduction
FedEx # s ~4700 Pilots ~15-18,000 flight segments/month (~80% domestic) ~60% of domestic flying is at night (~7200) ~10-12 fatigue calls per month (2017)
Why So Few Fatigue Calls? Industry: Passenger & Cargo Apples & Oranges FedEx: ALPA + Culture Change = > Confidence FedEx: Duty Officer (DO) Leads Engagement FedEx: Reporting process is structured & objective FedEx: Input to Joint Scheduling & FRM processes
Calling in Fatigue (Prior to Trip/Reserve) Covered in CBA Trip/reserve day dropped eligible for make up Fit for Duty? IM SAFE IM = Illness, Medication, SAFE = Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotion (Eating)
Calling in Fatigue (During Trip/Reserve) Pilot self-assess Fitness for Duty Pilot calls Duty Officer Pilot says the F word (fatigue) DO changes conversation AND takes care of the pilot
D.O. Led Conversation Stops discussion of circumstances Shifts to fatigue management Selects online link to the Fatigue Event Management (FEM) form Employee # Auto loads personal & trip info. Space for narrative Hits enter: emails to pre-determined distro list and FEM database
Duty Officer: 3 CBA choices 1. Trip Revision: Pilot given legal rest period and next duty is postponed until after legal rest is attained. 2. Trip Revision: Pilot given legal rest and trip is revised to include alternate duty assignment. 3. Trip Removal: Pilot is removed from trip and placed in sick leave status & given a legal rest.
Company Supports Pilot Return to Base Placed in hotel for legal rest Authorized ground transportation from hotel to airport Authorized passenger carrier deadhead return to base Automatically returned from sick status after trip
Fatigue Event Management Database Email(s) sent: Pilot, FERC, other D.O. s and other Flight Ops folks Email to Pilot: Reminds they were fatigued Link to Fatigue Event Management (FEM) system Attached sleep log for FEM database & Fatigue Modeling Software input
Pilot Duties in Fatigue Event Management WBAT: antiquated, clunky system that, in itself, is fatiguing to fill out. (FEM) Pilot has 72 hours to complete Fatigue Report ALPA Rep calls pilot(s) to discuss circumstances: 50% participation in 2015 90% participation now
Fatigue Event Review FERC members: Association and Company Sick bank deduction reviewed by FERC Contractual vs. Circumstantial FERC impasse: final decision made by Company Most sick banks are reimbursed (95+%) Fitness for Duty vs. Sick Leave deduction Self-assessment is impaired
Fatigue Event Review Reported in Quarterly FRMG Meeting: DO s, Safety, GOC, FAA, Scheduling, Flight Ops, Objectionable Pairing DNA identified (SIG/PSIT) Run in Fatigue Modeling Software with Pilot Sleep Log Assessed by Pilot Scheduling Improvement Teams (PSIT = ALPA) Reviewed by Scheduling Improvement Group (SIG = ALPA + Company) FERC recommendations
Fatigue Event Review FERC recommendations: Pairing revision to reconfigure objectionable DNA, or Data Collection/Sleep Study Communicate to crewforce for Data Collection participation Results reviewed by FERC members (company & association) Reviewed by Sleep Scientists (one company, one association) If DNA no change, goes to full FRMG for review
Plan Crew Planning SIG FRMG Assess Global Network Planning Review SIG PSIT Crew Scheduling Operate Global Operations Control Schedule SIG PSIT
Questions?