Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Physiological - Other; Time Pressure; Fatigue
No Specific Anomaly Occurred All Types
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Company Policy
Second time this month with pairing [number]. Each time; on day two; struggled with fatigue every bit as much as; or more than; if this was a bonafide all-nighter. [The] 6:15 ET pushback [was equivalent to] 3:15 Pacific Time. [I had a] 1:00 wakeup; [in] Pacific Time. I did everything I could reasonably be expected to; to compensate. I went to bed as early as possible before the trip. On the layover I got exercise; an early dinner; and went to bed at 20:00 ET. I used melatonin and earplugs but still slept fitfully. Feeling adequately - though marginally - well-rested for duty at the outset; I was still fighting microsleeps enroute. This in spite of coffee; espresso beans; and 5-Hour Energy.Both of the occurrences of this pairing on my line are immediately followed by a pairing whose day one operates too close to or past midnight; Pacific Time. That creates the need to keep myself up after release from duty between trips; in order to re-synchronize my circadian rhythm as best I can for the next day. The first time; that made for such a level of fatigue by bedtime that I felt physically ill. I was unsure I'd be fit for the next day; but I recovered.
Air carrier Captain reported extreme fatigue when assigned both early morning and late night flights.