Widebody; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Fatigue
Other fatigue
General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Company Policy; Staffing; Human Factors
We departed the West Coast for RJAA with a 3 man crew for a flight of 12+44. Our crew was greatly fatigued and made several significant errors enroute and on descent.I had requested an additional crewmember but was denied by Operations as well as the on duty and local chief pilots. They informed me that this was a contractual problem and ordered me to fly the trip. Further; I was informed that the flight was legal per an LOA [Letter of Agreement] with the FAA. An FAA representative was unable to confirm this and no letter or copy [thereof] was produced.These flights produce more safety reports due to the fatigue inherent in three man operations of this route. Please research why these flights are always scheduled at 11+59 and always go over?
A widebody Captain took exception to his airline's policy of scheduling long range overwater flights with only a single relief pilots on flights which routinely exceed 12 hours of flight time; in apparent violation of FAR flight time limits and their labor contract. He noted that; when he was ordered to fly the trip despite his concerns; his managers and/or an FAA representative were unable to provide a copy of an alleged LOA with the FAA they had cited to justify the assignment.