Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150; Flight Crew Total 5200; Flight Crew Type 150
Fatigue; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Human Factors; Company Policy
Just as I was about to leave my room [for an all-night flight]; I received a call from the Captain indicating that the plane was AOG and our flight was temporarily canceled. He did not know when the plane would be ready to fly. Only later did I discover that an MEL was close to expiration and the entire APU was being removed from the aircraft as a result. I have no doubt that the company was waiting for this work to be completed before they reached out to us. I heard nothing all afternoon from [the] Captain or [the airline]. [Late that] evening; I checked our scheduling application to see if any updates had been made and none existed. I drifted off to sleep at about that time. I was woken up by a phone call from the Captain about 2.5 hours later; and was told to be downstairs in an hour. I showed up downstairs and realized on the van ride to the airport that I was fatigued. I brought it up with [the] Captain and he refused to respect my complaint. He said that if we were to call in fatigue; that we should do it as a crew. I agreed and said that we should do that at this time. He refused. I called our Dispatch on my own and reported fatigue.  The Dispatcher told me to call the Chief Pilot to determine when I could be ready to go back on duty. I called the Chief Pilot and he told me that I had just had two days off and that I 'had better go fly'. The threatening manner in which he stated it; I felt that my job or my potential for advancement was at risk if I did not take the flight. I flew the trip and have received a follow up letter from [the Chief Pilot] indicating that this fatigue call is unacceptable and that I need to 'learn to manage my rest better'.
Air carrier First Officer reported a fatigue call after a long delay before an all-night flight was denied; and felt at risk because of it.