B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 185; Flight Crew Total 9294; Flight Crew Type 660
Time Pressure; Fatigue; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft; Company Policy; Human Factors
Crew Fatigue is a very sensitive subject and is why the past few years [Company] has been training us (Window of Circadian Low; REM sleep; etc.) to understand it. I believe this same subject applies to our Flight Attendants too.With a departure time of XA15 was delayed to XA45  as we were waiting for inbound from ZZZ1 for connecting working Flight Attendants as the plane departed late from ZZZ1 for a technical issue. The flight arrived at [a] gate [different] from International gates.Upon pilots arriving to plane; we found the plane to be totally dark with no power on aircraft; APU was shut down; battery off and external power not connected to aircraft with cabin cleaners standing out on the jet bridge waiting for electrical power so as they could perform their duties. We started APU and got power to the plane. Mechanics arrived a short time later and told us that Ramp had again pulled the power cord without checking with the cockpit (I have written many Internal Reports about this practice). Lucky; the prior crew had turned off the battery or we would have had an issue with dead batteries. Both Maintenance and I agree that this is becoming too common of a practice; it is being reported by both parties but nothing seems to being done to correct this practice.The Flight attendants (FA's) arrived a few minutes later. A crew briefing was given and that I was advised by the Flight Attendants that they were awaken at morning to be told of the delay out of ZZZ1 and that their pickup time was changed. A few of the FA's told me they were unable to go back to sleep. Normal boarding activities proceeded without any incidents. On preflight walk around; found a mechanical issue and reported it to maintenance; which resulted in a little longer delay. We blocked out at XA58. On pushback; the mechanical issue that was just fixed had reoccurred. After talking with maintenance; we taxied to the gate to have the problem looked at further. We blocked in at XB33 with ground power attached and APU shut down; battery switch on.Maintenance estimated that it would take about 1 to 1.5 hrs to fix the problem. I advised the purser of the situation. The passengers were deplaned with their belongings. A little time later; the purser advised me that they may have a legality issue; which I acknowledged. During the delay; I did observe the FA's trying to eat and rest. I also observed the purser calling the crew desk keeping them informed of the situation. The purser advised me of such call and was told by the crew desk to standby at this time. As time continued; I was advised by the purser that there was a disagreement in the legal duty time and he tried to call the crew desk again to validate the correct time. Meanwhile; I was then advised that a FA was not feeling good as she was becoming light headed. As time progressed; FA's were informing me that they were getting tired and sleepy. I could see a couple of them that their eyelids were starting to droop. I started to talk to the Purser about Fatigue of the crew. He informed me that their contractual time out is XD15. I gathered all of the FA's and asked them about how they were feeling with a couple of them acknowledging that they were getting tired.I do NOT know the Flight Attendants contract as to the rules of Fatigue; relied on the Purser and his knowledge. He tried to keep me best advised as he could as he was running into resistance from the company about being tired and to the re-crewing of the plane with fresh Flight Attendants. He did tell me that the soonest the crew desk could have a new crew here at the plane was XE00. As this was taking place; the CSR's (Customer Service Representative) wanted to re-board the plane. It was heard by one of the working Flight Attendant's on the CSR's radio to hurry and board the plane before the crew makes any more excuses. NOT COOL! Thereafter; things started to get out of hand with the flight attendants being coerced into continuing to work. There was a lot of communication between the purser and his supervisors in which I did observe taking place. I too even had a discussion with the chief pilot. The Flight Attendants out of fear of being reprimanded and punished; they agreed to continue to work. I again gathered the crew and asked about their current state and if they are fit to fly. I again was told that they were tired and sleepy; as I could still see a couple of FA's with their eyes still drooping and a couple of them now trying hard to listen to me talk. (now this is about XC00- does WOCL now come to mind?); but all of them including the purser was in fear of reprimand; so they have no choice but to fly.Knowing that the Flight Attendant crew desk stating that a new cabin crew would be available a XE00; I am actually now observing the current cabin crew being fatigued yet being pressured by a supervisor who was not actually present at the plane to personally observe the crew and just going by the contract; that I am now becoming very concerned for the safety of the passengers; plane; and the FA's themselves and if the FA's would be able to perform and give me their 100%. Also with everything getting out of hand; I made the decision using Captain Authority to re-crew the cabin with fresh Flight attendants. This decision came BEFORE the Flight Attendants timed out at XD15. After talking with the Chief pilot; the current crew agreed to stay on the plane with the door open until the new crew would arrive at XE00 since the passengers were onboard the aircraft.During this time; AGAIN; the ground crew pulled the external power cord without coordinating with the cockpit (as the APU was off) and the plane went totally dark with people onboard and causing the plane's avionics to go dead. Walked down to the ramp and told them to reconnect the cord as the plane was dark and the APU was off and that we had passengers onboard. This is the second time on the same flight! Because of this; we now had a mechanical problem; which we had to call back out maintenance to fix.The new cabin crew didn't arrive until XE53. I briefed the new purser and we departed the gate at XF25. Enroute; I ask how the delay was charged and was told that connecting F/a and Aircraft servicing was charged. After landing at ZZZ1; I was informed by the 1st purser that the working Flight attendants are in trouble for doing what was right. This is so wrong for obvious reasons! The working Flight attendants did NOT violate any contact rules (duty time) as they were following the directives of the Captain; which came before they timed out (XD15). The delay should not be charged to anyone as Flight Attendants like Pilots do get Fatigued and should not be punished or bullied into working especially since it is obvious that they had every intent to fly but because of the mechanical issues that occurred; it was beyond their control and that they were not trying to abuse the system. It is also very obvious that the 'CORE' concept was violated against these Flight Attendants. If you need to charge a delay; then charge the Captain as I made the decision for the reasons stated above. Do not punish the Flight Attendants for following the Captain instructions. NO ONE should be in Fear of their job and doing what is right provided there is no history of abuse.
B777 Captain reported the cabin crew was fatigued due to a mechanical delay plus an early schedule call; however; scheduling did not understand the fatigue situation.