B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 166; Flight Crew Total 10403; Flight Crew Type 9306
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Troubleshooting
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Procedure
After completing the parking check we began to prepare the aircraft for the return [flight]. After initializing the ACARS we began receiving ACARS messages associated with the normal pre-flight sequence with the exception of the ACARS message confirming both of us as Fit For Duty (FFD)! Neither one of us had yet made that declaration via ACARS or any other method. We had not even got out of our seats yet. I sent an ACARS query to both my Dispatcher and the Duty Manager asking how this was possible. My Dispatcher replied that it was probably done when I accepted the release?! Accepted the release? I had not even seen the release let alone accepted it. The Duty Manager thought that the gate agents had possibly declared us FFD via a beta test program that exists whereby they have that capability. How is this even possible? I'm shocked that this occurred in the first place and even more so that a gate agent can have access to my record and able to insert themselves and afforded the opportunity to circumvent the rule and intent of FAR 117 by declaring me FFD!
An air carrier Captain arrived at the gate and prepared the ACARS for the next flight. While doing so he found someone else had declared him fit for duty without his knowledge or permission. Dispatch said a Company beta program may permit gate agents to declare a pilot fit for duty without the pilot's input.