B737-700
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 134; Flight Crew Type 19000
Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Human Factors
I was awarded a two-day trip on (date) with the first leg to TNCA. Because I've had only one previous international landing (also TNCA) and it was approximately 18 months ago; I called Scheduling and requested [an Instructor Pilot]. Scheduling denied my request and stated the First Officer (FO) on the trip was International (INTL) qualified. I reviewed the TNCA enroute briefings and watched the videos to refresh my memory; and decided it would be a 'game time decision' between me and the FO as far as our experience and risk tolerance. When I met the FO at the aircraft; we mutually agreed that because he had significant Latin American experience (but not TNCA) and I had one landing in TNCA; and because there were no apparent negative conditions (weather; Maintenance; etc.); we would proceed without [an Instructor Pilot]. The FO told me that the Captain who I had replaced had also requested [an Instructor Pilot] the day before the trip began; was also denied and decided he was not comfortable; and was pulled without pay. Although our trip proceeded uneventfully; it was clear to both of us that TNCA and presumably other international destinations pose unique and unfamiliar environments that are dissimilar to Contiguous United States (CONUS) operations; and that reading a route briefing or watching a video cannot replace real time assistance from a pilot who has personal experience and knowledge and can convey that information as the flight proceeds. [An] Assistant Chief Pilot told me that he contacted Scheduling on my request after the trip and reported that Scheduling's policy is to attempt to assign [an Instructor Pilot] when requested the day prior. This did not happen; twice. [An] INTL designation reflects neither recency of international experience nor experience at any particular international destination. Scheduling's failure to comply with a pilot's request for [an Instructor Pilot] eliminates a valuable operational resource; unnecessarily increases risk and reduces the margin of safety.
A B737-700 Captain reported he was uncomfortable flying to an international destination without an experienced individual in the cockpit to assist.