Original Message

"The 12 hour shift was meant to be a compromise between the 24 shift back in the day (with the voluntary rest period if needed) and the 8 hour shift no one wanted to do.  It was always meant to be used cautiously, with the 14 hour extension a rare occurence.  As it turns out, we can't really govern ourselves, though."

14 hour shifts were always the norm for pilots in Part 135.   Had nothing to do with 24 hr shifts.   The 24 hr shifts under HEMES was the exceptiong created to compromise for companies (hospitals) who wanted one pilot to cover the whole day for 3 days in a row (making it easier to hire fewer pilots).   They learned that was not economical when they were required to give the pilot mandatory rest periods anyway (bringing the operation to a halt during that rest period).

14 hour extensions are a NORM in Part 135 operations.  It's just that HAA guy's think they are somehow a special bunch, which is surprising since most if not all but one fixed-wing accident was attributed to flying past 14 hours.  And that is ironic, wouldn't you say, since the fixed-wing air ambulance side of the house is not affected by Subpart L.