Originally Posted by
Herkflyr
I'm not sure what you are saying? It doesn't matter that you are in the same theater, you still can't exceed the duty time limitations for an Augmented Crew whether in "theater" or not.
While all of us will have headaches processing all the upcoming FAR 117 changes, I don't think your CONUS-S. America example will be changing from current practice.
In this case (NOT CONUS-Europe or CONUS-Asia) the crews are acclimated for the entire duration of the trip. No extra long layover is required to make the acclimatization rules fit.
Therefore the way I read it, even with a "Class 3" facility (three-man crew, non lie-flat seat that reclines at least 40 degrees) and the typical depart-at-night scenario for the GRU-EWR return leg, you still have a 13 hour duty day in which to conduct the flight--which means nothing should change from current trip construction.
Am I missing something here? (I well may be).
First off I am learning this as I go here so it could very well be that you are right, and I have sent numerous emails to my ALPA reps to get clarification as this may alter my current vacancy bid. Now having said that here is how I see the EWR-GRU-EWR trip.
First, you show up for work and you must determine which set of rules apply to you 1) un-augmented 2) augmented 3) split duty.
In the case of EWR-GRU-EWR you fall under augmented rules because of the length of the first leg. When you land in GRU you do not re-acclimate you are still in a single FDP (Flight Duty Period) unless you rest 36 hours you can not have a cumulative flight time greater than that allowed by the augmented rules for a single FDP because those were the rules you were working under when you started the FDP.
Like I said I could very well be wrong, and in fact I sort of hope I am because at the moment it looks to me as if international flying just got a whole lot less efficient.