Originally Posted by Dash8widget

The contract doesn't specifically give a nine hour uncontactable window for long calls - it's more of an implied thing. What it does say though, is that a long call pilot does not have to acknowledge an assignment until 3 hours prior to report. Starting next month, if you wait until you are within 10 hours of report (but more than 3) to acknowledge your assignment, you are no longer legal to fly the trip. BUT, you are still well within the your contractual rights - discipline wise, the company cannot do thing to you. And, as long as you don't actually fly the trip, the FAA could care less.

The company cannot ignore our contract in this case nor can they just unilaterally impose a two hour acknowledgement window - they are just hoping that as a pilot group we cooperate. Remember they cannot require you do something that is A. Illegal and B. Not in our contract.