Originally Posted by 727CA

Of course the Feds know how it works but they're turning the other cheek. The Feds are being paid off by the these local Supplemental nonsked airlines (IFL, USAJET and Kalitta Charters). The only airline up there who doesn't do continual 24 HR reserve is Kalitta Air. The pilots had to negotiate it into their contract to put a stop to it.
The reason these airlines don't want to have their pilots do reserve in 12 hour shifts is because they will have double the amount of crews and they don't want to spend the money.
One of those airlines only has one crew per aircraft. And that's with nobody out sick, nobody on vacation, nobody in training.
Continual 24 HR reserve 6 days a week is illegal. According to the FAA, RESERVE IS DUTY.