Originally Posted by
pilot772
Here's another question. I don't normally commute but this came up for me over the holidays. What do you guys do while on LSR while on an airplane. Either commuting in anticipating an assignment or after an assignment and right back on LSR.
Do you change your voicemail stating you are flying and will be there for the trip?
I had this exact question for the Asst. Chief in DCA just last week. The answer is, it's a grey area. There is nowhere in the contract that says you can be out of phone contact while on long-call. It does say you are to be phone contactable 24 hours a day. That being said, the Asst. Chief said many people call scheduling just before getting on a commute and ask "Hi, this is so-and-so. I was wondering if you could make a note on my schedule that I'm going to catch a commute on UAxxxx and will have my phone off for about 2 hours? If you have an assignment please leave a message and I will call you back when I land." I have done this several times and they always say something like, "sure, just be sure you can report in the required 12 hours."
One caveat though. The Asst. Chief also said that from a managers standpoint, he would have to abide by what the contract says if scheduling didn't want to play ball. In other words, you have to be phone contactable 24 hours a day while on long-call. Clear as mud?