Originally Posted by
saxman66
If CS is using reserves up to 18 hours, than that is definitely not legal. You can only extend 2 hours beyond the max of 16 hours if a delay comes up later, AND the crew member agrees to it. If they knowingly give you 18 hours that far in advance it is illegal, plain and simple. Refuse it and hang up.
In advance is illegal IMO. Ex. 0400 RAP, called at 1500 for a show of 1700 to work a schedule that ends with a revenue flight blocking in at 2030. Not legal.
Unforeseen delay ONCE YOU HAVE REPORTED FOR WORK, then it's legal to apply the two hour extension to the 16 hours that started at the beginning of RAP. Same scenario, but last flight scheduled to block in at 1930, but then gets delayed and will not make it until after 2000. Legal to extend.
The theory here is that been with a 0400 RAP, maybe you slept in until 0930 are plenty rested to work until 2200. Doesn't take into account the fact that you were also supposed to be ready to roll out of bed at 0400 and go to work if called.
Watch out for CS building an impossible schedule to establish initial legality and then trying to extend later after the "unforeseen" delay occurs. Example: They call you out for a deadhead that leaves 17 minutes after they called. Ooops, you missed the flight, wait for the next flight six hours later, call the delay "unforeseen", and extend the FDP as needed. Not legal IMO.