Originally Posted by
rickair7777
What this ultimately comes down to is can they notify you?
If you're driving home, the answer is no, unless they hold you on a RAP, which would be non-rest, which would push your availability tomorrow to the right. If you're not on a RAP, why on earth would you answer the damn phone???
If they catch you in the jetway, then that comes down to company policy/CBA.
The FAA never intended that you would suddenly and automatically, upon block-in, enter rest from which there would be no return for ten+ hours.
People often confuse 117 with a "pilot QOL protection act". It's not that, not by any means. For example, they company can put you on a three-leg, 28 hour deadhead to timbukthree following a 14 hour duty, 9 hour block flying day. Suck? Yes. Illegal? No. The FAA and 117 doesn't care and has ZERO bearing on what happens to you AFTER 121 flying is done. The company has unlimited discretion to abuse you then, and you don't even have the systemic protections of a fatigue call. The company is of course obligated to give the required rest before your next 121 flight.
QOL comes from your contract, not 117.
Hi Rick.
This is addressing only the driving home scenario.
A reserve at many airlines would not be on a rest period while driving home. Neither would he be on duty, but he would be required to be on call.
If called when driving home, depending on the cell phone laws in his area, he would be expected to call back within an undefined reasonable period to accept an assignment. This assignment would need to allow a ten hour prospective rest period prior to report time. He could not be called back to the airport to take another assignment.
If you are commuting by air, you would generally be required to inform the scheduler of when you would be out of contact, just like any other time during your reserve period when you know you will not be reachable.
Joe