Originally Posted by
newhire1234
Another noob question, for long call reserve is there a certain time period when you are on call? I plan on commuting from the west coast, is long call even possible from there?
Pilot legend and lore still harbors the mythos of barely current long call pilots with epic beards living their best life fly fishing in Montana in between cliff diving competitions in Acapulco. Anytime someone challenges that narrative, someone will cut in quick with an isolated anecdotal example to the contrary, but standby for the shattering of dreams.
As mentioned, the 12 hour leash will make it virtually impossible, at least for large swaths of the day, to even theoretically be able to do it with a 2 flight commuter clause buffer, let alone the chance to do it anywhere near rested. And you won't be on LC very much anyway; expect SC or trips to get you there on day one the vast majority of the time (assuming a narrowbody, 756ER or even a 767-400 assignment...if and when 330/350/787 [LOL] assignments reach newbies that
may change the game a little bit in theory, but the 12 hour leash in your case will still be awfully short even then).
When you do find yourself on LC, it will often be in the middle of a group of on call days. IOW only the most hyper Iron Man commuters desperate to lay in their own bed for as little as a couple hours after a trans con commute only to dash right back out for another trans con commute...you get it.
The LC system as we have it is not commuter friendly at all (a few exceptions like BOS/DCA-NYC commuters etc) and you won't be getting it very often for very long anyway. Splurge on a good pad and plan on using it, buffer in a generous hotel budget, or agressively slip trips on your terms as able.