1. The short call situation is hard to predict. If the category is staffed well like it is right now, you'll definately get them but hard to predict when. Near the end of my reserve stint they were putting me on 24 hour short call from 1300 'til 1300. Then in the late afternoon/early evening, they'd call to say that I was released to rest at something like 0200, and would start another short call the next day at 1300 again.
2. Well it depends on if you answer your phone. First off that can't touch you on your golden days. If they get you and you fly on on x-day that is an inverse assignment (junior manning). The rules/penalties are different for lineholder vs. reserve so we'll just deal with reserve. First, that trip is going to pay you above guarantee and second, you'll get the days paid back. It works like this, here's your schedule for the first 11 days of the month:
1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11
...x x x ..............x...x
They call you on the 1st to inverse assign you for the 2nd, or they call you on the second to report that same day and you can make it and agree to do it.
Let's say it's a 3 day worth 17 hours. Now your schedule looks like this:
1..2 3 4.....5...6..7...8..9..10..11
..-flying-...pb.pb.pb..........x....x
You've been "paid back" your 3 days off from the 2nd 3rd and 4th, and are now off the 5th 6th and 7th. In addition your 17 hour trip pays above the guarantee of 70 hours. So even if you don't fly again this month, you'll get paid for 87 hours.
3. That's really hard to say. Thet bottom line holders for Feb are pre 9-11 hires. But only a few numbers junior to them are the new hires. What happens is every time an AE comes out senior guys bid to the ER that were just waiting until they could hold a line to bid it. Not saying that a new hire won't be able to hold a line, especially this summer, but there seems to be a big difference in line holder seniority and reserve seniority in this category. Not very linear if you get my meaning.
3. There is a chart in the contract that spells it out as far as how many short calls they can put you on vs. how many reserve days you have that month, but 8 is the standard.