When on a normal long call day, is there a set amount of time that you have to return a call from crew scheduling trying to notify you of a trip? I’ve seen times varying from 15 minutes to 2 hours at other airlines, but I don’t see any mention of it in the PWA. I know that you have a minimum of 18 hours from their first attempted contact, but would it be possible to be out of cellular reception for, say, 30 minutes, and not get in trouble if you got a call? Or to commute during the 18 hour min callout on the first day?

I do see in the scheduling reference handbook that it says long call pilots are “not required to acknowledge any assignments.” Does this mean that you don’t actually need to answer the phone and/or call them back as long as you show up?