Originally Posted by
tallpilot
They can 'push the button' anytime they like. Obviously it's better to push it before it makes the trip late but their only contractual obligation is to leave it up for 15 minutes if it's 4? hours before show.
Therefore if they see that doing it now would burn someone later in the week when they think they might need more coverage and waiting an hour brings a whole new batch of pilots QLA because of RAP times then they might wait.
Yes this is true, I've watched a trip in OT fall to me when its been held open for an hour while others are legal for it and gotten the call the minute my RAP started (old system). Conversely, I've seen a trip pop open when I've had 20-30 minutes left of legality and seen it go to the oncoming RAP pilot a half hour later. This is just the nature of SC... But what would we have them do? Generally we want trips to stay in OT for longer so line holders have a shot at them and a reserve won't get it at all, right? For every pilot who gets burned by this tactic, another gets a day off.
To be the pilot who DIDN'T get the trip and instead got to spend your last day (or two) of the block unused and then be on here complaining about it...that might be the most APC complaint ever.