Originally Posted by
slowplay
Departure time is door closing, not wheels up. The historical definition of availability
under normal circumstances is being at the aircraft (not airport or door closed) 2 hours after initial contact attempt. From "When Scheduling Calls":
A pilot on short call is required to be within the general area of his base and promptly available for trip coverage. Since each base has its own particular traffic problems, the term “promptly available” has never been defined in terms of time or distance, and is based upon normal circumstances that can be expected throughout the day or night. Actual realistic response time may vary from base to base and with weather and time of day. It is not possible for a pilot to anticipate and account for abnormal conditions beyond his control, which may extend response time beyond that normally required. Therefore, an NYC pilot encountering a snowstorm or an LAX pilot caught in rush-hour traffic might each require in excess of three hours to sign in and be well within the definition of “promptly available."
Note: For NYC-based pilots, short-call availability may be measured from the pilot’s closest co-terminal (EWR, LGA, JFK), without regard to the actual co-terminal to which he is required to report. For LAX-based pilots, short-call availability is measured from LAX.
If a pilot anticipates an unusual response time, he should inform Crew Scheduling for their planning purposes. Any discussion of “reasonable” should occur only between the pilot, the Chief Pilot, and, possibly, an ALPA representative.
I've always thought it was two hours to sign in. If it was two hours to be at the aircraft then we would really need to be at sign in around an hour after notification. I need two hours to sign in because it takes me about 1:45 to drive to the airport. I always tell them I'll sign in in two hours and they have never said anything about being at the aircraft. I do my best to get there promptly, but I don't think we are expected to sign in less than two hours from notification. When they tell me they need me in an hour I tell them I can't do if you really need someone call the next guy or I'll see you in two hours. Sometimes they call the next guy, sometimes they delay the flight.