Our FSDO has stuck its neck out. We used to be on 12 hour shifts of being on a pager... if the pager went off your duty time started. Which was good because if a call came in at 4pm (6-6 schedule), and was a 5-6 hour medical trip.. you still had 14 hours to git'r'done, instead of timing out in 4 hours.

Well a helicopter guy in our company (not liking that we got to sit at home on a pager while he sat at work) asked teh FAA for clarification. A letter was sent straight to our corporate gus that if we were on a pager... we were on duty... period. So at our company (partially thanks to the Union)... i get 7 days on and 7 hard days off... and at 6am... i have to be at teh base on duty...

So there are a few FSDOs out there already crackin down on teh pager thing....


(and this is a HUGE problem... we have to delay and turn down time critical medical missions because of pilots timing out... and we go out of service wuite often to allow crew rest...but i am glad i do work for a company that isnt willing to risk my ticket so they can make money...)