Yep. If you're based in any of the FL cities, you are indeed on reserve for the entire state. Ah the rental cars. I'm just waiting for that day when a tired pilot is driving the 3 hours back to base after a 16 hr duty day, falls asleep at the wheel and injures (or heaven forbid kills) another motorist. Watch how fast the F&H lawyers go from defending status quo violations to throwing the pilot under the bus for driving while fatigued. Pilot loses everything and the company emerges unscathed. Nowhere in the GOM does it require a pilot to have a valid drivers license in their possession while on duty. "Sorry, I misplaced my drivers license and I'm getting a ride to work from a friend." End of story.

 

Because it's moot.

FARs require all pilots to have on their person these three documents while they are on duty:

FAA license
Gov't issued ID w/ picture (most folks use their driver's license)
Medical certificate

 

We require a passport. Requirement met.

 

I'm on your side.

I think it's preposterous that any airline mgmt team can get away with doing this to their pilots.

 

They get away with it because the pilots let them. If there's no fatigue calls and no one telling them, "I'm not driving - I need a limo/taxi/etc", they'll keep doing it. Why would they stop if no one has a problem with it?

It's more of that "just get the job done" mentality that needs to change around here..

 

When I was TDY'd for many months to SFB they made me do the rental car reserve thing to PIE 4 or 5 times. Every evening when I got back to PIE I called scheduling and told them I was to fatigued to drive back to SFB and to give me a hotel in PIE. To my surprise they did it promptly, took me off my trip for the next day and pay protected me for it. No call ever from a chief pilot and the hotel was provided in 15 minutes or less.

I was TDY'd and didn't care whether I made it back to SFB in that case. I think most guys here have "get-home-idus" and would rather drive home fatigued and sleep in there own beds than be in a hotel. The company knows this and takes advantage of it. I too think if every pilot would start calling in fatigued after a day of 3hr drive followed by a 16 hr duty day followed by a 3 hr drive, that "reserve for the whole state" thing would start to go away.

 

Your company issued ID, as a FAR regulated carrier, is considered a government ID. That is why you can access a TSA- secure area with it.

 

This is very true and an ugly byproduct of the pilots conditioned to being "home every night". Pack a bag, tell your significant other that you'll be home tomorrow, and let the chips fall where they may.

However, let's take fatigue out of the equation. The simple act of driving yourself and others on company time opens one up to crushing liability should an accident occur. It doesn't even have to be your fault. Do you think the company is going to spend resources defending your personal assets from bloodthirsty ambulance chasers?

 

Thats definitely the way to go, if they will get you a cab/taxi/etc. Also (unless they have gotten better) it used to be almost impossible to get reimbursed for gas for the rentals.

 

Believe it or not they actually will come to your aid. The reason is they do not want you to become a witness for the other side. They want you as their witness.