When a junior pilot is on reserve, it's my understanding that they generally have a 2 hour window between "getting the call" and having to be at work. I know this varies somewhat....I've read about some cases where it's 12 hours and some where you have to be sitting at the airport ready to go.

However, assuming it's 2 hours, how close should one "live" to the airport (either permanently or in crashpad)? For example, if I was based at ATL and I lived an hour and fifteen minutes away from the airport, would this be close enough? What if one ran into heavy traffic and didn't quite make the 2 hour window...is there some flexibility there or would that be a 'do it again and you're fired' type scenario?

Thanks!

 

There's no flexibility. If you're late to check in it will be marked on your record. Too many of those and you'll be fired. It's like being late to work in any other job. The 2 hour call out is also time to get to the gate, not to get to the parking lot. You need to be able to get through security and to the gate ready to go in 2 hours.

I only live about 15 minutes from the airport, but I don't just sit at home waiting on reserve. Most of the time I do normal things I would do throughout the day. I go to the store, go running, go to the gym, go out to lunch. Keep in mind that you may get called, have to drive back to your house from wherever you are, change into your uniform and then drive out to the airport. Even living 15 minutes from the airport I've had a close call once or twice when I've had to drive home, shower, and get out there.

 

I moved 1.5 hours away. The company requires three hours from call to get the plane off the gate. I plan on two hours from door to plane. Traffic can be a problem. I've been "late", but never made a plane late.

I keep a uniform and 6 days of cloths in my bag ready to go.

 

It varies by company, some like mine require that you check-in on a company computer within a certain time frame (two hours). Once you've done that getting to the gate and pre-flighting takes as long as it normally takes. Others might require you be at the gate, or even that you make a departure time.

Airlines tend to be severe with first year pilots...you can get fired for being five minutes late one time in some cases, although usually more severe fallout is reserved for frequent violators or if a flight is seriously delayed or CANX.

So it all depends on exactly where the company expects you to be, the local traffic conditions, and how forgiving they are for "honest" tardies such as flat tire, very unusual traffic delays etc. Some companies have almost no tolerance for probationers. You also don't want to push the boundaries and accumulate a couple of minor data points...if you have one big mistake, those previous blips might push you over the edge to termination.