FDX commute to RA
 

It's been a while since I've stood RA so the rules are a little fuzzy...Is it OK to catch the evening J/S into an RA period? Or do you have to be in place 8 or 12 hours prior? Are you protected? What if the the J/S is delayed and CRS can't get a hold of you? Are they smart enough to check your schedule or do they just write you up?

Thanks in advance,
SG

If you follow the current FARs, you can absolutely jumpseat into RA.

If you follow our FDX self-imposed limitations on jumpseating, you could very well be putting yourself into jeopardy as staging counts as duty time. Now if you are able to book business, then the jumpseat doesn't count as duty. Staging or business, I don't think you are protected if your jumpseat is delayed and CRS can't get a hold of you.

CRS usually writes you up anytime they can as part of the FDX Pilot Harassment Program.

OK with who?
With the Feds - yes, commuting isn't part of duty day (yet).
With CRS - yes, as long as you're available by phone at the appropriate time.
With your ACP - as long as CRS hasn't had any problems reaching you when you were supposed to be available by phone.

You're not protected.

Doesn't matter if "they're smart enough to check your calendar". If they can't reach you with an assignment, your busted. Checking your calendar will just give them the specifics on WHY you're busted.

Bottom line, get on first fly and get an assignment you can legally JS into and you will be protected like any lineholder (ops tested personally).

Any other scenario, you're counting on being in place(i.e. phone available) on time or far enough down the leveling list that you're willing to roll the bones. I commuted out of a station with two flights that got me on the deck in MEM before midnight, so I was not too worried about risking it every now and then with some SA on open trips and where I fell on the leveling list.

A negative of being on first fly though is that if they don't give you a trip the morning prior, you're the first to be called. If that call comes at midnight and you're still on the j/s, you're hosed. I always debated whether to do first fly coming in for a string of RA days. It depends on how much your seat gets used on reserve and what time your j/s is scheduled to arrive. No matter what, you're not protected in any way if you don't have a trip assignment.

As Clint Eastwood said, "Do you feel lucky".

Staging does not count as duty time. IF the FARs change to count J/S'ing as duty time, then our contractual "staging protection" goes away.

It all depends on your comfort level. If my flight is delayed, I don't hesitate to call CRS and keep them in the loop. I'm willing to risk "losing" a day of reserve pay if I don't make it to Memphis.
I also don't sit reserve that frequently, but, all things being equal, I don't fly to Memphis any earlier than I have to-whether it's for a trip or Reserve,

[QUOTE=kronan;991777]Staging does not count as duty time. IF the FARs change to count J/S'ing as duty time, then our contractual "staging protection" goes away.QUOTE]

Agreed, kind of; as previously mentioned FAR duty doesn't include staging. But, our contract 26.J.2 (Jumpseats) in fact does give a duty time for staging.

2. A pilot may use a Company staging jumpseat to position himself in Memphis for
the start of his scheduled trip in accordance with the following:
a. The period beginning at scheduled showtime of a pilot’s inbound jumpseat
and ending 30 minutes after the scheduled termination of his first duty
period must be less than 13:30.

Say you jumpseat under staging with a showtime of 2100CST into RA. You arrive in Memphis at 2359... phew! At 0400, CRS gives you a Airport Standby. Your Standby launches a JFK outback at 0600 that arrives back in Memphis at 1100. Upon landing, you blow a tire and head into the grass... damn! Do you think you might be the only one sitting at the round table without a glass of water if your ACP investigates? FAR wise you did nothing wrong, but 26.J., well, when did we give this one up?

About 3 contracts ago.

The no harm provision in the contract is only if you don't make it to Memphis, not for subsequent events.

And, it's a conversation that I would relish. I'd merely say that I napped\rested in the afternoon in my own bed (and the indoc lesson on fatigue management provided by the company taught me that I receive better rest in my home than I do on the road).

When CRS called me I had already been resting for a few hours, and gained a bit more prior to my 0600 launch in the sleep room. And finally, when I did get the launch call, I did a personal evaluation of whether I could safely operate the trip, and was of the opinion that I could safely do so. All the while knowing that if there was any doubt in my mind I could call the DO and ask to be removed from the trip since FedEx is such a fatigue friendly company.

Something I wouldn't do lightly, but, if my sleep room was next to a bathroom and my rest was disrupted to the extent that I was unsure I could safely operate the trip. Well, that would have been a call I would have reluctantly made after conferring with the DO.

So, if my J/S status is Business, would that have any impact on the "duty limits" in section 26J?

:confused: What are you trying to say here?

If it were only true! The company has a totally different interpretation of this section of the contract. :mad:

I know from experience. I have been removed from a trip for "violating" this section of the CBA and yes, I made it to MEM and was available for the assigned trip.