I can’t remember off hand what happens to the res pilot when flying is appropriated (never happened to me on reserve) but it helps to think in terms that you are not required to carry a cell phone at any time for this job. If you didn’t have a cell phone, you wouldn’t know that your flight was appropriated until you showed up for the flight... unless you voluntarily called them or voluntarily answered a phone when they called you. Whatever they can do to you as a res pilot in this situation (read the LOA), keep that in mind before you answer/return call.

Nope. Read the reserve appropriation LOA. 90% sure it's LOA 13-13.

Essentially three things can happen.
1. You are released.
2. You are given a RAP at the time your sign in.
3. You and CS come to a mutually beneficial agreement.

Suffice it to say once you get a commutable trip they can't take it away from you.

Agreed.... however-

There's really no reason to avoid a home call for an appropriated flight notification. This would be a little bit different if the flight was cancelled. There are different rules for cancelled vs appropriated trips.

You agree with me... and I agree with you... lol. I did think of that. Just pointing out there was no reason to HAVE to answer that call that said you’re appropriated which was the angle the question was asked.

My rule of thumb is to never answer the phone from an initial call from CS. This gives me a chance to hear the message, think about rules, regs, and contract as they relate to the situation and message, deside if I’m required to return the call or not, deside if I WANT to return the call or not, and what I’m going to say if I do return the call. If nothing else, it buys me 15 minutes to get to where I need to be.

So long as CS has a “fly it now and grieve it later” mentality, I see no reason to operate differently. We work for the same company but we are not on the same team, sadly.

Well said.

Silly question. Can you get released then pick up OT that same day? Hehe

Unfortunately no.