Again have a solid plan B and C, and you should be ok (once or twice). If you miss the trip you lose the pay, but keep your job. Protection only applies to company jumpseat with restrictions. Everything else is big boy rules in effect, be where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be, and don't get caught lying.

 

No ... you are only "protected" if you are on a FedEx jumpseat and that airplane doesn't arrive in Memphis on time (weather, divert, mechanical, reroute).

Protected means that you won't get fired. It also assumes that you haven't exceeded your legal FAA duty limits beginning at the start of your jumpseat check-in time (I know that has absolutely nothing to do with FARs, since the Company made the rule we're obligated to live with it).

Truth be told, I don't think we have spies checking to see what time you check in for your jumpseat UNLESS you don't get there in time for your trip.

If your offline jumpseat doesn't get there on time you had better be able to explain what your backup plan was (Driving is OK, if you live within reasonable driving distance. We've had several guys that flew their own General Aviation airplanes to work but that's probably a bad plan in bad weather).

Maybe most important of all. Keep Crew Scheduling notified if you get worried so that they can have a backup plan. Management seems much less antagonistic if they are able to operate the flight if you don't get there.

Our airplanes are pretty reliable and this is seldom an issue.


MM

 

Now I'm kind of laughing to myself picturing Mark sitting in his car at the hometown Fedex ramp parking lot waiting for 1 hour prior jumpseat check-in because the 13:30 was going to be tight. 3, 2, 1.....hack.

The time one checks in for their jumpseat doesn't matter. The protection is based on scheduled times.....not what the spies report to the DO.
Contract reads:
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.

 

“No harm” jumpseats expanded to all bases (26.J.)

 

There is no "legal FAA duty limits beginning at the start of your jumpseat check-in time." Subparagraph e. stipulates, "The provisions of Section 26.J.2. are predicated upon the premise that time spent on a pilot scheduled Company jumpseat is not accrued duty time under this contract or the FARs. Should the Company be required to consider time spent on a pilot scheduled Company jumpseat as accrued duty time, Section 26.J.2. shall become null and void immediately."



The 13:30 restriction only exists as a condition which must be met in order to qualify for the "No harm, no foul" jumpseat protection. If the time is 13:31 and the jumpseat goes as scheduled and the pilot makes the check-in for his scheduled trip, no rule has been violated.


Not that that keeps some flight managers from inilaterally deciding to remove pilots from scheduled trips because they didn't like the pilot's commute.

I'll wait for the day when the local pilot has to start entering time spent on the lawn tractor in his VIPS calendar so a flight manager can analyze his rest opportunities.






.

 

Yes. I thought that was understood since this whole discussion as of late has been centered on how commuter protection works.

 

I had no doubt you understand it, but I find it's a topic which is often misunderstood. Taken out of context, some misconstrue it to mean, "You can't jumpseat unless ..." I was just trying to ensure it was clear.






.

 

I don't think I've ever heard the 8 in 24 addressed in commuter protection, so I've assumed that it isn't even a factor. Anyone know if that is correct?

 

Can you be more specific in how 8 in 24 would relate to the commuter policy?

 

For those new hires out there--did you find out what plane you were awarded on the Friday before a Monday indoc or did you find out on the first day of indoc? I've heard both, and I'm just wondering if I'm going to get an email today with my drop. Either way I'm pumped to find out!