In a (small) nut shell... could someone answer how short call works on the ER at JFK? I live in DC and would be commuting on the Shuttle. Could I commute to reserve and minimize the time in JFK. (I really don't want a crash pad in JFK if I can help it and would even take a couple days a month in the good ol' 5 Towns... if it's still there!)

Thanks much

Marty!!

That is sweet duty. Don't screw it up by going cheap. Do the crash pad and follow the rules. Thats how I would play it.

Marty,

I don't work for DL (AA) but I will also be sitting reserve on the NYC 767ER, and plan to do it while sitting in DC. The 767ER schedules are, for the most part, commutable even with a short call-out from DC. I suspect the DL ER schedules are also very commutable. The only thing you have to watch for is weather and ground stops. FYI, there is a daily JB flight from IAD-JFK at 6am, and a JFK-IAD that leaves at 22:15. You should be able to swing it, just watch it if you are on probation.

See ya on the commute!
73

Short call is not strictly defined.

However, convention is that you are available for sign-in withing 2 hours of being contacted. Don't try to game this one. If you are on short call you should be in the JFK area. Long call, DC will be super easy.

Long call is 12 hours from first contact. Most trips are commutable. THAT IS MOST...NOT ALL. We have just added two morning departures for March, San Jose, Costa Rica and the morning Heathrow flight.

JB is good to our commuters. And speaking from experience, its money being able to arrive at JFK. You have to factor in a good 2 hours (depending on the day of the week and time) to transit from LGA-JFK.

Search on this board and FI. There is a ton of information out there already on DAL reserve.

One additional difference on the INTL category for short call is that it lasts 24 instead of 12 hours. So you got that going for you, which is nice.

Hope this helps.

Welcome aboard Marty

In a nutshell... no.

You can be called at any time of the day so you would have to have 100% reliable commutable flights 24 hours a day. Besides ther are two requirements while on short call, readily available and be in the general area. DC would not be considered the general area.

You may be looking for another job if you try this.

I would never attempt it on probation. The time frame to report is based on surface transportation not flying. If they call you and you don't get there you would have a lot of explaining to do. When bad weather hits they have a lot of no show line holders and start calling reserves. You won't have a chance of flying in. Long call is a piece of cake from DC. Short call you need to head up to NYC.

Copy all everybody! Thanks for the good info. Probably to far left of the "Stupid to Smart Scale"! My bud at Airways used to sit short call in PIT by flying up every morning and flying home that night! Crazy but true!

I sat short call on the Mad Dog for two years in DC while on NYC reserve. In those two years I only got two short calls (2hr notice) and made it up there within that time frame. I guess I was lucky, but the other folks are correct - don't do it while on probation.

73

Martin,

I think you get the idea, but I'll add this little nugget that can snag you that is kind of unique to the JFK ER reserve. When you are up there sitting reserve, you may think that you are free and clear once the last departure goes out.(probably Shannon or something). Well any of those birds could do an air return for whatever reason and the crew could run out of duty, forcing them to call you out. That's probably no surprise...but...don't forget about the crapload of ERs coming out of ATL flying right over NY enroute to Europe. If any of them have to put down in JFK (MX, medical situation, etc.) they will be virtually guaranteed not to have enough duty to press on after their problem is fixed, so the short calls get the jingle at what could be a very late hour when you thought you were good to go, and cracked open a cold one about 3 hours ago, or jumped on a flight home. Back when I was on resreve, on occasion, I could get the scheduler to release me for both of the reasons I mentioned, but it was hit and miss. Miss most of the time.

Granted, fairly rare but could really catch you off guard.

We had a air return a month ago and not one shortcall pilot was available. Schedules had to to G/S the trip. Lots of CPR on pilots schedules!!! CPR=Chief Pilot Review, something you never want to see on your schedule on probation. One thing to remember. If you don't make a trip because of events out of your control Delta is very good about it. If you have a flat tire, car engine blows up, accident or you can't get to work as a line holder commuter and had proper backups there will not be issues. If on the other hand you willfully violate the contract such as not being in the proper position for short call they take a very harsh view.