Adlerdriver

Clearly sitting reserve living in domicile, getting called out infrequently and only counting actual fly days as work.

It also sounds like a seniority based refusal option for trips based on his new hire comment. Probably have long/short call reserve options too. I seriously doubt you can find a reserve system worse than the one we have a FedEx.

Blackhawk

My company messed up in our last contract and gave us something called “Vacation Low”. ALPA National even warned our management that it was a bad idea, but they were so anxious to get PBS they agreed to it anyway.
Basically, if I have one day of vacation in a month I can set my min PBS threshold to 65 hours but I will still be paid at 75 hours. Since I’m senior enough to bid all the carry over months in a year, that’s 8 months of the year where I only need 65 hours of credit but get paid for 75 hours.
We will be losing it soon.

Blackhawk

They have to let you go for Guard/Reserve duty. Obviously try not to have conflicts during training or obuse the system.
Some airlines are better about it than others. I’ve heard of some (GoJet), giving pilots a hard time.
At mine it was never an issue. I just had my Guard unit send scheduling a copy of a memo or orders and the portions of my trip that conflicted were dropped. If I did not pick anything else up (I normally didn’t), my pay was prorated for the month. As an IP I pretty much got to fly whenever I wanted to fly.

F15andMD11

Each unit varies obviously but what you described certainly wouldn't cut it in the ANG.

joepilot

It used to be possible at "my house".

One day turns LAX-OGG or KOA or HNL. 10.5 actual on the DC-8 and DC-10. The most senior dude in the base in each crew position would do this on Tuesdays and Thursdays for an 84 hour month. The best I ever held was Mondays and Wednesdays.

Joe

Blackhawk

Worked out fine in my ANG unit. AFTP is four hours, 1.5 of flying. Easily did so.

John Carr

If he’s using the “Vacation Low” provision, well, it’s a vacation month and NOT the norm. Nor is it a norm for almost every PBS system out there.

JB’s come pretty close though from what I hear.

Adlerdriver

I don't think F15andMD11 is referring to pay issues. I had a RJ guy in my crashpad doing "stand ups" so I'm familiar. Basically last flight into a station, min rest - not legal to reset a new duty period and first flight out in the morning. Technically about 10-ish hours on duty from late night to just after sun up with a short nap somewhere in the middle.
To then sleep in "the ready room for about 3 hours" and go fly for the Guard and then "do it again" is what he's saying wouldn't cut it. Crew rest in the AF/ANG is typically given the big boy approach and that kind of stuff isn't tracked, especially when it involves a mix with civilian flying. Last I knew, the AFI required 12 hours of rest prior to showing for flying duty and that's on you to make happen. You're kidding yourself if you think that schedule was anywhere near compliance. Any leadership aware of what you were doing and letting it continue was certainly lucky they didn't have to answer the mail had you been involved in any kind of incident.

galaxy flyer

Are you familiar with 12 hours of pre-duty crew rest rule in the Guard or any AF organization?

There was a famous F-101 (I think) accident on the Oregon ANG. Pilot flew a red-eye, tried trip-turning that day—fatal collision on form take-off on the third turn, IIRC.

GF

rickair7777

Does that apply to military duty, or do you really have to be "resting"... which is hard to define legally on a good day.