Duty time question

[Diesel]

A friend of mine asked me this question and I told him I'd post it for more input.

He works for a large airfreight company. He flys freight from 6-9 and then stays at the crew house till the next morning. He then flies back to his home base in the morning.

The company has now told him they want him to go off duty at 2100 and be in rest till 7am. Then they want him to be on duty for the whole day from his morning flight till his night flight back to the outstation.

Is there anything illegal about this? It doesn't seem right that a company can count crew rest when you are not at your home base. Does anybody have any idea about this type of situation? Sounds pretty shady to me.

 

[upndsky]

From what you've described, there's nothing wrong legally with what they're doing. He's technically off the clock when he gets to his "outstation" at 9 p.m. and is back on the clock when he checks in at 7 a.m. During those 10 hours the company can't touch him. Plus they're giving him a place to rest.

It does sound like they're playing it kind of tight with the scheduling, though. If he gets to his outstation later than 9 p.m., he'll have busted his 14-hour duty day and wouldn't legally be able to show for his 7 a.m. flight. I'm guessing he flies packages for FedEx, UPS or Airborne.

 

[cobalt]

it is totally legal. there are alot of cargo flying schedules where you don't get your "rest" at "home" or your home base. just so you get the consecutive hours off duty required by the FARs depending on what rules the company is governed by, it doesn't matter where you are.

and, i'm guessing he doesn't fly for UPS, FedEx, or Airborne by the schedule and the terminology you use.

 

[upndsky]

Actually, we have a couple of Airborne runs that fly a schedule similar to that. The pilots live where the plane is during the day. At around 6 p.m. they pick up packages, fly it to RDU, spend the night at our HQ and then fly the return leg back in the morning. They are "off-duty" during the night. That's why the guess.

 

[wingnutt]

well...the first question, is it scheduled or unscheduled Part 135?

then the second question, what are the actual departure/arrival times?

 

[amfteamster]

For it to be legal rest the company has to release you. Don't let them pull the "well you didn't fly the last 9 hours, you got your legal rest." They have to release you from all duty and allow you a place to get rest.

If they release you from duty and give you a place to rest, it doesn't matter if it is in Bagdad, it is legal.

 

[wingnutt]

For it to be legal rest the company has to release you.

thats where i was going with the questions, but not all freight companies physically "release" their pilots.

it boils down to, what time does this guy duty off and duty back on...hence why i was wondering if they are .265 or .267

but if none of that is the issue, then everyone is correct, "crew rest" does not mean "home base rest"

*disclaimer* this poster does not accept any responsibility for the security of ones job if they start claiming duty time limitations to their boss. this is not to say that poster has not been in same situation, although on a limited time basis, and left said employer at the earliest possible convienence