Section 12: Hours of Service

Questions and Answers

#FAQ-12-001
Added 2026-02-26
Q

How have our rest provisions changed? (12.C.)

A
The Domestic Block Hour Limitations will change as follows:

The rest period prior to exceeding 8-in-24:

  • Scheduled 9 hours increases to 9:30. (12.C.2.b.)
  • If the pilot does not receive the rest due to headwinds, ATC delays, etc., rescheduled rest minimum of 8 hours increases to 9 hours. (12.C.2.c.ii(a))

The new Crew Planning Domestic Layover Minimum provisions will change as follows (12.C.3.a.):

  • The Minimum layover preceding DH duty increases from 8 to 8:30.

Scheduled Domestic Rest Provisions will change as follows (12.C.6.a):

  • Scheduled 9 hours increases to 9:30.
  • Scheduled 8 hours increases to 8:30 when followed by a DH only duty period.

Operational Domestic Rest Provisions will change as follows (12.C.6.a):

  • Rest increases from 8 to 9 hours.
  • Rest increases from 8 to 8:30 when followed by a DH only duty period.

The Domestic Rest Provisions will change as follows:

  • After exceeding 8-in-24 increases an Operational rest minimum of “FAR limitations” (8 hours) to 11 hours. (12.C.6.b.i)
#FAQ-12-002
Added 2026-02-26
Q

What is the “day room” exception? (12.C.4.d.iv.)

A
In the 2021 timeframe, the Company used the “day room” exception for the first time (12.C.4.d.iv.) The exception gave them the ability to design Sunrise Sort pairings utilizing hub turns. These pairings raised significant fatigue concerns.
#FAQ-12-003
Added 2026-02-26
Q

How has the “day room” exception changed?

A
In consultation with our Scheduling and Fatigue SMEs, it was determined that the follow-on rest was an effective fatigue mitigation method. If the sunrise sort returns, we were able to create a new definition for the Sunrise Sort Duty Period and bargain a new Hard Parameter that requires a scheduled minimum follow-on layover of 18 hours (unless a shorter layover is approved by the SIG).
#FAQ-12-004
Added 2026-02-26
Q

What does the 18 hour Hard Parameter accomplish?

A
The parameter prevents a pilot from being scheduled to operate during the night or critical periods after they have hub turned during the sunrise sort.
#FAQ-12-005
Added 2026-02-26
Q

How did returning from a fatigue call change? (12.A.9.b.iii.)

A
Previously, you were automatically returned from sick leave at the conclusion of the trip. Now, you are returned from sick leave 24 hours after you are removed from the trip. The 24 hours allow the pilot the opportunity to be rested and in position when the pilot is deemed "Well”. In the case where a pilot has a series of trips, the new rule would cause the subsequent trip to be removed by the fatigue call if it is within 24 hours of the fatigue call. Additionally, pilots will have the ability to call in “Well” prior to the 24-hour clock expiring. In other words, if you feel rested within 24 hours, you can let the company know you are able to return to work.
#FAQ-12-006
Added 2026-02-26
Q

Is a pilot considered notified of a showtime revision via electronic means? (12.B.1.a.)

A
No, the current practice of showtime revision notifications remains intact.
#FAQ-12-007
Added 2026-02-26
Q

What changed with regard to trip extensions?

A
Trip extension limits were reduced from 36 hours to 30 hours Domestically and from 84 hours to 72 hours Internationally.
#FAQ-12-008
Added 2026-02-26
Q

When does the 30 / 72 hour base hotel standby limitation start? (12.B.3.b.ix.)

A
Currently, there is no extension limitation on a trip assigned from a base hotel standby. A trip assigned to a pilot while on base hotel standby under the new TA will terminate 30 hours (domestic) or 72 hours (international) after the end of the pilot’s last standby period.
#FAQ-12-009
Added 2026-02-26
Q

What is an “exception pairing”? I don’t see the term in the CBA?

A
The “day exception” of 12.C.2.d allows for a trip or series of trips that do not touch the critical period (day flying) to be scheduled and fly multiple days over 7:35 block with a preceding rest of 10:15 (operationally 9:15) hours and a layover of 13:00 (currently operationally reduceable to 12:00) hours.
#FAQ-12-010
Added 2026-02-26
Q

What changed with the Daytime 8-in-24 exception pairings? (12.C.2.d.)

A
The Company will still schedule rest in these exception pairings to the 13 hours as it is today. That 13 hours of rest will now be operationally reducible to 11 hours, where previously the limit was 12 hours. With SIG approval, the Company could schedule the follow-on rest in an exception pairing to 12 hours.
#FAQ-12-011
Added 2026-02-26
Q

Is there a sample pairing of a Trip and/or a series of Trips that reflects this exception pairing min rest period change? (12.C.2.d.i.(c))

A
After the DEN-IND-LAX Day flights, the pilots have an 11:07 layover, which meets the 10:15 minimum. The next day, the pilots are scheduled to fly one or more day legs that end up exceeding 7:35 actual block hours (ABH) (e.g., LAX-AFW-EWR) within 24 hours (12.C.2.d.i.(a)), so the contract requires them to have a scheduled 13:00 layover in EWR. Nothing changed in how these exception pairings are built. The change would allow the EWR layover to be operationally reduced to 11:00. Previously, it was reducible to 12:00. Understand that operation in the critical period is still prohibited during these pairings.
#FAQ-12-012
Added 2026-02-26
Q

How will I be able to identify these daytime exception trips? (12.C.2.d.iii.)

A
There will be a designation on the trip published in the bidpacks and in VIPS.
#FAQ-12-013
Added 2026-02-26
Q

The Company previously could add a double crew on international flights when they anticipate that such a crew may be required. How has it been expanded to 3 and 4 pilot crews? (12.D.1.f.)

A

There is a value in adding additional pilots in certain circumstances. We placed increased restrictions on scheduling extra pilot(s) to limit the use of this provision to where we see that value.

The Company may only schedule additional pilot(s):

  • Due to extended block or duty time (i.e., volcanic eruption, war, etc.)
  • For the sole purpose of safety
  • With SIG approval

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