• RESERVE 24/7 UPDATE
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Dear Members,

RESERVE 24/7 UPDATE

As reported earlier the FAA has instructed US Airways to comply with FAR 121.467(b)(13) requiring a 24-hour-in-7-calendar day rest period. The FAA has interpreted the FAR to mean a Reserve who is on call but not flying is not on a rest break. A Reserve will not be allowed to be on call or fly more than 6 consecutive days without a 24 consecutive hour rest break.

The FAA views the reserve assignment, or on call status, as a restraint. The regulations define a rest period as a "period free from all restraint or duty for a carrier..."

The Company met with AFA representatives on Monday to discuss the implications of the FAA mandate for both Reserves and Lineholders. The first issue the Union wanted to have clarified was whether the FAA considered a 24-hour RON (check-out to check-in) received by a Reserve an adequate rest period as it does for Lineholders. The FAA confirmed to US Airways yesterday, in writing, that such an RON is considered to be an adequate rest period and does meet the requirements of the FAR.  During the meeting Union representatives listed all of our concerns, including but not limited to, diminished Reserve use of the ETB, restricted ability for Lineholders to drop trips, increased split trips and inconsistent Reserve lines.

The Union's position is that our Reserve and ETB systems are built around a practice that will no longer be allowed. Furthermore, the Union believes the two systems, as they exist today, may not be viable under the new requirements.

Union representatives, including MEC Reserve Chairperson Sherri Baker, will meet with the Company today to discuss various solutions to the problems the new requirement will cause. The entire MEC will be briefed on the discussions and will ultimately be responsible for approving any changes that are proposed.

The problems will most likely not be resolved by the time the ETB opens on September 25th. The new requirements will not allow the Company or an individual Flight Attendant to knowingly schedule any combination of on-call periods or actual flying activity that does not contain a 24 consecutive hour rest period within 7 consecutive calendar days.

We will continue to keep you informed.

Thank you,

Mike Flores, President

US Airways Master Executive Council
AFA-CWA

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AFA Local Numbers

Council 40 PIT 724-695-3329
Council 41 DCA 703-212-8090
Council 69 BOS 781-289-8454
Council 70 PHL 215-492-0840
Council 82 LGA 315-736-3483
Council 89 CLT 704-527-0325

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