RAPs
& NAPs
Section 7
paragraph F. of our contract provides us with the applicable rest
provisions for those of pilots as set forth under Part 121 of the
Federal Aviation Regulations including any modifications thereto
during the life of the Agreement.
What exactly
does this mean to a new Flight Attendant who will be on Reserve?
On June 15,
1999, the FAA filed a Notice of Enforcement Policy in the Federal
Register stating that with respect to reserve time assignments for
pilots the FAA would enforce the Agency’s longstanding
interpretation of FAR 121.471(b) and ensure that the rule is being
correctly implemented. This new enforcement is applicable to us as
American Eagle Flight Attendants because we have negotiated to have
the same rest requirements as that of our pilots.
FAR 121.471(b)
establishes a 24 hour “look back” from the end of a flight
assignment during which appropriate rest must have been scheduled.
Reserve time, while not defined in the FARs, is generally understood
to be a period of time when a flight crewmember is not on duty but
must be available to report upon notice for a duty period.
Therefore, a Flight Attendant on Reserve could not be scheduled for
or accept a flight assignment unless at the end of the flight
assignment one could look back 24 hours and find the required amount
of rest.
During a 24
hours period, a Flight Attendant must have a scheduled rest period
of 9 hours which can be reduced to no less than a period of 8 hours.
This is also known as a NAP or “non availability period.”
Flight
Attendants can be assigned to an “availability” period that is 15
hours in length but may not exceed a maximum period of 16 hours in
length during a 24 hour period. This is known as a RAP or “Reserve
Availability Period.”
Simple math
tells us if you add 8 (minimum reduced rest period) and 16 (maximum
scheduled availability period) it totals 24 (the amount of hours in
the look back period). These periods are examples of the bare
minimum/maximum requirements.
When dealing
with acceptance of a flight assignment the Flight Attendant must
“look back” over 24 consecutive hours preceding the scheduled
completion of the flight segment and find the required rest. Let’s
say for example a Flight Attendant has been scheduled for a 16 hour
“availability” period. If, at hour 14, crew scheduling calls to
assign a flight, that flight segment must be completed by the 16th
hour so that an adequate rest has been accomplished during that 24
hour period.
While a RAP
period (availability) may not exceed 16 hours in duration, this
should not be confused with an “on duty” period. Duty periods are
also found in Section 7 of the contract. A Flight Attendant may not
be scheduled to be on-duty for more than fourteen hours per duty
period. Additionally a Flight Attendant may not be rescheduled or
required to remain on duty in excess of sixteen hours.
Remember that
RAPs may never exceed 16 hours in duration and on-duty period may
never be scheduled for more than 14 hours in duration.
Examples:
1) Scheduled
RAP is 04:00-19:00 (15 hours in duration)
Flight
Assignment Scheduled Departure 18:00 & Scheduled Completion 20:00
(scheduled on-duty period 3 hours 15 minutes which includes check in
and check out times)
Acceptance of
this flight assignment is legal as the RAP has not exceeded the
maximum of 16 hours and the scheduled on-duty period less than 14
scheduled hours.
2) Scheduled
RAP is 04:00-19:00 (15 hours in duration)
Flight
Assignment Scheduled Departure 18:30 & Scheduled Completion 20:30
(Scheduled on-duty period 3 hours 15 minutes which includes check in
and check out times)
Acceptance of
this flight assignment is not legal as the RAP has exceeded the
maximum of 16 hours and is now at 16 hours and 30 minutes.
3) Scheduled
RAP is 04:00-19:00 (15 hours in duration)
Flight
Assignment Scheduled Departure 05:00 & Scheduled Completion 19:30
(Scheduled on-duty period is 14 hours and 30 minutes including check
in and check out times)
Acceptance of
this flight assignment is not legal. Although the RAP has not
reached the maximum of 16 hours, the on-duty period has exceeded 14
scheduled hours in duration.
4) Scheduled
RAP is 04:00-19:00 (15 hours in duration)
While on RAP,
first assigned to Standby Reserve beginning at 07:00. Then while on
standby, given flight assignment departing at 07:30 and terminating
at 20:15 (total on duty period is 13:30 including check in and check
out times). Remember Standby Reserve time is duty time. Acceptance
of this flight assignment is illegal. Even though the on duty period
is scheduled for less than 14 hours, the RAP time is 16 hours and 30
minutes, which exceeds the sixteen hour maximum.
Flight
Attendants on reserve duty will be notified of a RAP for each day of
reserve duty, except when assigned a multi-day sequence.
Notification of such RAPs is done via AVRS after 6:00 PM each day.
Once assigned a multi-day sequence, duty and rest periods are
defined within that sequence.
There are
three RAP schedules: 04:00-19:00, 10:00-01:00 or a CDO RAP that will
vary by base. Late RAP may be assigned on the last day of reserve
since assignment up to 02:00 is considered part of the previous
day’s assignment. RAP schedules however, may be altered to
accommodate legalities.
If given a
flight assignment while on a RAP, you must still call crew
scheduling following the completion of that assignment. You may be
given additional flying, you may have to complete the remainder of
your RAP or you may be released.
Interruption
during a NAP (Non Availability Period) is not permitted except to
provide notification of flight assignment. Such notification may
only be made two (2) hours prior to the start of the RAP (Reserve
Availability Period). Further information regarding RAPs is
available in your IPM. If you believe your rights have been
violated, please contact and AFA representative to report the
infraction.
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