Reserve Trips: Mostly Out and Back?

[awbmof]

After being hired and assigned to reserve flying, aside from being on call what is the typical type of trip for a newly minted reserve FO? Are they mostly out and back or filling the remaining trip line for which you were activated?

[higney85]

From my rsv experience it really depends... You could just have an out and back, you then could get assigned something else when you get back in... I have been assigned a 4-day trip and halfway through day 2 i got pulled off b/c the FO that had called in sick rejoined the trip. I have had 3 deadheads to operate 1 flight! I once had a single out and back to pensacola, FL from MEM that turned into a 6 day trip mainly out of dtw the had me in canada twice- IN THE WINTER. Moral of the story- pack for everything, be flexible, and just understand that your chain will be jerked however you cut it.... You are there to "fill in" so expect to be deadheaded and have lots of extra sit time. I typically only flew 50 hours, and deadheaded 15 hours, working about 18 rsv days a month- its not efficient to be on rsv but it keeps the company going. Only great thing is if you fly with someone you don't like its only a couple legs instead of a month.