ACR PLT QUESTIONS OPS MANUAL THAT DOES NOT REFLECT ACTUAL OPERATIONAL SIT.

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SELCAL LISTENING WATCH IN CARIBBEAN. IN A PARAGRAPH IN THE FLT MANUAL UNDER THE OPERATIONAL INFO TAB; THERE IS A SENTENCE THAT STATES THAT ALL FLTS WILL MAINTAIN A SELCAL HF OR VHF LISTENING WATCH. IN 6 YRS OF FLYING THE CARIBBEAN WITH MANY PLTS AS WELL AS CHK AIRMEN; I HAVE YET TO SEE THIS COMPLIED WITH. THE ONLY EXCEPTION IS SJU TO PHL OR EWR. I HAVE ALSO NEVER HEARD OF A DISPATCHER CONTACTING AN AIRPLANE IN THE CARIBBEAN WITH SELCAL; AS ACARS COVERAGE IS PRETTY UNIVERSAL. I THINK THAT THIS REQUIREMENT SHOULD BE DELETED FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: 1) NO ONE THAT I KNOW OF ABIDES BY THIS REQUIREMENT; 2) CHK AIRMEN DON'T TEACH IT; AND 3) BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT HAVING REGS THAT ARE NOT ADHERED TO IS CORROSIVE. THE REQUIREMENT SHOULD STATE THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF ACARS COVERAGE A SELCAL WATCH SHOULD BE MAINTAINED. TO BE PRACTICAL; SINCE OCCASIONAL LOSS OF CONTACT CAN OCCUR; I SUGGEST THAT A TIME LIMIT BE PLACED UPON THIS. FOR INSTANCE IF YOU ARE OUT OF ACARS COVERAGE FOR MORE THAN 10 MINS; THEN A SELCAL WATCH WILL BE MAINTAINED.