GeorgeC1 said:
Prior to FAR117 the new rule once you pushed off the gate you were legal to continue. With FAR117 if the planned flight time will exceed the max duty time prior to pushing the throttles up for takeoff you must return to the gate with no exceptions. Sadly much of this came about because some less then ethical airlines abused the intent of the old rules.
We've spent some long nights in terminals due to this as well but it is a reg for a reason.
