PDT Pilots going to Mainline??

[WSurf]

Surf, are yall wearing your new threads yet??

Not unless there paying for them.

 

[FirstMate]

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10-4

 

[twighead]

I just read "Ask Pissmont" and it was stated that out of the 100 positions at mainline being offered to PDT pilots in 2008, only 52 applications have been received. I know it's not the flow through we all want, but this is unbelieveable.

I guess I actually have a better shot of getting a mainline job then upgrading at PDT.

 

[WSurf]

I just read "Ask Pissmont" and it was stated that out of the 100 positions at mainline being offered to PDT pilots in 2008, only 52 applications have been received. I know it's not the flow through we all want, but this is unbelieveable.

I guess I actually have a better shot of getting a mainline job then upgrading at PDT.

Not too ublelievable. You gotta remember the top 100 folks at Piedmont are in there 50's making 90k flying a Prop. They wouldn't have near enough time to make up the pay lose difference. So why go sling a gear for a guy/gal pissed at the world for 36k? On top of that lose your SS Bridge, vaction and have even worse healthcare at a higher cost! These folks have 4 vaction slots, top bidding on schedules, most live in base...... they probably would be fools to move on the mainline. You give me 100k and QOL and I would fly a Dash 8 for most of my career.

This will only benefit us junior captains and Fo's.

 

[On Your Six]

Not too ublelievable. You gotta remember the top 100 folks at Piedmont are in there 50's making 90k flying a Prop. They wouldn't have near enough time to make up the pay lose difference. So why go sling a gear for a guy/gal pissed at the world for 36k? On top of that lose your SS Bridge, vaction and have even worse healthcare at a higher cost! These folks have 4 vaction slots, top bidding on schedules, most live in base...... they probably would be fools to move on the mainline. You give me 100k and QOL and I would fly a Dash 8 for most of my career.

This will only benefit us junior captains and Fo's.

What are you guys being told about "estimated" upgrade time at USAirways now? East or West? 10+ years at the least?

 

[zasca]

Nah, with the rate of retirements, upgrades at mainline are more likely 6 years. Probably less for the 190.

 

[twighead]

Not too ublelievable. You gotta remember the top 100 folks at Piedmont are in there 50's making 90k flying a Prop. They wouldn't have near enough time to make up the pay lose difference. So why go sling a gear for a guy/gal pissed at the world for 36k? On top of that lose your SS Bridge, vaction and have even worse healthcare at a higher cost! These folks have 4 vaction slots, top bidding on schedules, most live in base...... they probably would be fools to move on the mainline. You give me 100k and QOL and I would fly a Dash 8 for most of my career.

This will only benefit us junior captains and Fo's.

I hear ya. I didn't expect the top 100 guys from our senority list to apply, but I did think at least 100 total people would apply from our entire pilot group.

 

[zasca]

why apply to a crap airline, that you have to interview for, and are treated like any other puke? The pilots paid for these jobs. If you meet the mins for this job,
you should apply elsewhere... If the job was handed to you with a handshake at an "interview" that lasted 5 min on the 1st day of class, with some longevity benefits, thats another issue.

 

[sucit]

I hear ya. I didn't expect the top 100 guys from our senority list to apply, but I did think at least 100 total people would apply from our entire pilot group.

You have to remember we can not leave until March, so what is the big hurry to apply.

 

[BeCareful!]

Nah, with the rate of retirements, upgrades at mainline are more likely 6 years. Probably less for the 190.

LMAO!

Blew snot into my keyboard!

You are kidding, right?

 

[WSurf]

LMAO!

Blew snot into my keyboard!

You are kidding, right?

Well maybe not. Avg. Age in the Left seat is around 58 years old, and the right seat is 55. So in the next five years a mass of retirements. But the age 65 rule would change that ballgame.

 

[BeCareful!]

Well maybe not. Avg. Age in the Left seat is around 58 years old, and the right seat is 55. So in the next five years a mass of retirements. But the age 65 rule would change that ballgame.

I think you mean the change in age 60 will change the game.

How about some more consolidation?

How about the simple fact that conditions never pan out like you're predicting?

I just think it's completely ridiculous to project that far out, especially with an outfit like US Airways. All advancement will stagnate when the next merger is being worked out behind closed doors, then......wham! There you are somewhere on a list with 10 more years, minimum, to upgrade.

And, trust me, not one pilot who is physically capable of flying to 65 is going to opt out early. They've got a lot of catching up to do on retirement funds.

Sorry to rain on the sunshine in this thread, but please.....a little reality should be interjected now and then.

 

[WSurf]

I think you mean the change in age 60 will change the game.

How about some more consolidation?

How about the simple fact that conditions never pan out like you're predicting?

I just think it's completely ridiculous to project that far out, especially with an outfit like US Airways. All advancement will stagnate when the next merger is being worked out behind closed doors, then......wham! There you are somewhere on a list with 10 more years, minimum, to upgrade.

And, trust me, not one pilot who is physically capable of flying to 65 is going to opt out early. They've got a lot of catching up to do on retirement funds.

Sorry to rain on the sunshine in this thread, but please.....a little reality should be interjected now and then.

Well if your that worried then you should never go to a mainline carrier. Mergers can happen to any airline, along with going out of business, furloughs, reduction in equipment etc etc. If only there was a cyrstal ball to see the future. Hell, my dads bud had all his friends laughing at him when he took a job with a cargo company flying a hand full of Falcon 20's, with his friends saying he's dumb, stupid, company will go under in a year. Turns out it was Fedex! Who's laughing now?

So I really don't get your point. Out of many of the majors US Airways has the highest seniority, hence a good number of retirements coming up. So with US Airways having a big number of retirement and the fact that each contract that comes up you will see a significant increase in pay and bennies, it just might not be that bad of a place to go.

But what do i know...... its the airline industry

 

[Sig]

Sorry to rain on the sunshine in this thread, but please.....a little reality should be interjected now and then.

You aren't raining on anything, my friend. You're making sense. It isn't the golden goose.

But there is one HUGE factor here... and that's how crummy it is to work for PDT. Another is how young (or junior) our pilot group is- 45% of the FOs were hired THIS YEAR, and that's not including the 45 that are and will be in the training system by the end of the month.

How long will it take them to crack 3K just to upgrade?

 

[BeCareful!]

So I really don't get your point. Out of many of the majors US Airways has the highest seniority, hence a good number of retirements coming up. So with US Airways having a big number of retirement and the fact that each contract that comes up you will see a significant increase in pay and bennies, it just might not be that bad of a place to go.

But what do i know...... its the airline industry

As you can see, the 2008 chart is broken down by seat and equipment for both East and West pilot groups. On the East, a total of 77 active captain positions will become vacant as a result of age 60 attrition (nine A330, 13 B737, 29 B75/6, 25 A320, and one E190). On the West, a total of 26 active captain positions will become vacant (seven B737, four B757, and 15 A320).

Fraternally,

Captain Jxxx Mcxxxxxxx

Chairman, AWA MEC


Wsurf -

77+26=103

That is the real number of retirement-generated upgrades that will occur next year, not the fantasy FI.com numbers that get blown around like so many soapy bubbles on the playground.

What my point is, obviously, is that six years to upgrade at USAir is pretty fu&*in' optimistic. You're correct about all the potential pitfalls, but what I'm saying is that even if everything goes perfectly (which it won't), and even if there is no consolidation (which there will be), advancement will be slow. Also, age 65 is going to add five years.

My estimate? At least 11 years, but probably several more for a guy at the bottom. Only West pilots already on the property will upgrade significantly more quickly.