Piedmont

[JJET44]

What's Piedmont's fleet plan for the future? Those Dash8's are getting pretty old!

 

[Mav204]

Q-400's are right around the corner

 

[JJET44]

Very nice.......congrats!
Thx

 

[paulsalem]

Very nice.......congrats!
Thx

He's being sarcastic.

 

[N813CA]

Heck they were old when I flew them 10 years ago. They are at least good for another 10.

 

[no1pilot2000]

How about flying carpets?

 

[zasca]

Cobus 3000's....

 

[LearLove]

Cobus 3000's....

are the cobus3000 drivers PDT employees or PHL city or something else? Bet they make more than us.

 

[Jar Jar]

PDT will be a ground service company in about 5 years, maybe sooner. Over the last decade PDT has focused its expansion efforts solely on the ground service front, so much so that they are in fact Airways' outsource agent of choice when it comes to outstation cost reductions. They have literally written the book on replacing mainline ground service agents who have 20+ years experience with minimum wage off-the-street new hires who do the same job at a fraction of the cost.

As for the airline; the 100's compose 2/3 of the fleet, are owned by Airways, and they will be reaching their cycle limits beginning in early 2012. They go to the scrap yard at that point. The 300's are leased by Airways and are up for renewal in 2015 - about the same time that the last 100s cycle out.

PDT is hiring, but there is a reason for it. The airline is bleeding experienced FOs who have determined that the odds of them upgrading and reaching the magical 1000 hours TPIC mark is unlikely to ever occur. If you think the judgement of a couple hundred people may be in error, take a look at Airway's financial position and figure out how to replace 44 turboprops within the next 4 years. [The answer is to outsource the flying to a different contract carrier]

PDT would be a good place to go only if you are not looking to build TPIC time. PDT has one of the best (and most difficult) training programs in the regionals and you will have the opportunity to probably experience a few engine fires, structural failures, horny grandmas, and you will surely get the full experience of being shafted by a 121 scheduler added to your resume. All this while working with some of the grumpiest old men you will ever meet in your life! You'll learn a lot...

 

[JJET44]

Ok, with that said, what is Usairways planing on doing with the small cities that the Dash is serving now? It'd be stupid to put an RJ on an ABE- PHL route for example. Hardly anyone besides Colgan are operating T-props anymore.

 

[kf4amu]

Ok, with that said, what is Usairways planing on doing with the small cities that the Dash is serving now? It'd be stupid to put an RJ on an ABE- PHL route for example.

Which is exactly why USAir is doing it...the only one they can't serve is Hilton Head.

 

[WSurf]

US Airway + Piedmont + Planning = Those words shouldn't ever been used in the same sentence. For now there's no plan.

 

[Metro752]

Ok, with that said, what is Usairways planing on doing with the small cities that the Dash is serving now? It'd be stupid to put an RJ on an ABE- PHL route for example. Hardly anyone besides Colgan are operating T-props anymore.

It's amusing as hell to fly PHL-ABE in the RJ. 200kts the whole way at 3-4000 feet. ZZzzzz.

 

[zasca]

Hell, they even have mainline do ABE occasionally...

 

[no1pilot2000]

So, it's a matter of time before Piedmont flies into the sunset as a passenger airline.

 

[LearLove]

Hell, they even have mainline do ABE occasionally...

we did phl-abe with the E170's in 2004-2006.

 

[WSurf]

http://www.aviationnews.eu/2011/06/23/nordic-aviation-capital-orders-10-atr-72-600s-plus-10-options/

Not saying that US Airways is interested. But the plane is way cheaper then the Q and the 600's is more fuel efficient then the Q400's. If we get replacement planes (which I doubt) I could almost beat they'll be ATR's.
ATR is thinking that many Major Airlines will soon be scoped out of Large RJ's! Thats where Large New Turboprops can slam right in and make a nice nitch.

 

[sktwstdfrk]

we did phl-abe with the E170's in 2004-2006.

Like metro said, amusing phl-abe in an rj. Haha.

 

[dhc8ap]

Not necessarily so. There are plans in the works for the fleet. As for the status of the regional, its simple economics; supply, demand, and profit margin. PDT can run routes more efficiently with a turboprop. Regional carriers with RJ's always have higher costs and that causes other carriers to lose bids. Add in scope with the other mergers and you are shifting your workloads around the carriers. USAirways is a business and economic rules apply.

 

[epic!]

Have an interview. What particular areas in the ATP should I study?

 

[FMEpilot]

The fogging the mirror part. Seriously though, go in with a good attitude and you'll be fine.

 

[dhc8ap]

The interview gouge is pretty correct. Jeppesen charts- Allentown, GSO, PHL. Know your FAR'S. Let us know how you do. Any other ?s just email me

 

[FMEpilot]

Dhc8ap... Care to fill the rest of us in on our fleet plans?

 

[dcfu69]

I heard PDT is closing the LGA crew base? Sorry to hear guys.

 

[FMEpilot]

It is official, LGA is closing as a crew base.

 

[LearLove]

that sucks - what's left: MDT, SBY, CHO, ROA, EWN ?

 

[Sig]

that sucks - what's left: MDT, SBY, CHO, ROA, EWN ?

And the fact that we have planes hitting the 80K death line within about 12 months! Awesome? I think YES!

I'm sure they're telling interviewees that they are fully aware that the fleet must shrink further, and have absolutely no way of preventing it.

Current PDTsters: Don't buy the hype. BA is doing his best, but the money will never come for the refurb. Besides, it's like shoving a ham up an 80 year old hooker and pulling out the bone. Still an 80 year old hooker.

 

[Jar Jar]

And the fact that we have planes hitting the 80K death line within about 12 months! Awesome? I think YES!

I'm sure they're telling interviewees that they are fully aware that the fleet must shrink further, and have absolutely no way of preventing it.

Current PDTsters: Don't buy the hype. BA is doing his best, but the money will never come for the refurb. Besides, it's like shoving a ham up an 80 year old hooker and pulling out the bone. Still an 80 year old hooker.

Hah.. You could have just said "Lipstick on a pig" but I guess your analogy may actually be a little more suited to the situation..

I guess DHC8AP is privvy to "inside information" that the rest of us don't have. There is no fleet renewal plan in place at PDT.

Anyone care to explain where Airways is going to get the money to refleet the 100s within the next 12 months? The clock is tickin rather loudly, isn't it? Again, my expectation is that Airways will replace the aging dhc-8 fleet, just not with PDT pilots/planes.

 

[Sig]

True. And the best way to ensure more folks don't get hoodwinked like we have been, get the word out that they're hiring furloughees. If you're ok with that, great! Get some 121 time and GTFO. Otherwise, treat PDT like a trailer park in a tornado.

That's a pretty apt description, too.

 

[OPECJet]

Hiring furloughees? Sig, tell 'em I'll come back at my old pay ray rate and seniority.

Outta my seat, man...... I still haven't figured out why you, being of sound mind and possessing hot wife, are still at Piedmont.