AQP / Training

[OhDannyBoy]

1) Can anyone explain to me the differences between AQP and 'conventional' training?

2) Anyone been through PDT training lately?

Thanks

 

[FirstMate]

14 of us are starting tomorrow...will try to provide details as the week progresses. when is your class date?

 

[OhDannyBoy]

Still waiting on a date. Last I heard "sometime in the fall". Looking forward to it, though.

 

[WSurf]

You can't wait! Be scared I tell you! Wait till our sched. Department gets a hold of you once on line. From the words of the mighty Yoda.


Not scared are you?

You will BE!!!! You willlllllll BEEE!!!


Just Kidding... Good luck guys...

 

[WSurf]

And you will like the AQP program. Think of it like a Part 141 school! The training is done in house. Better protection, and sims once a year with a line check once a year too.

 

[OhDannyBoy]

What are the lines like? 2,3,4-day trips? (5,6,7.....)

How long are the F/Os on reserve these days?

Thanks for the info. I wish I was training now instead of sitting down here in the caribbean where the conditions are appaling with nothing to look at but white sandy beaches and rum drinks...and tropical Wx updates every 5 minutes.

 

[WSurf]

Well there's good news and bad news on that. Which First????? Hmmm, okay the bad news.

1. US Airways is about to go Chapt. 11 soon. Maybe as early as next week. This will change the game in some ways. I can't tell you much more on that, cause I dont know. But being on bottom of list at an airline thats chapt.11, well I can tell you thats no good.

2. US Airways is downsizing its Turbo Prop Operations, PSA is done with them, and our fleet (PDT) will soon go away also. Could be 2 years, or 5 years! PSA and soon MDA will taking some of ours and mainlines routes, so we will soon be lucky to do 1 hr. flights anymore. (Can u say puddle jumper)

3. The flying lines aren't that good. Better then some peope however! I am a line holder and get about 12-14 days off. Lucky as hell if theres a 14 line. ( and usually that one, you work most weekends) Be prepared for extensions, almost always up to 14hrs that day. Junior mans, working on days you should be off. They can do that 3 Times a year. The airline always runs short staff in almost every postion. From Pilots, FAs, Sched., Ground Support etc. We are one of the hardest worked pilot groups in the country. Meaning we fly more hours then anyone else out there.

4. PDT is now Mergered with ALG, and ALG has some senior people, don't know how this will effect bases and future upgrades.

5. You will be flying old tired equipment! Don't get me wrong, if you had to be in a Prop, the Dash is nice. APU, Good work area, cockpit is big, good auto pilots, and you can stretch out and its quiet. However, its old.

6. Moral is really, really bad. We took pay cuts about 2 years ago, on the promise we would see some RJ's on our property. And we got the big Hose, on that deal. This made our future really grey, until we were able to go to MDA with our longevity.

Good News

1. You will probably make more money then any other Regional your first year. With our pay, and working contract (which is still very good) you have the chance to make about 25k your first year. Even when you get screwed they have to pay you big time. Not like some airlines where there pilots are screwed and not paid. This all comes back to our working contract. This is the difference between living with a roomy, or getting your own pad (which the ladies like).

2. If US Airways makes it! Well then you might not have to interview at another airline. We have the first full flowthru. You can get too PDT (if nothing changes) Then bid over to MDA (EMB170's) Then one day to Mainline. Slim chances on this, but take it for what its worth.

3. You might not be on reserve long, people are leaving to go to MDA. Upgrade might drop soon to below 2 years. Once Jet Blue gets there EMB 190s you will see more of our pilots heading in that direction. Get ready for a bunch of movement within our company. Remember this all depends on US Airways survival, and that we are still around.

4. Good bases, most of our bases are in small cities. Your money goes a bit further. CHO, ORF, ROA,EWN, CLT etc.

5. Even since moral is low, you will fly with some of the best trained, and really exprienced group of pilots. Everytime you see a silver haired PDT Capt., you need to remember that he over the years fought to have Regional Pilots pay and work rules changed for the better. The fought hard to make this a place to come to, and even make a good living being here. This airline is not close to being fun like a couple of years ago, but lets hope things can change for the better. This probably is the lowest that PDT has ever been, well atleast in my time here.

Love to add more, but I have too be at work. And I have 4 occurences, which you will learn about. We have a dependability program, and if I am 5 min. late. I get another occurence.
Take it for what its worth. Bottom line, pay is good, Dash is good. If we fold, well you have a good airline on your next resume.

Good Luck