Dash 8 Drivers...

[erika]

Starting at Piedmont on 5 January, couple of quick questions if you don't mind....

1) Prefered headset...it seemed like the pilots at Piedmont were using the lightweight telex style. I was thinking Telex 850, Sennheiser 25 or 45.

2) Flight case...seemed pretty roomy in the cockpit, so I suppose the large size is OK/Prefered??

That's all I can think of for now, but any other tips appreciated.


Thanks,
Erik

 

[dashflyer]

I use the Telex. Works well. All the airplanes have a Company provided headset in them. You just have to see mx for the ear pieces.

As for the flightbag, you could most likely fit a large one in there. Mines about a medium size one and I still have plenty of room.

 

[Vegaspilot99]

Hey, which day did you interview at Piedmont? I did on the 11th and got the job offer. See you there if I decide to take it. Take care.

 

[B1900DFO]

How many are they hiring? We don't hear much out on the line. There is a rumor going around that we will have to hire 150 pilots in 2004 to keep up with attrition. Morale is very low right now but the pilot group is great. As for tips all I can think of is to have the limitations down cold before showing up for class, it will save you quite a bit of time. The dash is a great plane, very fun to fly.

 

[erika]

Well, I interviewed April of '02. Been in the pool ever since. I went out to HQ around the 3rd of Dec to review the paperwork, and start class 5 JAN. Should be 10-12 people. Trout said 10-12 again FEB 5th, and at least 60 total in 2004. I know about the bad morale, which is sad given the great history Piedmont has.

Hey, can anyone let me know what the ALPA price is for the Telex 850 ANR and the Scott Jumbo Flight kit is? One of my students is giving me one or the other as a x-mas/congrats on the new job gift, and I don't want him to pay to much if there is a good discount (I know the Scott bag is much cheaper for airline pilots, don't know how much dicount on the telex.)

Thanks guys!
Erik

 

[eddie]

I tried the sennheiser HMEC - 45, it didn't get rid of any of the prop noise, making it almost useless. I'm not sure whether the other sennheiser works. What I found worked best was the company telex with an ear mold and an ear plug... that worked great. Just don't forget to protect your hearing, it's quiet in the Dash, but not quiet enough to go without protection!

Good Luck.

 

[LongBoarder]

D/C's

Just use your D/C's and save your money for beer at the end of the trip. You have them.... and they will take the abuse of going in and out of the bag every day.... plane swaps, spilling your coke on them... you know the story.

I was in the Dash and I have a Korchmar with the straps that go around the bag.... watched a lot of guys running around with broken handles... and mine held up to the abuse.. and a whole lot cheaper than the Scott. Try the Stopover Store and MSP.

LB

 

[ORFflyer]

headset & flight case

I spent two enjoyable years at PDT. Congratulations, you'll be working with some of the best folks in the business. Unfortunately, management at PDT is not the best(to put it mildly), but you'll learn a lot about airline flying from some real pros.
Headset. I used a HMEC 25 for 2 years and loved it. It really does a great job cutting out the noise in the Dash 8 and is comfortable. I tried my Clarks a couple of times and they were miserable. PDT aircraft do not have intercoms, so with a pair of Clarks, you'll find yourself having to pull the left cup off of your ear to hear the Capt. With the Sennheiser set, you can hear voices easily without removing them, yet they get rid of all the unwanted noise. This is important, you'll notice that all the guys that have been there 10,15 and 20 years wearing those silly Telex sets have significant hearing loss. Wait till you get your PDT employee number and you'll be able to get the -25's for about $450 if you buy a reconditioned set directly from Sennheiser (good as new with a full warrantee).
Fllight case: Scott bags are beautiful, but you'll feel lousy the first time you have to set one down next to the aircraft in a puddle of slush and glycol. Check out the nylon and leather cases at crewgear.com , they have rubber bumpers on the bottom that keep the bag and its contents dry even on a very wet ramp.
Good luck at PDT, a Dash 8 with an APU is a great place to be during a cold winter.

 

[nyboilermaker]

Telex has a new headset. The 850. It's an active noise reduction lightweight headset like the older model that uses the aircraft power to provide active noise reduction. No battery pack required. Works great.

Any flightcase will fit. More room up front than a DC-9.

Welcome aboard!

 

[Dash8]

i have one of those plain nylon catalog cases from office max/depot staples places, and telex 750's, nice and light, and use special ear plugs for takeoff/landing flight mates ear plugs

works good for me

 

[erika]

Hye guys, thanks for all the info!!!

I'm excited to start, really got to get going on the homework...

As far as the headsets, my student gave me a set of the new ANR Telex 850's as an x-mas gift, so I'll see how those work (good to see the positive comment from nyboilermaker).

Thanks
Erik

 

[79%N1]

Its amazing how one mans trash is another mans treasure! People cant get out of Piedmont fast enough, some giving up years of seniority - but others will gladly line up to take their place. There is good reason everyone is trying to leave there. I dont want to discourage anyone, but I hope you have exhausted all of your job options before going to PDT! That said, they have the absolute BEST group of pilots and flight attendants I have ever known, and I miss them all. Dealing with all of the rest of the crap that you constantly have to is another thing all together......Good luck!

 

[Piedmonster]

Piedmont

Don't waste your time going to Piedmont, They probably won't be around in a year or two

 

[Heavy Set]

Erika,

Why would you leave a job flying a Bravo for an archaic Dash 8 (no offense to PDT people) that will likely be phased out or gone in a few years? I say apply to Citationshares (to fly a Bravo) or apply to fast-growing Chataqua, MESA (despite JO) or Sky West to fly jets.

 

[blzr]

If you can fly a Dash in the ice, snow and T-storms, you can fly anything made. You'll get alot of excellent real world experience there.

 

[Singlecoil]

If you can fly a Dash in the ice, snow and T-storms, you can fly anything made. You'll get alot of excellent real world experience there.

Huh? The Dash is the easiest airplane I have ever flown in the ice and snow. I don't know anything that likes T-storms. I will say the 200 is far better than the 100 in the ice, but snow? Big wheels, easy handling.

 

[LR25]

PDT is a great place to work.

The Dash is a great airplane, more room than most heavyjets, in the front and back.

If you can make a smooth landing in it, you can fly anything out there.

As far as PDT and the future, there may not be one. I would look really hard at going to PDT right now, especially if you have a stable flying position currently.

I have freinds there, and they are looking at getting out.

I will say that the pilot group and flight attendants are awsome to work with, it really made those 4 day crews go by fast.

Good luck to all the newhires, I can say that the training I recieved at PDT was one of the best I have seen.

 

[eddie]

I agree with singlecoil the Dash is an amazingly easy plane to fly. Almost made me miss the Jetstream...well, not really, I would miss the EFIS, the autopilot, the yaw damper, and the flight attendant too much.

 

[Heavy Set]

I'd stay on the Bravo, continue to accrue quality jet time, and then get on with a fast-growing jet operator like Chataqua or Sky West (hopefully upgrade in 2-3 years with growth).

Just my $0.02

 

[350DRIVER]

Why would you leave a job flying a Bravo for an archaic Dash 8 (no offense to PDT people) that will likely be phased out or gone in a few years? I say apply to Citationshares (to fly a Bravo) or apply to fast-growing Chataqua, MESA (despite JO) or Sky West to fly jets.

I was thinking the exact same thing, that is completely nuts and mind boggling to say the least. A citation or a dash 8 flying for a company that will most likely be history very soon. Things that make you go Hmmm.....

Good luck

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