For the PDT guys!

[rogerdoger]

Though I fly for a different airline. I couldt help but notice when I was in SGF(springfield, missouri) last week, I saw 3 of your DHC-8 200's parked on the tarmack. Though the US Air logos were stripped off of them, I was certian these were your planes because I used to work for PDT a while back. One of the N-numbers was N939HA. Unfortunatley I didnt get the N-numbers off the other two.

Anyways, I was just wondering what was up with that. Are you guys selling off your fleet or something? Are you liquidating? Because, wouldnt it make more sense to get rid of those old 100's instead of the newer and better 200's?

 

[WSurf]

Yes and no! Those were probably ones we lost long ago. The leasing company would not commit to long term leases on the 200's! So starting in June they will be gone! The 100's are cheaper and they will replace the 200's! Smart? Don't know, US Airways thinks it isn't. So bye bye 200's.
Our fleet will stay around 50 airplanes.... hopefully! 36 Airplanes are owned out-right by PDT. That can change at anytime! Remember PDT had over 60 Airplanes once, ALG had over 40... So we have lost almost 50% of our fleet!! So there are a bunch of our old airplanes lying around in various part of the country.
But anyway, I will miss the 200's.... However less limitations to remember in training, and the 100's fly slower!!=Mo Money!!
No we are not liquidating! There is rumor of increasing the fleet with more 100's.
Looks like since the 50 seat RJ is about done with, more Turbo Props will be coming back on-line.

 

[PropPiedmont]

Wsurf,

Give me a call when more turboporps come online. Won't believe it til I see it.

 

[WSurf]

Prop,

If its 20 years old, Rusty, stinks...... US Airways will buy it for PDT...... We are the red headed-step Child!!!!---------Q400 coming to PDT in 2025!!!

 

[rogerdoger]

Wsurf,

Give me a call when more turboporps come online. Won't believe it til I see it.

Yea buddy. When I was at PDT supposedly Q400's were just around that corner. And PDT was going to merge w/PSA. Oh, and last but not least. They were going to open back up the old florida crew bases.

But like PropPiedmont said. "Won't believe it til I see it."

Oh and one other thing. Jay Keen is an a$$ho1e!!!

 

[eightdriver]

Hey Surf, are you still at the old PDT? I figure you would have bailed by now.

 

[WSurf]

Yea, help me!!!

 

[lear24]

Remember PDT had over 60 Airplanes once, ALG had over 40... So we have lost almost 50% of our fleet!! So there are a bunch of our old airplanes lying around in various part of the country.

At one point ALG had 55 or so airplanes and PDT had a little under that (around winter 2001). By my math we're already at about 45% of what the combined companies used to be. Pretty sick. Now we can have some of our old airplanes back to replace some of the 200s (maybe). The same airplanes we had to get rid of so that US Express could be an all jet fleet by 2008. Siegel was a genius.

 

[PropPiedmont]

PDT had 82 Dash 8s listed in our Ops Specs at one point.

 

[WSurf]

82? That included the inter-change with ALG Didnt' it? I think the biggest we ever got was about 4 years ago with the 300's. Up to about 65 Aircraft I believe.

 

[LowlyPropCapt]

Are you sure those were -200's? N939HA is a -100, if memory serves. I know some of the old -100's got parked in SGF.

Apparently Parker made PDT's future sound pretty bleak at the town hall meeting in LGA recently. Sounded more like he wanted to be done with props all together. Rumors of our demise abound!

 

[Dash8301]

Yes 82 aircraft would have included the inter-change with ALG

 

[generaltso]

Are you sure those were -200's? N939HA is a -100, if memory serves. I know some of the old -100's got parked in SGF.

Apparently Parker made PDT's future sound pretty bleak at the town hall meeting in LGA recently. Sounded more like he wanted to be done with props all together. Rumors of our demise abound!

Then who will do the PHL-ABE, PHL-BWI, PHL-AVP, PIT-ERI, PIT-MDT, LGA-SYR and so on? I think the dash's have their role and I think they are the perfect aircraft for these routes.

 

[blzr]

Roger, When were you at PDT?

 

[NCFlyer]

I believe at the most PDT had at 1 time 65 a/c in their own fleet.

If ALG had at 1 time 40+ a/c and soon the combined fleet will be down to 52 a/c - that is greater than a 50% fleet reduction.

Ask yourself what other USAirways Express carrier had a 50% fleet reduction since bankruptcy #1?

 

[PropPiedmont]

I believe at the most PDT had at 1 time 65 a/c in their own fleet.

If ALG had at 1 time 40+ a/c and soon the combined fleet will be down to 52 a/c - that is greater than a 50% fleet reduction.

Ask yourself what other USAirways Express carrier had a 50% fleet reduction since bankruptcy #1?

Dash 100s (40)

906, 907, 908, 909, 910, 911, 912, 914, 915, 916, 917, 920, 921, 922, 923, 924, 925, 926, 927, 928, 930, 931, 933, 934, 935, 936, 937, 938, 940, 941, 942, 943, 975, 816MA, 828MA, 979, 980, 981, 982, 984

Dash 200s (18)

966, 968, 969, 983, 985, 986, 987, 988, 989, 990, 991, 992, 993, 994, 995, 996, 997, 998

Dash 300s (12) plus 13 on order never received

326, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, 333, 335, 336, 337, 342, 343

Interchange Agreement 100s

824EX, 825EX, 826EX, 827EX, 828EX


Total Dash 8s in PDTs fleet at highest number = 70

Total flying Dash 8s including interchange = 75

Total Dash 8s operated and on order = 83 or 88 with interchange aircraft

 

[PropPiedmont]

Oops, I forgot about Potomac.

Minus 8 -200s at our peak. Which we did get back in time to return to the lesors.

 

[LowlyPropCapt]

Then who will do the PHL-ABE, PHL-BWI, PHL-AVP, PIT-ERI, PIT-MDT, LGA-SYR and so on? I think the dash's have their role and I think they are the perfect aircraft for these routes.

You are assuming that the new LCC WANTS to continue this low load factor flying. Even if they did, they probably want to do it with airplanes not staffed with a employee group with a mature labor contract, such as we have at PDT. In comparison we are expensive, and in managements eyes, ripe for replacement. I hope I am wrong, but I eventually expect to see this flying either disappear entirely or be done through further outsourcing.

Like I said, I hope I am wrong. Just don't make the mistake that we are irreplacable.

 

[rogerdoger]

Roger, When were you at PDT?

I was hired at PDT during November of 04 and my last day was in Aug. I was only on the line for about 7 months then I jumped ship.

Oh, and I am 100% sure those were 200's that I saw. I know this because the propeller tips were had those 2 white stripes.

 

[OPECJet]

I bet you didn't have the decency to take any senior folks with you either.....