PDT death rattle??

[mnalpha]

Really. Is this place done? stick a fork in us? I have not heard ONE good thing about PDT once I got here, not even a rumor.

Just about to tell every one to RUN from PDT as fast as possible!

 

[JohnnyP]

....

Tell everyone to run from PDT and go to where? To some other regional that is in the same boat, or will be shortly? Were not going to be vanishing anytime soon. If we do ill put my foot in my mouth, but im willing to bet on the fact were gonna hang around a while longer. Which particular rumor gave you the hint of a death rattle?

 

[Dash8301]

Right now things at PDT will be the status quo. Which believe me ain't bad as compared to a couple of years ago. I'm not saying we are going to grow but we are definately now going away in the near future.

 

[nyboilermaker]

I'm liking the whole merge with Alaska go to Horizon rumor...

 

[JohnnyP]

....

Thats about as likely as richard branson getting ahold of PDT for virgin american express. Well maybe not that outlandish, but its up there. I actually overheard someone saying that branson was looking at PDT, wouldnt that be something.

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

The whole world is flying RJ's......PDT operates nothing but old mostly worn out Dash-8's and does not have a single jet on order(unless something has changed recently). USAir and Am West are merging, Mesa does most of Americawests RJ work...and a large percentage of USAirs as well.


I think the writing is on the wall for PDT. Looks pretty plain to me. I think that PSA won the "who will be around game" back when they were the first to accept the J4J contracts and got the rj's.

I doubt that America West will have anyuse for PDT, at best I see a sale to Mesa and PDT will go the way of CCAir.

 

[G2T]

Thats about as likely as richard branson getting ahold of PDT for virgin american express. Well maybe not that outlandish, but its up there. I actually overheard someone saying that branson was looking at PDT, wouldnt that be something.

He's a crazy dude, you never can tell. At least you know he has the cash flow to get us some 400's.

 

[WSurf]

Don't worry, PDT isn't going anyway! If anything, you will see RJ's going back before the Dash's. We are extending the leases up to another 10 years on a bunch of the Dash's, and remember we own 38 Dash's outright (which means it just makes straight up money for group).
The Dash 8 has survived the 50 seat RJ market. You will soon see a bunch of 50 Seat RJ's going to the desert soon. There will always be a market for TurboProps and the bottom line is that the Aircraft makes money and with Fuel prices thats the bottom line.
As for Mesa, Doug Parker has never been happy with the RJ service and look for them to be gone at the end of their contract. With all the 190's on order along with AirWilly (AirWilly made a investment into US Airways) in the mix there will be no need in the future for contract regionals. Piedmont will be the sole Prop carry at US Airways.

You probably won't seen any growth or RJ's at PDT! But what you will see is a company that runs well, pay that isn't bad for the type of aircraft, and one that will stay around because we make money.

 

[LowlyPropCapt]

The whole world is flying RJ's......PDT operates nothing but old mostly worn out Dash-8's and does not have a single jet on order(unless something has changed recently). USAir and Am West are merging, Mesa does most of Americawests RJ work...and a large percentage of USAirs as well.


I think the writing is on the wall for PDT. Looks pretty plain to me. I think that PSA won the "who will be around game" back when they were the first to accept the J4J contracts and got the rj's.

I doubt that America West will have anyuse for PDT, at best I see a sale to Mesa and PDT will go the way of CCAir.

Mesa doesn't do much (if any) US Airways East (pre merger US) flying anymore. It is all CHQ and AWAC.

These worn out Dash 8's will still be kicking around when the last CRJ goes to the bone yard.

 

[JohnnyP]

....

PDT will be the shell that wont die, kinda like an old relative.

 

[WSurf]

JohnnyP,

We are like Herpes!!! We just don't go away! Sometimes when you think we are gonna be gone, we just pop up again!

 

[B-J-J Fighter]

Doesn't Colgan do US Airways prop flying? Someone told me that worked there that US Airways wanted Colgan to pickup even more flying for them in the future.

 

[blzr]

PDT has been "going away" and "on their last leg" for almost as many years as the Rolling Stones. They are still rockin' and making money and so is PDT. I sometimes regret bailing a couple of years back to go Corp, but everyone was telling the younger guys to update your resume and move on. Some in my class left for Comair, and ASA while some of the more senior guys went to MDA. I bet those guys and gals would love to be flying the Dash now.

PDT will be around for a long time, but the beatings will continue no matter what!

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Props are way cooler than RJ's.

 

[OPECJet]

I'd rather screw my way around than blow my way around....

Seriously though, I can't say that good things will ever come to PDT(growth and or jets), but I firmly believe good things are going to come to this pilot group. Maybe even to the airline. I know that the folks in SBY are not sitting around hoping for the best. They don't want to be in the unemployment line anymore than we do.

Those of you that know me know that I'm not a Kool Aid drinking optimistic, cheery SOB. Rather more of a realistic pessimist. I'm telling you that good news may not be far off. Especially for you Lav Wall readers.

God bless J.H. for keeping that thing going while we're at it!

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

Mesa doesn't do much (if any) US Airways East (pre merger US) flying anymore. It is all CHQ and AWAC.

These worn out Dash 8's will still be kicking around when the last CRJ goes to the bone yard.

I hope it works out for PDT, lot of good folks over there. If it were still U mgmt making the calls I would say PDT is toast for sure, however with Am-west calling the shots, that adds a new unknown element to the mix.

 

[PropPiedmont]

Don't worry, PDT isn't going anyway! If anything, you will see RJ's going back before the Dash's. We are extending the leases up to another 10 years on a bunch of the Dash's, and remember we own 38 Dash's outright (which means it just makes straight up money for group).

Surf,

Can you list the N-numbers of the dashs PDT owns? 38 seems a little high.

55 total dash 8s, minus 12 dash 8-300s (all leases) = 43 dash 8s, minus 9 dash 8-200s (all lease returns) = 34 dash 8-100 remaining. If we only own dash 8-100s and we only have 34 flying, how can we own 38? Of the 34 -100s left, do we own them all? I'm pretty sure some of the -100s are on leases.

Piedmont may own some dash 8s that are parted out, but 38 seems like too much.

 

[trainer8]

Some in my class left for Comair, and ASA while some of the more senior guys went to MDA.

I bet those guys and gals would love to be flying the Dash now.

PDT will be around for a long time, but the beatings will continue no matter what!

Not all of them. Some are Captains now at Republic on the E170.

T8

 

[Snaab]

Yes, Colgan does some prop flying for US Airways. We fly the SF-340 and BE-1900 for 'em. Props will always have a place, especially in the Northeast (where US Air kicks ass). Small cities and some EAS routes will always need airline service, and only a prop makes sense. Think an RJ will make $$ flying PIT-JST or LGA-LEB or BWI-SBY? No way. Long live the props! I work at Colgan and haven't heard if we're going to do any additional flying for Airways.

Someone told me in CHO one day that there was a day when an RJ did CHO-IAD for United. Now, we at Colgan do the flight in a Saab. The gas used on the route is 1/6th of what the RJ used. Simple economics.

Snaab

 

[WSurf]

Prop,

Sorry your right! We own 32 Dash 8 100's outright!!! I thought it was 38, but its 32!

 

[N813CA]

blzr vbmenu_register("postmenu_909978", true);

I left Piedmont in 2003 and went to Comair. I don't miss PDT one bit. I do miss the people I flew with but Comair treats me way better than PDT ever did.

 

[blzr]

[/Q
I left Piedmont in 2003 and went to Comair. I don't miss PDT one bit. I do miss the people I flew with but Comair treats me way better than PDT ever did.UOTE]

Sorry to generlize like that, but it seems like no matter what regional you go to there's always turmoil. Some people say that the grass is greener on the other side, but fail to recognise two important things: 1. greener grass needs to be cut alot more often, and 2. It's just GRASS!!

Like you, I miss the people, but my QOL has been very high where I am. That's the most important thing.

 

[dooork]

WSURF how do you figure?

"You probably won't seen any growth or RJ's at PDT! But what you will see is a company that runs well, pay that isn't bad for the type of aircraft, and one that will stay around because we make money."

Pay that isn't bad. You fly a 50 seat aircraft for about $10 less an hour than MESA!!!

 

[WSurf]

Doooork,

Put the pipe down! Are you mesa?
First year Mesa Capt. 52.00 Piedmont 47.00
5th Year Mesa Capt. about 59.00 Piedmont 53.00!

1st year Mesa FO 21.00 1st year Piedmont 24.00<--------

Plus when you work in our contract and how we get paid, I think our Flight Attendants make more the Mesa FO's!!!!
Plus with our contract our FO's make more money then the FO's flying that CRJ-900 in CLT!! Thats sad.................
So Thats how I figure!!!


http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/regional/piedmont-2005030577.htm


Look for yourself!!! And remember our working contract is way more superior then mesa's P.0.S.

 

[twighead]

Doooork,

Put the pipe down! Are you mesa?
First year Mesa Capt. 52.00 Piedmont 47.00
5th Year Mesa Capt. about 59.00 Piedmont 53.00!

1st year Mesa FO 21.00 1st year Piedmont 24.00<--------

Plus when you work in our contract and how we get paid, I think our Flight Attendants make more the Mesa FO's!!!!
Plus with our contract our FO's make more money then the FO's flying that CRJ-900 in CLT!! Thats sad.................
So Thats how I figure!!!


http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/regional/piedmont-2005030577.htm


Look for yourself!!! And remember our working contract is way more superior then mesa's P.0.S.

you also forgot to correct him in that the vast majority of our fleet is 37 seaters, not 50.

 

[WSurf]

you also forgot to correct him in that the vast majority of our fleet is 37 seaters, not 50.

True, but I didn't even want to responed to that post anyway! I could have gone on for days! We are a totally different class of operation then the Mesa outfit. Just look at there crews walking around in CLT, even without ID's it's easy to spot there crews!

 

[PropPiedmont]

"You probably won't seen any growth or RJ's at PDT! But what you will see is a company that runs well, pay that isn't bad for the type of aircraft, and one that will stay around because we make money."

Pay that isn't bad. You fly a 50 seat aircraft for about $10 less an hour than MESA!!!

Can you pull in a 140 hour a month paycheck at Mesa????? Lets do the math an average pay of 115 credit hours at 51.36/hr = 5906.40 plus 20 hrs of 300 flying = 6006.40/month. At Mesa 59/hr at 80 hours a month with no overblock = $4720.00/month. You need 102 pay credit hours at Mesa to catch up with my pay.

I guess I make about $1300 more a month flying around in a little 37-50 seat prop than a Mesa CA is his pretty 86 seat CRJ-900.

So I might make less per hour than being at Mesa, but I make at least $15,000 more a year. Oh, and I got almost a $5.00/hr raise coming in the next few months.

 

[WSurf]

dooork, u dork!!! You got the smack down for that comment!!! LOL!! However on the good side you have been educated!!

 

[BoeingBaller]

JohnnyP,

We are like Herpes!!! We just don't go away! Sometimes when you think we are gonna be gone, we just pop up again!

Are you speaking from experience? Too many BWI overnights?

 

[WSurf]

No, too many FLO overnights! Man the those ladies near the truck stop!!!