PDT reduce fleet, furloughs in the future.

[olympus593]

PDT returning 1 lease in March, 1 in Apr, 2 in May and possibly up to 7 more by the end of the year (all 100 ). Also warning of furloughs if attrition does not increase. Sorry for the bad news. Source: Executive letter from the PDT web site from S.F.

 

[LowlyPropCapt]

Great. I think I will go buy some beer while I still have a job that supplies the funds to do so.

 

[FMEpilot]

And everyone thought it would be mesa loosin -8's. Lame.

 

[olympus593]

That and the new sick policy what a week.

 

[LowlyPropCapt]

"...And in other news, Mesa announced plans to acquire Dash 8-100's for use on the East Coast."

---I totally would not be suprised to read this someplace.

 

[zasca]

I love how maintenance knew about this before us... How can we get outbid for these pieces of garbage?! Who in their right mind is expanding or creating a fleet of dash 8-100's in today's economic climate??? We should remove all the parts that we put on the aircraft after we signed the leases... There'd only be the frame and a few body panels left... Please god don't let all 11 go back! Makes you wonder what they were thinking maintaining our current overstaffed situation. They just want to be more dramatic with the furlough?! Cheap bastards... Guessing WARN letters for the unlucky next week.

 

[LowlyPropCapt]

Cheap bastards is right. I don't think they are out there trying to "sell" our ability to do flying either. My fear is that once the airframes are gone, they are gone for good. Once we are down it makes it that much easier for a Colgan-like carrier to pick us off.

 

[olympus593]

Anybody think that saying "7 more could be leaving" is a contract negotiating toll. like saying play nice or else? Bastard!!!

 

[jellynuts]

Guys......relax!! They're just clearing the way to put some ltp's on the property. The rates are about to expire!!

What were those payrates again? I think I used them to wipe my a#@!

 

[LowlyPropCapt]

LTPs. That is hilarious.

If this is a negotiating tool, then I say the following:

Those of you who know me, and most of you Piedmonsters do, know that I have as much to lose as anybody. But that being said, I would rather pick up my toys and walk away than give the company ONE SINGLE CONCESSION in a new contract. I absolutely refuse to lose ground on this one. Show me the money and the work rules or close it up. Either way I, and we, will be ok.

...My .02, anyway.

 

[greyskyracer]

I doubt that it is a negotiating tool. I don't think our contract will change much, but if you did not put a high priority on the the reserve language in the survey, you may want to rethink it. I seem to to vote no for everything, but it allways passes.

 

[ex j-41]

A little bird told me PDT is going to get Q-400's.

BTW Olympus593, i want to marry your avtar.

 

[CALRepublic]

A little bird told me PDT is going to get Q-400's.

are you serious or just bull***ing???

That's a beautifull machine, but as expensive as a jet

 

[greyskyracer]

are you serious or just bull***ing???

That's a beautifull machine, but as expensive as a jet

The initial cost is as expensive, but the operating cost much less. Oh and it's bull or a miss informed bird.

 

[LowlyPropCapt]

I have heard nothing regarding LTPs at PDT. I think any bird who has been whispering about Q's at PDT has been drinking heavily.

 

[CALRepublic]

The initial cost is as expensive, but the operating cost much less. Oh and it's bull or a miss informed bird.

Maybe ex j-41 was just fooling around, but seriously, is it that far-fetched (you guys getting some Q400s)?? what better replacement??

 

[greyskyracer]

I appreciate your optimism, but there in no money for new airplanes and no real need with all the 50 seat rjs contracts in place. Mgt has even stopped dwindling the carrot.

 

[n757st]

During a time where the airlines are on the up and up it makes sense, but right now LCC is bleeding. The last thing they will want to do is put craploads of money into a regional aircraft. I like the piedmont dudes, and would like to see it, but I just don't see it happening. If the Q400s show up in the next year, expect it to be flown by a contactor. BTW, trust me I feel for you dudes, in the last 4 years my regional has gone from over 85 aircraft to 70, so I think I say it for most AWAC'rs, hope this is just a ploy and nothing more.

 

[zasca]

well for it's worth, we all seem to be bad at predicting what this company will do.

We were all freaking out that we'd lose the -300's because they were soooo expensive and in demand. The company nonchalantly gets renewals on those but then balks on the -100's??? What the hell?

Maybe, at a time when it seems most unlikely, we will actually get new airplanes. Something dramatic would have to happen at some other feed carrier, but stranger things have happened. No ill will towards Mesa of course................

What I want to know is why, all of a sudden, we are getting scheduled down to 47 lines of flying at the beginning of the freaking summer. We will have only lost 4 planes... I can't believe they are cutting the small potatoes side of the business to save money... Fing MBA's who couldn't hack it in freshman accounting class!!!

 

[OPECJet]

Typical reactionary Piedmont / USAir management. You're exactly right ZASCA. Load up with fuel hungry RJ's, and dump the props. They'll be kicking themselves once again when the economy recovers and oil hits $150 a barrell again. Typical stupid management.

In the meantime, that's seriously stupid on the part of Farrow sending out that letter. If I were still on the property, I'd be REAL motivated to do all I could to help out. Then again, you should expect no less from the destroyer commander who tried to use his boat as a landing craft....

 

[LowlyPropCapt]

Then again, you should expect no less from the destroyer commander who tried to use his boat as a landing craft....

Oh? Did Farrow actually try and beach a hull?

I am off to work tommorrow. I am totally motivated... If you get my drift.

 

[OPECJet]

Oh? Did Farrow actually try and beach a hull?

I am off to work tommorrow. I am totally motivated... If you get my drift.

I haven't been able to find the article. I think it's up for debate whether he really did it or not. He commanded the USS Elliot. Check it, you might have better luck than I did....:laugh:

 

[LowlyPropCapt]

I haven't been able to find the article. I think it's up for debate whether he really did it or not. He commanded the USS Elliot. Check it, you might have better luck than I did....:laugh:

Check your pm's.

 

[WSurf]

BTW, trust me I feel for you dudes, in the last 4 years my regional has gone from over 85 aircraft to 70, so I think I say it for most AWAC'rs, hope this is just a ploy and nothing more.

Well ALG/PDT has gone from about 110 Planes to now maybe 45. If anyone knows about reductions it should be us.

 

[LowlyPropCapt]

Well ALG/PDT has gone from about 110 Planes to now maybe 45. If anyone knows about reductions it should be us.

Yup. What he said. All we need is some oppotunistic low rent carrier to come in here and kick us in the balls and that would make it a perfect sh1tstorm.

 

[CALRepublic]

Yup. What he said. All we need is some oppotunistic low rent carrier to come in here and kick us in the balls and that would make it a perfect sh1tstorm.

Yeah I'd be worried about that. Hell that was a posibility when I was there, I'm an ex-Allegheny guy.

Its unfortunate that a carrier like Colgan, Commut Air or my favorite, frigging Chautauqua could come in and like you said, start a sh1tstorm.

 

[WSurf]

Yup. What he said. All we need is some oppotunistic low rent carrier to come in here and kick us in the balls and that would make it a perfect sh1tstorm.

Yep, and thank God we own some planes! Wait till the leases are up at PSA on the 50 Seat RJ's.

Lets just hope this economy turns around fast.


But for now it Looks like we will be flying 45 ********************birds around until about 2014! And lets hope that the Airline industry turns around and we're not here to fly them.

Feel very sorry for those Pilots and their families that will be affected by this. This is not the time to be out of work and job hunting.

 

[CALRepublic]

But for now it Looks like we will be flying 45 ********************birds around until about 2014! .

WOW, flying the Dash until 2014.

Back in 2003 the chief pilot came into class (company recurrent) and said "we're hoping to turn the Dash 8 into the next DC3, we want to fly those things until 2010"....we all looked at eachother, probably thinking, these things can't fly until 2010. Now you're saying 2014...

whatever happens, good luck, lots of good friends at PDT.

 

[FMEpilot]

I wonder who will still be around to fly 906 to the Smithsonian in 2032

 

[deadstick]

Yep, and thank God we own some planes! Wait till the leases are up at PSA on the 50 Seat RJ's.

FWIW, USAir owns half (or there abouts) of those.