Piedmont classes?

[ceo_of_the_sofa]

Anyone else have the CD? I'll pay for shipping and maybe throw in a few bucks

 

[PA31Ho]

a few? I said 50 biatch... j/k

 

[Dash8]

hmmm not sure about sendin the cd to people...is there fom stuff on there? if so, then you most likely cannot legally give it to someone that it wasn't issued to by the company, same reason they make you turn in your manuals when you leave the company, don't quote me on this, just for some reason this thought popped into my head while reading this latest discourse...

 

[OPECJet]

Yes, there is FOM stuff on the CD.

I thought the systems test was fairly easy when I went through. The only thing I had was the CD, and prior turbine experience to fall back on. The prior turbine experience was what helped the most. PDT training is geared to pilots who already have basic knowledge of turbine aircraft. If you don't have that kind of experience, get that book and learn the basics. I haven't read said book, but I'm sure it will help.

The problems people were having in my class was that when a component was being discussed, we were told what it does to what system in the Dash. They would tell you what powers the TRUs, and what they power, but assumed you knew what a TRU was. Same with inverters, outflow valves, standby hydraulic pumps, etc. If you know what these things do in most airplanes, you will be fine when it comes to learning the Dash.

We had 11 people in my class, 5 of us had flown turbine aircraft. The lowest score any of us 5 made was above 95. The rest of the folks were able to ask questions from us, and the instructors to make it through. A couple bombed the first test, but made it through the second try with flying colors.

Get the book, and stop sweating ground school. The sim instructors will make you sweat enough.

 

[avl_pilot]

I just got an e-mail today from Mrs. Parker confirming that the Nov. and Dec. class dates will not run. I know that there had been some rumor on here on wheather or not this was true, so I'm sorry to say to anyone (myself included) that is swimming in the pool, it looks like we'll need a liferaft to stay afloat in this pool. Sorry to bring the bad news.

 

[ceo_of_the_sofa]

Ouch!
PM me your interview date and I'll put you in my unofficial pool. So far, there's four people in it, including myself. Please include an email address so that I can update you on the status.

How many people does PDT usually put in class?

Are they still interviewing?

 

[JohnnyP]

bums around murphys

Off topic, but I was at recurrent in CLT a few weeks ago. After sims were done we all went to Murphys, etc. Sitting out on the porch area, one of those bums was next to the fence, kept asking for money, harassing us while we were eating, etc. I guess theyve been a problem around murphys, anyrate next thing we see is this large fella come running out of the inside with a police baton stick with tazer barbs attached to it. Chases the urban outdoorsman around the parking lot and shocks hims with this stun-gun stick thing a bunch of times. It was really amusing. I had never seen this weapon, it was about the size of a billy-club but had little nodes on the stick. I guess the big guy was the owner. So for you new hires, gotta watch out, the bums will getcha. Oh, and the Ramada has free passes to the G-club next door for yalls info. Just go to the front desk and ask for 'em. I had to ask this nice little old lady for 'em, but the embarassment wears off in a second or two.

 

[G2T]

Muphys was already a great distraction, but with bums being tazed and free passes to the G-Club its no wonder people are having problems with training! Free entertainment everywhere. Anybody heard why those classes are getting cancelled?

 

[LowlyPropCapt]

is it worth it? only you can determine that...

we all talk about pdt too, but for an entirely different reason...search the posts, you'll find em

does the trng dept gun for people? yes
its not really a training department in so much as it is a discipline department, what can you expect when the director of training enters a new hire classes and threatens them that they're just waiting for them to screw up so they can fire them

Sorry I can't let this one go...

You must be an Allegheny guy, right?

Full Disclosure: I am a native Piedmont guy who has never had a problem with either management or the training department. As a matter of fact, the contacts I have had with both have been downright professional and pleasant even in disagreement.

So the training department guns for people? Do you have evidence of this? Are you even aware of what the pass rate in CQ is or do just listen to your buddies' stories and half baked rumors? If you are one of the Allegheny folks that is ticked off so bad, do you really think the training department is after you personally?

Get over yourself. JK and the rest of the training department doesn't spend 1 second trying to think up ways to screw you over. As a matter of fact, it is highly unlikely that they even know who you are. The world doesn't revolve around you.

I fly with a number of former Allegheny folks who feel that thier present state is untenable and there only option is to resist all change whatever the price. The Allegheny way was the only way, and dang it, you are going to prove it one way or another. My unsolicited advice? Get over it. The company you fly for wants you to fly the airplane thier way. Unless they are asking you to violate your contract or the FAR's or operate in an unsafe manner just do it like the book says. Basically, shut up and fly or quit.

Now, if you are a native Piedmont pilot, than whatever your issue is with the company than solve it or get over it. Or leave, that is always an option too. I believe in keeping a low profile and keeping my head down. On the rare occasion when I have had a beg to differ with the company, I handled it calmly and professionally and never came away disappointed. It is the art of telling someone to got to hell, but making them look forward to the trip.

Piedmont, like every other regional, is niether Shagri-La nor is it Dante's Inferno. It is someplace in between. I like some of the things the training department does and others I disagree with. Some people I like more than others, but that is goiing to be the case anywhere. More or less it is up to you to make it what you will. Most people who have problems here (especially in training) make there own troubles by either having a crappy attitude or flat not knowing their jobs.

There, I feel better. Stepping off the soapbox now.

 

[PA31Ho]

I get the boneless buffalo chicken fingers about once a week from murphey's - good stuff man. friggin bums are everywhere over there no kidding

 

[SiouxHockeyFan]

Stick with PDT

To everyone who is in the PDT hiring pool, Stay with it. I was there, but left for another regional. The ground school at PDT isn't that it is harder than other regionals, but the fact they really stress you "know" the info not just memorize the numbers. The Dash systems are a little harder than a regional jets, but they are a heck of a lot more fun to fly. Stay with PDT and you will love the Dash. The Rj is "cool looking and fast", but that is about it. Good experience and good FO pay.

 

[NYCPilot]

Yeah, Ive heard that flying a TP can be a little harder than the RJ's currently out there. Power management is much easier in the jet in comparison.

 

[NCFlyer]

I've got to agree with LowlyPropCapt.

Is PDT utopia? No.
Could it be a better place to work? Yes.

But hanging all that on the training department is unfair. I can't speak for the new hire training since it has been too long ago, but for CQ if you show up prepared, (as in review limitations & profiles) you shouldn't have much trouble. It helps to fly the airplane by the book for 11 months and just fly the sim the same way. In my experience the people who seem to have the most trouble are the same people who want to fly "their way" and then can't understand why they have so much trouble in the sim during CQ.

If you show up, know the profile, then fly the profile you shouldn't have a problem.

For the new hires it can be quite a leap from single/light twin to 43,000 lb turboprop when you only have 500 hours at the time you show up. It is my understanding that the company is more than willing to help those that need a little extra help if they are putting in their whole effort. For those that are partying or "studying" at Murphy's don't expect the company to give you an extra hand. I heard recently that a new hire fell asleep while observing 2 others in the sim. BAD MOVE!

 

[Dash8]

Sorry I can't let this one go...

You must be an Allegehney guy, right?

Yes I am, but that isn't germaine to the situation, so please withhold your prejudices.

Full Disclosure: I am a native Piedmont guy who has never had a problem with either management or the training department. As a matter of fact, the contacts I have had with both have been downright professional and pleasant even in disagreement.

well, bully for you then, but just because you have had that be the 'normal' course of things, doesn't mean the same is true for everone else, and this isn't a pdt/alg thing, because i've known a number of pdt guys with the exact same complaints

So the training department guns for people? Do you have evidence of this? Are you even aware of what the pass rate in CQ is or do just listen to your buddies' stories and half baked rumors? If you are one of the Allegehney folks that is ticked off so bad, do you really think the training department is after you personally?

Get over yourself. JK and the rest of the training department doesn't spend 1 second trying to think up ways to screw you over. As a matter of fact, it is highly unlikely that they even know who you are. The world doesn't revolve around you.

Yes, they most certainly did/do have people they were 'gunning' for. I witnessed it, in person. Names were most certainly mentioned, including my own. I am not the only person to have witnessed such an event either.
Granted, this may not include the entirety of the traning department, but definately JK and some of his lackeys. I don't believe the world revolves around me, but when presented with facts and information, its hard to dispute the truth of the matter.

I fly with a number of former Allegehney folks who feel that there present state is untenable and there only option is to resist all change whatever the price. The Allegehney way was the only way, and dang it, you are going to prove it one way or another. My unsolicited advice? Get over it. The company you fly for wants you to fly the airplane thier way. Unless they are asking you to violate your contract or the FAR's or operate in an unsafe manner just do it like the book says. Basically, shut up and fly or quit.

Now, if you are a native Piedmont pilot, than whatever your issue is with the company than solve it or get over it. Or leave, that is always an option too. I believe in keeping a low profile and keeping my head down. On the rare occasion when I have had a beg to differ with the company, I handled it calmly and professionally and never came away disappointed. It is the art of telling someone to got to hell, but making them look forward to the trip.

Piedmont, like every other regional, is niether Shagri-La nor is it Dante's Inferno. It is someplace in between. I like some of the things the training department does and others I disagree with. Some people I like more than others, but that is goiing to be the case anywhere. More or less it is up to you to make it what you will. Most people who have problems here (especially in training) make there own troubles by either having a crappy attitude or flat not knowing their jobs.

There, I feel better. Stepping off the soapbox now.

well you obviously have a bone to pick with alg guys, what it is? frankly I don't care.
I'm trying to do my part to make things better here, no, alg wasn't perfect far from it, and yes pdt does do a few things a little better but on the whole, seeing both operations as they are/were, alg was better. You have to realize that we are in the particular position of being able to make a fairly full comparison between the operations and the shortcomings/promises of both.
Considering you didn't know what life at alg was like, you have no business coming down on people for expressing their opinions about the differing operations, and what can be done to improve them.
I also have been nothing but calm and professional in all my dealings with either mgmt, or trng, so being curteous doesn't solve everything unfortunately.
"Keep a low profile", thats exactly the kind of attitude that got pdt into the predicament it is in with the past ineffective or 'corrupt' union leadership that sold out the junior pilots or anyone else for their own benefit.

You obviously don't keep abreast of the situation here, in that the company does in fact ask (or coerce might be a better turn of phrase) people, to abrogate the contract, bend FAR's, or do what a person may consider 'unsafe'. On a semi-regular basis, how many times has penny told some one "just do it and grieve it"? or mechanics asked to pencilwhip a writeoff to get the plane on its way, I've had mechanics admit that to me as well. So don't tell me what the company does or doesn't do, I'm aware....
Thats not to say that mgmt doesn't sometimes 'do the right thing' for people in need, but that doesn't absolve them of their other transgressions and failings with the draconian style thats been fostered here.

The 'ostrich syndrome' is what let management run amok here and turn pdt into the culture of fear that it is today.
Do you think its just coincidence that newhires are leaving in droves, especially prior to their first cq? To go make LESS money someplace else??
I only hope that Tempe eventually turns their eye towards salisbury sees how the operation is being run as far as personnel, and enacts a corporate culture more like their own after some heads roll. I know some people at HP and if we had mgmt that took after their style, this would be a much happier place. I'm not so deluded as to think there still wouldn't be issues of some kind, you can't always please everyone, but it would have to be a far sight better than what we're living with now.

So, in sumation, don't be so quick to ridicule or dismiss anyone complaining about issues they had with people that you may have had adequate dealings with. There are definately bias' in this company (mgmt and training) towards and against various people on property, some I'm sure deservedly so, and some not.

*steps off my soap box and smashes it gallagher style*

When its all said and done, I just want to come in, do my job, and go home :beer:, with a minimum of stress and grief

 

[Dash8]

Yeah, Ive heard that flying a TP can be a little harder than the RJ's currently out there. Power management is much easier in the jet in comparison.

I don't know if I could agree with you there...while i've never flown a jet, i do know that it requires more dilligance in power mgmt particuarly in regards to descents. The dash is an incredbily easy plane to fly, she'll do just about anything you ask of her (other than go fast)
buddy of mine transitioned from atrs to the junkjet, and he said pretty much along the same things, the jet was more automated which made it easier, but in hands on flying, the prop was more forgiving, but hey, thats just my opinion, i might be wrong, awh f**k it, who wants some pie?

 

[SiouxHockeyFan]

Go Pdt

The Dash is great to fly, meaning easy, forgiving, much like a beefed up 172. The RJ isn't hard to fly, but it is very synthetic, if you like to fly airplanes you won't lke the RJ, besides the fact it goes fast, but the Dash can go 230 to the marker then have a ref speed of 88kts, no RJ can do that.

 

[LowlyPropCapt]

Yes I am, but that isn't germaine to the situation, so please withhold your prejudices.


well, bully for you then, but just because you have had that be the 'normal' course of things, doesn't mean the same is true for everone else, and this isn't a pdt/alg thing, because i've known a number of pdt guys with the exact same complaints



Yes, they most certainly did/do have people they were 'gunning' for. I witnessed it, in person. Names were most certainly mentioned, including my own. I am not the only person to have witnessed such an event either.
Granted, this may not include the entirety of the traning department, but definately JK and some of his lackeys. I don't believe the world revolves around me, but when presented with facts and information, its hard to dispute the truth of the matter.



well you obviously have a bone to pick with alg guys, what it is? frankly I don't care.
I'm trying to do my part to make things better here, no, alg wasn't perfect far from it, and yes pdt does do a few things a little better but on the whole, seeing both operations as they are/were, alg was better. You have to realize that we are in the particular position of being able to make a fairly full comparison between the operations and the shortcomings/promises of both.
Considering you didn't know what life at alg was like, you have no business coming down on people for expressing their opinions about the differing operations, and what can be done to improve them.
I also have been nothing but calm and professional in all my dealings with either mgmt, or trng, so being curteous doesn't solve everything unfortunately.
"Keep a low profile", thats exactly the kind of attitude that got pdt into the predicament it is in with the past ineffective or 'corrupt' union leadership that sold out the junior pilots or anyone else for their own benefit.

You obviously don't keep abreast of the situation here, in that the company does in fact ask (or coerce might be a better turn of phrase) people, to abrogate the contract, bend FAR's, or do what a person may consider 'unsafe'. On a semi-regular basis, how many times has penny told some one "just do it and grieve it"? or mechanics asked to pencilwhip a writeoff to get the plane on its way, I've had mechanics admit that to me as well. So don't tell me what the company does or doesn't do, I'm aware....
Thats not to say that mgmt doesn't sometimes 'do the right thing' for people in need, but that doesn't absolve them of their other transgressions and failings with the draconian style thats been fostered here.

The 'ostrich syndrome' is what let management run amok here and turn pdt into the culture of fear that it is today.
Do you think its just coincidence that newhires are leaving in droves, especially prior to their first cq? To go make LESS money someplace else??
I only hope that Tempe eventually turns their eye towards salisbury sees how the operation is being run as far as personnel, and enacts a corporate culture more like their own after some heads roll. I know some people at HP and if we had mgmt that took after their style, this would be a much happier place. I'm not so deluded as to think there still wouldn't be issues of some kind, you can't always please everyone, but it would have to be a far sight better than what we're living with now.

So, in sumation, don't be so quick to ridicule or dismiss anyone complaining about issues they had with people that you may have had adequate dealings with. There are definately bias' in this company (mgmt and training) towards and against various people on property, some I'm sure deservedly so, and some not.

*steps off my soap box and smashes it gallagher style*

When its all said and done, I just want to come in, do my job, and go home :beer:, with a minimum of stress and grief

You and I actually agree on a fair amount, it seems. I am well aware that abuses, especially in the lower strata of management, can and do occur. However, I can only speak from experience. I haven't been here forever, yet I am not exactly just off the proverbial turnip truck. I can honestly say I have NEVER been asked to bend or violate an FAR. On the few occassions where my contract was being violated, a call to flight management rectified the problem, save one occassion. That one was an illegal junior manning that was later resolved through the greivence process. Frustrating at times? Yes. Culture of fear? Not in my opinion.

I have never stuck my head in the sand. I have simply chosen my battles wisely and always talked to my bosses like they were, well, my bosses. Disagree with respect for the other opinion, but never give in.

As far as a bone to pick with the ALG folks, well, I kind of do have one to pick. I will say the majority of the ones I fly with I enjoy, but there is a sizable (in my perception, anyway... Feel free to disagree) minority who harbor almost a militant anti-company attitude that should be checked at the cockpit door. I carries over into the cockpit and creates a less than professional atmosphere. If I wanted to listen to constant gripping, I'd stay home with my wife (sorry honey!). The level of standardization concerns me as well. If I hear one more "well we did it that way at ALG" I am going to throw up. I don't care. It isn't personal. Just do it like the book says, don't scare me then lets go watch football and have an adult beverage.

As far as your opinions regarding corporate bias against certian individuals, I have no doubt that exists in Salisbury. I have just never seen demonstratable proof of that existing in training. You are pretty much free to sink or swim on your own when it comes to that. As for your own personal situation, I really can't address that. I have worked with allot of the instructors on the line as well as had training with them as well. Never have I experienced behavior that I would characterize as "lackey-ish." The training department perfect? No. Something out of Kafka? No way.

And your comment about the union leadership? No arguement there. I have been wholly dissatisfied with the lack of competance and transparency with which the pilots' business has been conducted.

For the record once agian, I am not saying that everything is hunky-dorey. Far from it, but it isn't the end of the world either. For example, I think the person/persons who orginated the "Pilot Dependibility Program" have a special room awaiting them in Hell. I would just like to see less complaining, more professionalism, less reliance on rumor and inuendo and more action on hard facts.

I know, I know... I am dreaming. Lets have some beer.

 

[Sig]

Lets have some beer.

I'm buying, for all of us.

C'mon out to the beach. Door's always open.