Piedmont Info

[ranger17]

I was wondering if anybody has any insight to Piedmont Airlines, is worth trying to get hired to build time or is it more trouble than it is worth. Right now it is the only airline I have enough time to apply to, but I have heard some bad reviews about it. Any insight into crew schedule, upgrade, QOL, and job security would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[blzr]

Piedmont is a great place to start and build 121 time. Once you have 121 experience, alot of other doors will open. The pay is not bad, and with cancellation pay and block or better you will come out way ahead of other first year f/o's. When I left, schedules sucked, upgrade is nonexistent and the junior f/o's were getting abused by schedueling. But tha's going to be ANYWHERE you go in todays regionals.

Personally, I enjoyed my time there. It's not a bad place to be if you like to fly ALOT and make some cash too.
ANy other PDT'rs out there think I'm too far off with that, let me know.

 

[OPECJet]

The only thing I can add is that if you plan on commuting, you're not going to enjoy life. The lines just don't leave much room for going home. If you can relocate to your base, you will be in good shape.

 

[gottafly]

Where can I find the info on Piedmont minimums and where to apply?

 

[foehammer]

If you don't have any other options, then Piedmont is perfect to get a foot in the door of the 121 world. Life is going to suck while you're at Piedmont. Just make sure you look out for yourself if you do get on at Piedmont, because no one else will. They will lie to you, cheat you, and do whatever it takes to cover flights.

My recommendation, do what every other Piedmont newhire is doing. Get through training, and then start putting resumes out to other places right away. If you are lucky, you'll only have to be at Piedmont about 3-6 months. By then, you should have enough hours to go somewhere else because you will be flying 90+ hours a month.

 

[ranger17]

gottafly,

Not sure what where you can get that info, I got my info from my college website and we have a lower time agreement, but I do know that they just lowered our mins by alot.

 

[gottafly]

Which college?

 

[dondk]

When I was there it was/is UND.. they have an agreement to come over with about 1/3 the published times.

While I was there it was the good times, now I hear it is nothing like it was 3 years ago.

I know most of my former classmates are long gone with the exception of 1 or 2. That alone should give a new hire the idea to have a second opportunity lined up in the nearer future.

The question I got for those PDT still standing.. the deal with Air Wisky still strong? or is there another place PDT'ers go to now?

 

[mesaba2425]

Where can I find the info on Piedmont minimums and where to apply?

500/50 if you went to one of the major flight schools.

 

[gottafly]

I am an ERAU (AZ) grad, will they consider me with those minimums even though I am no longer a student?

 

[MW44]

Pdt-

Supposed to hire 25 or so a month through the end of the year. My first year I made about 28k. Expect to get about 1 grand on the 15th and twelve to fourteen hundred on the 30th. They do work your butt off and will violate your contract if you let them. Upgrade won't happen unless something changes. Generally a great group of pilots. Quite a few pilots have made a career with Pdt which is probably why they have given all the jets to PSA. Commuting is extremely draining. The merger with Alg is up in the air. Current bases EWN, ORF, CHO, SBY, CLT, ROA. Clt is very senior for FO's. You will get about 12 days off per month as a line holder and they can junior man you 3 days per year. They can extend you beyond four hours once a year. You won't be on reserve long and even as a reserve pilot you can expect to fly about 80 hours per month. Currently fo's are leaving in large numbers to places like coex, asa, airwhiskey and captains are off to Airtran, ATA, etc. The dash 8 is a pleasure to fly. You'll spend most of your time flying in and out of CLT and PHL. Overnights are decent, lots of fairfields, holiday inns, a doubletree or marriott occasionally.

Is pdt a good place to go? Not sure. If you can stay positive I would say that it's a great place to get time and make RELATIVELY good money. However a year or more dealing with flight support and scheduling can ruin a career before it's even started. There seems to be an unofficial war going on between pilots and mgt. If you have a high pain threshold I say go....

Hope that helped.

 

[Mav204]

Is there a forum that pilots use to talk, like the eagle forum?

 

[Steveair]

Peidmont is desperate!

Peidmont posted that they were hirring UND grads with 500 total time and 50 multi. Yes, those are right! I don't believe anyone with that amount of time is qualified for such a position. Additionally, is Peidmont really in good shape? Southwest just opened it's doors at Philli or Pitts... I don't remember which, but if Airways loses their hold their... good bye airways, good bye peidmont. Great place to build time with poor pay and an uncertain future. Risky but could be rewarding. Maybe 10-15 people out of 220 instructors have gone from here.

 

[BoilerUP]

Peidmont posted that they were hirring UND grads with 500 total time and 50 multi. Yes, those are right! I don't believe anyone with that amount of time is qualified for such a position. Additionally, is Peidmont really in good shape? Southwest just opened it's doors at Philli or Pitts... I don't remember which, but if Airways loses their hold their... good bye airways, good bye peidmont. Great place to build time with poor pay and an uncertain future. Risky but could be rewarding. Maybe 10-15 people out of 220 instructors have gone from here.

Somebody with 500/50 that has had high-quality training and turbine experience (aircraft and/or simulator) shouldn't have any problem with a job like this. I hear the Dash isn't an easy airplane to fly or learn, but certainly isn't the hardest out there. If a person understands how advanced systems work, has above average intelligence and common sense, and realizes that a twin turboprop doesn't fly like a Seminole they should be fine. As far as financials go, I would certainly be worried about Airways, but I bet JO will pick up a good bit of Airways assets if they do indeed go Ch. 7. But what do I know, I'm far from a bean counter!

I've flown with 1200+ TT pilots that don't have a clue and 300 hr pilots that are skilled and situationally aware enough to fly a jet or turboprop without any problems. Its true there is little substitute for experience - but high quality training goes a loooooooooooong way.

Just my $.02

 

[regionalhell]

Piedmont is good for some!

Go to Piedmont, get lots of 121 turbine time, make lots of money, and have a good time. Then get hired at a regional that has a future.

 

[skid]

If you are looking for a job at Piedmont you should have gone to UND. I have 5 former students applying there as we speak. They lowered mins to 500 TT and 50 multi for UND grads w/ plans to hire for the rest of the year. Is it worth it???? Good question, if you want to watch people with no experience get the job as you watch in the wings I say go for it.

 

[Night_Flight]

I am also currently a UND Part 141 flight instructor.


I agree with BoilerUP:
“Somebody with 500/50 that has had high-quality training and turbine experience (aircraft and/or simulator) shouldn't have any problem with a job like this.”

When I started instructing, once you had 500-600 hours, many regional airlines would hire you. After 9/11, the industry changed. Now that airlines are once again hiring, they are starting to lower the minimums once again.


Piedmont has its own reasons for lowering theirs. If those who get hired with the reduced hours were having troubles, obviously Piedmont would raise the hour requirements. These requirements are also just to get an interview. If applicants are not ready, it would show in the interview.

Good luck to all who interview!


-Night_Flight-

 

[Wacopilot]

piedmont has low mins because they can't keep pilots..and they are having a hard time recruiting qualified pilots due to the environment...that is the only reason.If you want a non-commital aviation relationship, PDT is your airline. Waco

 

[BritishGuy]

Can someone please fill me in what the minimums are if you're NOT a UND or big school (eg, ERAU) graduate??

Cheers.

 

[AV1ATRX]

From Bob Trout:

1500 TT, 250 multi. They may accept less than 1500 TT, but ABSOLUETLY NOTHING BELOW 250 multi if you didn't go to UND.

They can't be but so desperate if they won't back off those kind of minimums... Plenty of UND'ers to take the jobs, I guess.