Piedmont New Hiring Times

[flyboy]

After reading the post below about Eagle's new hiring times I remembered having read that Piedmont had lowered their times as well. 1000/100 were the times. Any truth to this? Why would they lower times? Seems like I still meet people everywhere with more hours but still can't find jobs.

 

[B1900DFO]

They lowered them just recently because they are having a very difficult time getting people to show up for class. Piedmont has taken a very long hard fall over the past three years due to a variety of factors and nobody wants to work for them if they have other options. The only positive thing about PDT is that you start at $26 and change and generally get 90+ hours of pay credit per month. If you really need 121 turbine time then give them a shot but don't let yourself get comfortable at PDT because the place is a sinkhole. If you do send a resume and cover letter addresse it to Bob Trout (I think his full name is Robert Trout). Call the company for a fax number. The corporate culture can be summed up with the phrase "the beatings will continue untill morale improves." No joke.

 

[Lou3]

The funny thing is that I sent my stuff in multiple times to both the fax and his email. After a fellow flight instructor friend got hired with less time than I (he called them) I decided to call Bob also. After reaching him he shot me down on the spot saying that Piedmont did not interview flight instructors, only part 135 and 121 guys. When I told him that I knew a flight instructor that had just gotten hired he asked me who, when I told him who, he said that was because he came from a 'qualified flight school' which they hire from. When I asked the guy that got hired if that was the deal he said no, but was glad to have gotten interviewed and hired all the same.

I guess what I am saying is that I do not know what they are looking for, oddly enough, if they are having trouble finding folks, he sure did not act like it--and that was only 2 weeks ago. In fact, he really was not all that pleasant. By the way, I have been interviewed by CHQ and Pinnacle, so I know I must have some credentials to at least got a shot.

 

[MW44]

It might help to send in an update if you are still considering PDT. Things change daily here. I don't know if you are UND but they seem to have a thing for UND grads and will hire them low time.

 

[eightdriver]

Don't go to PDT...... It's career suicide.

 

[CFIfornow]

mins

"Piedmont Airlines
Position: First Officers
Requirements: Total times, to be interviewed, are 1000 to include
100 multiengine time, or 900 TT & 150 ME, or 800 TT & 200 ME."

They must be hurting

 

[Kingairrick]

I thought Bob Trout had moved on. I got several emails from him "encouraging" me to try an online aviation career web site. I assumed he was working there.

I interviewed with him on Sept. 11, 2001. Nice timing, huh? He was pretty cool then. Maybe you caught him on a bad day.

 

[Lou3]

Maybe so, 'not pleasant' may not be the right choice of words, it was more like 'discouraging'. He seemed to act as though I was a student pilot inquiring about a job instead of someone who more than met their online stated requirments/qualifications. It was very odd I thought. Oh well, ASA called me today anyway's so Im not too upset...

 

[MW44]

Lou,

Maybe Bob got the impression that you're a good guy and he decided to do you a favor. Stay away if you have options...

 

[Lou3]

LOL, that is pretty funny. Maybe so. In any event, I will continue to swing at all the balls and see where they go, I hope things work out though for Piedmont as I have met some really nice folks over there through the years..

 

[Heavy Set]

With USAirways dying, I would not head to PDT or ALG. Aim for CHQ, Skywest or Skyway. Seriously, why would you want to fly a junky, dilapidated Dash 8 for a regional that might be nonexistant in 6 months when you could fly a CHQ 135/145 or Skyway Dorkjet and upgrade to Captain in 3-4 years on a jet?

 

[AV1ATRX]

I would like CFIfornow to quote that source. Their website hasn't changed and I've got friends there who hadn't heard about the times coming down. Also, why would it be career suicide? I am very familiar with USAir's situation and how it relates to PDT, but will working for them affect your ability to get hired at other places down the road?

I'm not challenging CFIfornow, I'd just like to see where that info came from. Thanks!

 

[eightdriver]

The dash 8 is a fine aircraft..... It is also the safest regional aircraft ever to fly. But PDT and ALG are not carriers to even think about getting involved with. U.S Air is poised for Chapter 7 by 4th quarter, so applying to these carriers would be a waste of time. Why do you think they are hiring??? Everybody is bailing. Just think about it, there losing aircraft but still running new hire and upgrade classes. What a joke........

 

[T206driver]

How about a guy that came up the hard way. Meets and exceeds 135 mins. and never sat watching someone else do all the work/flying? Do I have a chance at PDT or do I want it?

 

[nofreelunch]

I would apply to almost anyone else, i.e. Chatauqua, XJet, Skywest, ASA etc. No future at PDT. I was a first officer there for 2.5 years and moved closer to the bottom than the top almost the entire time.

They've currently planned to upgrade 30 but after the PDT/ALG merger in the future who knows what will happen. Most likely furloughs unless attrition wins out when the Dash leases start expiring. Too many uncertainties for me.

But might be a good place to pick up some quick 121 experience and move on.

Good luck.

 

[PDTGIMP]

Piedmont is not career suicide. That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. PDT is not a secure job, it's a rough place to work with JR.mans, little time off and low morale. BUT, with half a decade here I can safely say we have one of the best training programs in the industry, despite having really bad instructors.

If you're a CFI putting Piedmont Airlines DHC-8 F/O, turbine time, and 121 time on a resume you will be a light year more marketable than fellow CFI's and even pilots at some other regionals. The F/O's here have no probelm getting interviews elsewhere. Oh yeah, and our dilapidated little Dash-8 flies through all the weather, so our guys have great scans, quality time, and good experence which has made the transition to another airline easy.

Trust me, I've got interviews with Frontier, ASA, and just got called by AirTran.....some career suicide. I know PDT may not have a future thanks to UAIR, but don't tell me that working here was suicide.

Suicide is what happens to a pilot's career when they choose to become a scab. It is not what happens to a pilot working at PDT or ALG.

 

[MW44]

I agree Pdt is definitely not career suicide if you can maintain a positive attitude. It becomes career suicide to those that get so disgusted with the airline that they chose to bail out of the industry all together. That has happened with quite a few Pdt pilots during the last two years. There is something to be said about not working for an airline that has a toxic corporate culture. The sticker that was floating around "PDT: The cure for hope" has a ring of truth to it. On the flip side you get quite a bit of 121 time and make decent money in the process. It's all a matter of expectations and what you're willing to put up with.

 

[CFIfornow]

AV1ATRX

It's second hand knowledge from skyjobs.net

 

[eightdriver]

PDT is career suicide.... if you can't see that them you have been there too long. "They have one of the best training programs, despite having bad instructors". Do you even hear what you are saying. The sh!t doesn't even make sense!! If there AQP program is soooo great then how the hell did a sh!t pilot like B. FOX ever make captain. I was at PDT for 5+ years and did nothing but take concessions and watch all of my friends at other airlines fly new CRJ's while I listened to ALPO feed me more crap about how our jets were on there way. PDT sucks so bad even a scum like Leonard bailed. I suggest you do the same.

 

[eightdriver]

WOW ... Frontier, ASA, and Value Jet. What a great bunch of choices. I guess you were right, PDT is a ladder to success. Get real!!!

 

[blzr]

Holy Crap.. I can't believe you put her name on there. That was too funny. I think I heard her a couple of weeks ago at SLC.

Where were you based?

 

[eightdriver]

Just think, she is at America West making some captains life living hell in an A-320. I was an FO in CHO and a CA in ROA and EWN. I don't mean to be "toxic" but I remember a day when PDT was an industry leader. Not a last resort airline. Guys actually upgraded and went on to real airlines, not other regionals. Maybe PDT isn't career suicide, it's just a waste of time.......

 

[TopGun-MAV]

i see peemonts dashes in florida often. is it worth while going there to get some heavier 121 time?. are you put on the senority list of usair since they own them? how could this be a bad move?

just my 2 cents

 

[boeingdriver213]

If you need turbine time, apply to everyone. If nothing else, you get interview experience. Plus it's easier to look for work when you are working in the industry. As for the mainline seniority list, I have doubts as to whether the current furloughees at U will ever get called back....

 

[AV1ATRX]

Thanks, CFIfornow. I'm trying to get somebody from the company to say that those are the current times and haven't had any luck...

 

[eightdriver]

Heavy turbine time is worthless unless it is PIC time. So getting Dash 8 SIC time won't really help you. US Airways seniority list is totally separate from PDT's. That is until mainline furloughs want our jobs, then all of a sudden they want to be a TEAM . What a joke.....

 

[BRA]

It is not totally worthless!!! I am a captain at colgan logging PIC on the 17,000 lb beech 1900. Jet blue wants PIC time which i am getting....but i have no time in a plane over 20,000 lb, which they require. So it is half worthless for them. If he could get that 20K + time now i think it is worth something. Jet blue wants 1000 hours in 20K airplanes. Right now people with 1000+ hours and 121 turbine sic time can almost pick the regional of their choice to work at. Our Fo's at colgan are leaving on pretty much a weekly basis, and to all different regionals.

 

[Dash8301]

PDT is not a bad place to build time. Pay is down to $22 for the first year, but you have the chance to fly the DHC-8-301 which is a 43000lbs airplane fully loaded. We have EFIS equipped A/C and you will fly as much as you want. The schedules suck but right now you might not be on reserve that long because we don't really have a reserve system. We just run short staffed. If you come here work getting on somewhere else. Hopefully you won't stay long enough to be as grumpy as eightdriver. But all in all it still beats working for MESA (SCABS).

 

[CitationLover]

But all in all it still beats working for MESA (SCABS).

be careful. jo might run you over with motorcycle #9.

seriously, do you KNOW what a scab actually is? what a brilliant labor scholar you are.

 

[TopGun-MAV]

bra,

i have to pay 20K+my time? wot do you mean?
i just finished traing at tab a couple months ago, i don't think my dad will give me any more. are u sure they a pft

just my 2 cents + 19999.98 = 20K (almost there)