Piedmont to recieve a true flow

[WSurf]

Would you please quantify your definition as it pertains to "lazy ones"?

Probably someone like me. Living in base making good money not wanting to commute. Home sometimes 18-22 nights a month. Yeah I'm lazy to go to a major to commute to reserve and lose 4 vacation slots that give me almost 2.5 months totally away from job. Call me lazy

 

[WSurf]

Honestly the only reason I like this flow is job security. PERIOD!

 

[General Lee]

Probably someone like me. Living in base making good money not wanting to commute. Home sometimes 18-22 nights a month. Yeah I'm lazy to go to a major to commute to reserve and lose 4 vacation slots that give me almost 2.5 months totally away from job. Call me lazy

You know that the earlier you get on during a huge hiring wave, the sooner you can attain the same, except living at your current base in NC. There is virtually NO chance a Major will have a base where you live now. Maybe you want to always fly where you are now, and that is your choice. But, the rate at which the Majors are hiring now (85 a month currently at DL, and huge retirements haven't started yet), the amount of time on reserve is minimal. First year pay may be less than you make now, but 2nd is close and 3rd is probably more. You can increase pay by bidding larger planes, or stay senior on smaller ones for better QOL. And good retirement and profit sharing are two things Regional pilots rarely see. At DL you don't have to contribute a dime to your retirement, and the company will put 15% of what you made for the month into a retirement account ontop of what you made. You make $10,000 for the month? They put an additional $1500 into your account.

Profit sharing is the same. Last year it was 8.25% of everyone's individual W2. This year it is forecasted to be 15%. That is amazing. Thanks to Consolidation and bag fees, the Legacies are more stable and able to keep fares and profit sharing high. Btw, that profit sharing check ALSO has a 15% DC fund retirement contribution. Again, that is really good. A $20K profit sharing check puts an additional $3K into your retirement, and that one didn't require extra work.

So, staying at a Regional might have good QOL now, but you're missing out on a lot of other important things, and waiting to join later could really affect your QOL when you get there. The sooner the better. The Legacies will need 15,000 pilots to cover retirements alone. Getting on in the first couple years would be a good thing.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[kf4amu]

GL I agree with that sentiment, but it's all a mind game. I want out at all cost, but don't fault those that want to stay. At the top it's not a bad gig comparatively all things considered.

And lets be honest...there are very few aircraft in the industry that pilots have some sort of abnormal connection to. The Dash seems to be one of them...people will give up pay and QOL just to continue flying it. It's an awesome machine no doubt, and pilots who leave it to fly bigger "better" equipment, regularly compare qualities of their plane to the Dash. A couple months ago an ex PDT pilot told me the 757 he flies is "awesome...it's kinda like the Dash; things are happening, lots of noise, and it's just a badass plane".

At the risk of starting a "who's plane is better" argument, I think the large number of people who don't want to leave PDT is partly attributable to to the airplane. It's a ton of fun and isn't worth leaving for the increase in pay at the majors in return for flying a less fun plane.

 

[20sx]

Were you Colgan?

No, I was Pinnacle and left before the seniority integration. Just got back into flying last November. Still the same industry

 

[WSurf]

GL I agree with that sentiment, but it's all a mind game. I want out at all cost, but don't fault those that want to stay. At the top it's not a bad gig comparatively all things considered.

And lets be honest...there are very few aircraft in the industry that pilots have some sort of abnormal connection to. The Dash seems to be one of them...people will give up pay and QOL just to continue flying it. It's an awesome machine no doubt, and pilots who leave it to fly bigger "better" equipment, regularly compare qualities of their plane to the Dash. A couple months ago an ex PDT pilot told me the 757 he flies is "awesome...it's kinda like the Dash; things are happening, lots of noise, and it's just a badass plane".

At the risk of starting a "who's plane is better" argument, I think the large number of people who don't want to leave PDT is partly attributable to to the airplane. It's a ton of fun and isn't worth leaving for the increase in pay at the majors in return for flying a less fun plane.

General you are right about the Majors. However I've had many of my friends that have been furloughed 2-3 times (Some at Delta, Some twice at US Airways and United) tell me that I was lucky to have stayed at Piedmont. The majors had such a bumpy ride for over 10 years. I understand the dust has settled and it should be fine now. We might not have killer paycheck but we do have a Defined Retirement plan and good healthcare and like Kf said we are probably flying the last true Airliner that needs to use true stick/rudder skills. Just last week had a Delta Jumpseater come up to the cockpit after we landed in GSP with a big smile telling us how much he missed flying! He meant flying a stick and rudder plane. I understand the advantage of going to a major. I know EWN won't be open much longer and when they call my flow number I'm sure I'll take it. It just won't be an exciting moment as I'd want. It's just going to training and then commuting.
Oh well atleast now I probably don't have to worry about being furloughed at a major.

 

[CX880]

You know that the earlier you get on during a huge hiring wave, the sooner you can attain the same, except living at your current base in NC. There is virtually NO chance a Major will have a base where you live now. Maybe you want to always fly where you are now, and that is your choice. But, the rate at which the Majors are hiring now (85 a month currently at DL, and huge retirements haven't started yet), the amount of time on reserve is minimal. First year pay may be less than you make now, but 2nd is close and 3rd is probably more. You can increase pay by bidding larger planes, or stay senior on smaller ones for better QOL. And good retirement and profit sharing are two things Regional pilots rarely see. At DL you don't have to contribute a dime to your retirement, and the company will put 15% of what you made for the month into a retirement account ontop of what you made. You make $10,000 for the month? They put an additional $1500 into your account.

Profit sharing is the same. Last year it was 8.25% of everyone's individual W2. This year it is forecasted to be 15%. That is amazing. Thanks to Consolidation and bag fees, the Legacies are more stable and able to keep fares and profit sharing high. Btw, that profit sharing check ALSO has a 15% DC fund retirement contribution. Again, that is really good. A $20K profit sharing check puts an additional $3K into your retirement, and that one didn't require extra work.

So, staying at a Regional might have good QOL now, but you're missing out on a lot of other important things, and waiting to join later could really affect your QOL when you get there. The sooner the better. The Legacies will need 15,000 pilots to cover retirements alone. Getting on in the first couple years would be a good thing.


Bye Bye---General Lee

Wow! Brilliant info. So it's better at a major?

 

[General Lee]

General you are right about the Majors. However I've had many of my friends that have been furloughed 2-3 times (Some at Delta, Some twice at US Airways and United) tell me that I was lucky to have stayed at Piedmont. The majors had such a bumpy ride for over 10 years. I understand the dust has settled and it should be fine now. We might not have killer paycheck but we do have a Defined Retirement plan and good healthcare and like Kf said we are probably flying the last true Airliner that needs to use true stick/rudder skills. Just last week had a Delta Jumpseater come up to the cockpit after we landed in GSP with a big smile telling us how much he missed flying! He meant flying a stick and rudder plane. I understand the advantage of going to a major. I know EWN won't be open much longer and when they call my flow number I'm sure I'll take it. It just won't be an exciting moment as I'd want. It's just going to training and then commuting.
Oh well atleast now I probably don't have to worry about being furloughed at a major.

I understand Surf, and the Dash does look fun to fly, and you can't beat living at your base. I'm just saying that if you had the ability to get on earlier than later (even opportunities to interview at other Legacies), then I would say do it, for better QOL sooner, and better overall seniority. A year or even a few months difference really can affect the rest of your career later on. No doubt you have enjoyed your Dash and living in EWN, which are good things. As you stated, sans another huge 9-11 like event, you are probably safe from furlough, and 15,000 pilots will retire within the next decade. Throw in Consolidation and now bag fees, and you have even more stability at the Legacies. The Regionals, on the other hand, are shrinking fast due to new hiring rules and rest rules. That is where the current instability is located. I'm glad though you will have a shot at a flow up, but just remember other legacies are out there too that you can apply to. Good luck.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[General Lee]

Wow! Brilliant info. So it's better at a major?

You should probably look backwards rather than forwards. Maybe towing a banner would be a better fit for you, or traffic watch. Good luck.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[WSurf]

I understand Surf, and the Dash does look fun to fly, and you can't beat living at your base. I'm just saying that if you had the ability to get on earlier than later (even opportunities to interview at other Legacies), then I would say do it, for better QOL sooner, and better overall seniority. A year or even a few months difference really can affect the rest of your career later on. No doubt you have enjoyed your Dash and living in EWN, which are good things. As you stated, sans another huge 9-11 like event, you are probably safe from furlough, and 15,000 pilots will retire within the next decade. Throw in Consolidation and now bag fees, and you have even more stability at the Legacies. The Regionals, on the other hand, are shrinking fast due to new hiring rules and rest rules. That is where the current instability is located. I'm glad though you will have a shot at a flow up, but just remember other legacies are out there too that you can apply to. Good luck.


Bye Bye---General Lee

Thanks.....