Piedmont Upgrades

[zasca]

according to that airfleets.net site, 810LR is serial #3, acquired from a canuck airline. 906HA is #9 and the first that henson got. The only reason I knew about this was because there was an an article or post about how 810LR was supposed to go up on a pole at some aviation museum until Ornstein bought it... Check the placard by the pax door, I've never thought to actually check 906.... it certainly looks like the oldest!!!

 

[WSurf]

according to that airfleets.net site, 810LR is serial #3, acquired from a canuck airline. 906HA is #9 and the first that henson got. The only reason I knew about this was because there was an an article or post about how 810LR was supposed to go up on a pole at some aviation museum until Ornstein bought it... Check the placard by the pax door, I've never thought to actually check 906.... it certainly looks like the oldest!!!

Wasn't for sure, but even with it not being the oldest I do believe it when they say its the highest time Dash 8 in the world. Not like its anything to brag about about, but it does show that the Dash 8 is built like a tank.

 

[kf4amu]

according to that airfleets.net site, 810LR is serial #3, acquired from a canuck airline. 906HA is #9 and the first that henson got. The only reason I knew about this was because there was an an article or post about how 810LR was supposed to go up on a pole at some aviation museum until Ornstein bought it... Check the placard by the pax door, I've never thought to actually check 906.... it certainly looks like the oldest!!!

It says #9 on the placard. 907 is #11.

 

[zasca]

yeah, it is widely touted as the highest time dash. It is also the oldest airplane owned by USairways... Northwest got us beat though....

 

[hockeypilot44]

When was the most junior captain at Piedmont hired?

 

[WSurf]

When was the most junior captain at Piedmont hired?

In EWN its 06/05. With this next bid 10/06 will be the most junior (with a guy passed over because he doesnt' have 3000hrs). I didn't have time to look system wide, but in EWN thats probably about right.

 

[rafosku]

well i guess I couldn't stay of FI forever. damn another goal down the drain

 

[twighead]

right now the junior captain is in the mid 15,000s

The last bid that came out went to the mid 16,000's, but there are probably less than 10 before it would get to the 18,000's.

 

[kf4amu]

In EWN its 06/05. With this next bid 10/06 will be the most junior (with a guy passed over because he doesnt' have 3000hrs). I didn't have time to look system wide, but in EWN thats probably about right.

Wait, so in the midst of this aviation crisis, Piedmont is still upgrading, adding flying, and the most junior captain will have had a 2 year upgrade?

Hmm, I always thought Piedmont was a dead end to nowhere. Glad I stayed out of the shiny jets.

 

[Sig]

Well, my attitude at Piedmont is and shall always be "Why am I in this handbasket, and where am I going?"

I am far from comfortable right now. No jobs are safe. I'm (cheeses christ, I can't believe I'm saying this) grateful to be a captain at an airline- let alone employed.

Lots of good folks- better folks than I- are hitting the bricks. It's all dumb luck... and luck doesn't pay the medical insurance.

 

[jellynuts]

Wait, so in the midst of this aviation crisis, Piedmont is still upgrading, adding flying, and the most junior captain will have had a 2 year upgrade?

Hmm, I always thought Piedmont was a dead end to nowhere. Glad I stayed out of the shiny jets.

Not to be a pessimist, but it is in my nature and I can't help it. Do you guys really think that upgrades will continue past this class, for the forseeable future??

 

[zasca]

Well since they actually just fired a guy for ocurrences, maybe they're just planning on covering for attrition due to company ball-busting...

 

[kf4amu]

Not to be a pessimist, but it is in my nature and I can't help it. Do you guys really think that upgrades will continue past this class, for the forseeable future??

Not unless we get more airplanes. But the fact that we even have an upgrade class in this market is a big deal. Partly because they are always understaffed, but mostly because the plane we fly is well suited to a high fuel market. This is where leaving the shiney glorious jet for the dirty old turboprop pays off. Not only in the paycheck since we get paid more, but in the job security (or lack of in this business).

 

[FranktheTank]

"So, do you think someone would pay an extra 100.00 dollars for the luxury to fly a RJ, or save it and fly a Dash? I believe 90% or more would rather save the money."

I unfortunately don't think the passenger's will have that choice. When the airline determines that in certain markets they can't "make" money, they just leave. They're not going to continue to operate to markets that aren't profitable. Most of the city pairs that Piedmont flies to is just connecting traffic. I.E. PGV-CLT. 90% of those pax are connections, maybe higher. What it really comes down to is will those people pay the "premium" to fly out of PGV or just drive to RDU (nonstop, cheaper, etc)? Ask the folks in IPT about if they would rather pay the $100. If only we could all get into the minds of the "fare makers!?"

 

[OPECJet]

"So, do you think someone would pay an extra 100.00 dollars for the luxury to fly a RJ, or save it and fly a Dash? I believe 90% or more would rather save the money."

I unfortunately don't think the passenger's will have that choice. When the airline determines that in certain markets they can't "make" money, they just leave. They're not going to continue to operate to markets that aren't profitable. Most of the city pairs that Piedmont flies to is just connecting traffic. I.E. PGV-CLT. 90% of those pax are connections, maybe higher. What it really comes down to is will those people pay the "premium" to fly out of PGV or just drive to RDU (nonstop, cheaper, etc)? Ask the folks in IPT about if they would rather pay the $100. If only we could all get into the minds of the "fare makers!?"

You're correct. However when the dust settles and people are making the drive from PGV to RDU to catch a flight, the airline flying it will be flying the absolute cheapest thing they can. That will be a Dash.

 

[WSurf]

You're correct. However when the dust settles and people are making the drive from PGV to RDU to catch a flight, the airline flying it will be flying the absolute cheapest thing they can. That will be a Dash.

True, and we had a employee figure out that a 50 Seat RJ burns about 1500lbs more on a EWN-CLT roundtrip compared to a 50 seat Dash. The Dash Burns about 1500lbs on one leg. Basically after 2 round trips in the Dash the 3rd round trip would be a freebie compared to a Jet. Of course when the stage length increases you will see the RJ start to close the gap (and thats where the Q400 would come in). One hour or less stage length its hard to beat the Prop Job.

 

[dash_trash]

???

What Capt. line would 8276 hold in SBY???

One of my better career moves.

Thanks.

 

[flyNICKair]

You would be 22 out of 42 CAs with 29 lines in JUL.