Piedmont Upgrades

[zasca]

Heard we lost out on horizon -200's to some other carrier, but 2 -100's were found in storage somewhere (not horizon?).... What happened to those freedom dashs that were flying outta JFK??? I think 3 of them were older than 906!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[WSurf]

Heard we lost out on horizon -200's to some other carrier, but 2 -100's were found in storage somewhere (not horizon?).... What happened to those freedom dashs that were flying outta JFK??? I think 3 of them were older than 906!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Doubt it, I believe 906 was the third plane off the assembly line. Henson was the launch customer but the First two off the line didn't have factory APU's. Ole' Dick Henson wasn't happy and they went over to Eastern Express.

But from what I have heard from the old farts at Piedmont, 906 was third.

 

[WSurf]

You never know. It certainly would be nice to get some of Horizon's planes to replace RJ flying. Makes too much sense though. Jets are safer anyways!

I agree, we will never see lower then 100.00 a barrel in oil again. Times have changed, just look at how all the european carriers are dealing with it. While TurboProps might not make a big comeback, they will form the backbone of most of the short haul flights. Soon you won't see any RJ's flying 30 minute flights. Hell, in 5 years you might not even hardly see any RJ's flying at all. 50 Seaters that is.

 

[FranktheTank]

The U.S. market is a different animal than the European market. Revenue sources are different segment lengths are different, everything is different. At US replacing RJ flying is very difficult, because you have to renegotiate a contract that isn't up for another few years. Try asking your President for another contract before the current one is up. Oh yeah, and the contract guarantee's them a profit. Good luck!

 

[WSurf]

At US replacing RJ flying is very difficult, because you have to renegotiate a contract that isn't up for another few years.

Few years? Hence the 5 years that I suggested. Everyone knows change takes time.

Yes, our market in the US is worse. European pax would rather pay extra and get extra. US Pax just want to get from Point A to B at the cheapest possible price and then bitch and moan about crappy service. This is killing the 50 seat Rj market along with other low cost carriers.

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.

 

[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.