Three Piedmont Questions

[johnsonrod]

Apparently one of my ex-students was successful interviewing at PDT recently. I don't know anyone at PDT and I have not spoken with him but I was wondering about three things:

1. Which domiciles are very recent newhires getting? What are the most senior and most junior domiciles?

2. What does reserve look like for newhires in terms of hours and days off? Probably depends on the domicile.

3. What is the estimated/realistic upgrade time now at PDT? I understand that some senior PICs will be moving up to USAirways and that might create some movement...

I have spoken with him for years but I wish him well and I hope he enjoys flying the mighty Dash...

Thanks

 

[jnault]

1.Any domiciles are up for grabs but LGA right now has turned into the most senior FO base, so it's getting hard there.

2. Days off is simple, it's always 10/month and don't worry about flying, you'll around 90 or so a month

3. If all 100 pilots go to mainline it will speed up significantly for those who are there now. Once all those spots are filled who knows. Piedmont's upgrade has jumped anywhere from 2 years to 6

 

[zasca]

1. All domiciles. They seem to rotate through certain bases. New Bern is tiny. The hot new rumor is that Syracuse will be closing. Roanoke, Salisbury, and Middletown are the biggest. Laguardia is the least frequent shown on the SIC bids.

2. Don't know how the abuse looks right now for reserves. Most guys are probably still flying 80-90 a month. Don't know if any of them don't get used almost everyday on reserve. If that's the case, then only 10 days off a month. Doesn't matter what domicile yet, you'll get sent anywhere you are needed. Double/triple deadhead if they have too.....

3. Most senior captains will NOT go to mainline as the deal stands. It will draw mostly from Junior/mid seniority captains, and any FO with 1500 turbine. Whether or not we lose 100 guys(not including junior FO's) next year is still a foggy prophecy. Not one of us has been hired yet, but I have been out of the loop the last few days.

If real, actual flow gets signed(and does not screw older guys) the attrition rate will change a little. Management says 8 upgrades a month through next year. That's 100 guys from a group of 250 FO's. 100+ FO's actually hired this year, do the math. Still need 3000 hrs to upgrade though... Senior '07 hires with the total time may luck out early '09. Soooo eager to become a Junior Reserve Capt here!!!!!!

(I think I threw up a little)


It's nice to know that all the guys on the flow through committee have applied for interviews at mainline... Oy! Confidence!

 

[zasca]

howdy mr nault

 

[johnsonrod]

What about CHO - is that a popular newhire domicile? My ex-student was from the DC area and I would expect that he would look for a nearby domicile...

Also, do the Dash aircraft have EFIS/FMS? If not, what do they use for navigation? Any GPS?

 

[FMEpilot]

I think 2 guys from my class, september, got CHO. One had it as his first choice. Some of the 300's are 'efis'.

 

[dash_trash]

100's are old steam gauges with a KNS FMS system. 200's were mostly EFIS, but I think they are all gone by now. 300's, if I remember correctly were EFIS with a UNS-1C FMS. It's been 5 years, but I believe it is fairly accurate.

 

[OPECJet]

There's usually a CHO opening or two each month. Even if he doesn't get it right out of training, he'll get it within a month or two.

 

[zasca]

only a few -300's are efis. who cares anyway? RNAV on the other hand is a must...

 

[johnsonrod]

Do PDT pilots fly "regionally" based upon their domicile? For example if you are based out of LGA, do you fly the vast majority of your flights around the Northeast or do you also get down south as far as Hilton Head or Augusta on a regular basis? Do the New Bern pilots get up to Syracuse and Burlington?

I realize pilots will get sent where they are needed in the system, but just curious to see if they get a regular mix of flying.

 

[kf4amu]

Yep generally speaking. Theres exceptions, but with CHO its kinda in the middle of PHL and CLT so you do both routes.

 

[zasca]

roanoke guys seem to be everywhere. Go all the way up to BTV on a regular basis (via LGA).

 

[jellynuts]

Do PDT pilots fly "regionally" based upon their domicile? For example if you are based out of LGA, do you fly the vast majority of your flights around the Northeast or do you also get down south as far as Hilton Head or Augusta on a regular basis? Do the New Bern pilots get up to Syracuse and Burlington?

I realize pilots will get sent where they are needed in the system, but just curious to see if they get a regular mix of flying.

you will be assigned to either Piedmont North or Piedmont South. although as they keep pulling airplanes offline, us syracuse people seem to get a couple of trips down south for whatever reason.