meah

Had to chime in here.

I was at PDT years ago and saw first hand the carnage that that training department hands out. I saw 2 guys in my class get canned during sim. I have seen people throw up in briefing rooms in the training center because of the fear of loosing their career. I made it by without any dings thank god. It was my first 121 job and scares me that that place could of ruined my entire career before it even started. Didn't a whole class walk out a year or two ago after getting screamed at for something they had nothing to do with? Stay away guys. I'm just a survivor...

Survivor

BS is right.

If you value your career and the $100K+ you spent getting to where you are, stay away from Piedmont.

Don't believe for a second any idealistic BS about training being hard, not all survive, the good of the profession, open door policy, etc. The fact of the matter is that the JK testing department has been bullying and abusing people for years. That is the reality.

Ask a union rep? Ha!

Stay far, far away from Piedmont. There are plenty of other commuter airlines out there begging for you to work for them.

What

Can the PDT pilots elaborate on this?

"Although his name appeared on the document, the signature of Piedmont Airlines MEC chairman Bruce Freedman was not on it, the document stated that his signature was “pending” and I’m told he declined to sign."

Pilot unions band together to fight contract concessions at regional airlines | Dallas Morning News

NovemberBravo

I guess we know who wants that Eagle flying

piper338

I saw that document the simple fact that PSA signed it should make it null and void

dash8

my sentiments exactly, thats like hirihito signing as a collaborator on teh geneva convention

MrObvious

I don't understand why everyone is making a big deal about pdt not signing it, everyone should be making a huge deal out of psa signing it, slap in the face to everyone.

What

I am not making a big deal out of it, but since you insist.

PSA took concessions under the premise that they would get growth flying at the expense of Eagle as the airplanes they were awarded "were" supposed to have gone to Eagle if we would have accepted the B scale.

Eagle has said no twice , after the first time management went to PSA, they came back to Eagle and we said no again. One of the threats used against the Eagle pilots was that PDT could see airplanes, and management is on the record stating that they would like to refleet the wholly owned regionals. I understand that PSA signing this letter has mixed feelings, but my concern is not so much PDT not signing it, but rather the timing. So close to Eagle and others saying NO, while AAG seeks someone to fly their large RJs that are to replace routes currently flown by Eagle.

My concern is that as pilots, regional pilots but specifically AAG regional pilots... we are negotiating against our selves and management is trying to divide and ensure that there is no unity between the three pilot groups. When PSA negotiated their last deal they separated from the rest of the industry as they did their deal, I am wondering if the same thing is happening at PDT. This is the intent of management, and we are hurting each others careers and negotiating against our collective futures.

higgi8f6

From what I hear, and I have no facts to back it up, was this letter was drafted when PDT had no representative present at the meeting. Therefore with no one to represent us this signature was pending. I haven't heard a yay or nay from Piedmont. However, like many here, I question it's integrity with a signature from PSA. If you want entertainment, please go to CLT and sit in the crew room. I get a headache every time I spend more than 15 minutes there.

In regards to refleeting Piedmont with 170s. Kenji Hashimoto was in SBY for a town hall meeting with Piedmont employees a week after the Eagle vote and the question was brought up. He stated that there is no way for Piedmont to be ready in time to take the first batch of 170s when they arrive. Now that's not to say we are out of the running for some later but I keep getting the sense that as long as our current management is in charge, nothing will change. Ask any Piedmont pilot about the iPad debacle or scheduling changes...

Survivor

Just following the money will give you the bottom line on this and virtually any other issue in this industry as it relates to ALPA's mainline carriers and the regionals.

First and foremost, no ALPA contract is valid without the association president's signature. He will ultimately sign a contract at a regional that is in the best interest of the mainline carrier(s) it feeds. The less that feed costs, the lower the cost to the mainline carrier, and the more money that is left over for mainline pay. In our history, that's the reason why Airways Group had Piedmont acquire Allegheny. The Allegheny contract (arguably one of the best, if not the best in ALPA), cost more. With the exception of the Piedmont vacation language, it was far superior. Simple ALPA economics: The association president signed it because it benefitted the mainline carrier. That is and always has been the unspoken conflict that exists within our union.

People complain all the time about Mesa's bottom feeding contract, and PSA dropping their pants yet again. But you don't hear any complaints from ALPA's Executive Council. The president signs contracts that aid and abet our professions race to the bottom at the regional level.

The fact that BF didn't sign the solidarity letter means absolutely nothing.

If you look at ALPA from arms length and follow the money, you will see that institutionally the main line member carriers are the captains, and the regionals are the F/Os. Given the opportunity to influence F/O wages to their advantage, which way do you think they'll turn?

Follow the money.