1) Training - Most post I found were that the training program is/was flat-out awful and unnecessarily stressful due to non-standardized instructors.
-In the past training has been very non-standard, but I think it has improved slightly over the past few years. Still not a walk in the park though!
2) Upgrade times
-Don't expect any, and you won't be disappointed. You, as a new hire, will not upgrade for a VERY long time, and PDT will most likely be gone or merged or something before that happens.
3) Age / condition of the Q100/300s and MX issues if any.
-We don't have Q's. Condition is old and tired. I left PDT last September, but that summer/fall 2010 saw an increase in write-ups, at least for me. Not sure if it was a trend or not.
4) Mainly - Has the situation changed since 07/08 or are people still negative about Piedmont. Has anything changed. Is there anything positive to be said?
-I don't think a whole lot has changed. But I've always said, if you have the right expectations, it won't be so bad. There is no flow-through. There is almost no movement in the seniority list, other than attrition. There aren't going to be any new aircraft. You will most likely be on reserve for quite a while. And PDT's reserve language in the contract is awful. But as long as you live in base, reserve lines are somewhat survivable. The Dash 8 is fun to fly, which has been made more obvious to me now that I fly a C-402. And most of the crews you will fly with are fun as well. I miss the flying at PDT, but I don't miss getting 1 night at home a week as a commuter on reserve. Hope that helps.