One of my CFIs was saying that Piedmont is hiring students right out of college programs with somewhere around 400 hours and a multi commercial. Is there any truth to this, and how are they to work for?
Could someone with an associates be qualified for this job with 400 hrs? or is it for someone with a bachelors?
I've heard some pilots telling me to stay away from them.

 

From what I've heard, you will never upgrade. The Dashes are oldies but goodies. Problem is, (no disrespect to the prop drivers) T-prop time is becoming less valuable as more and more RJs guys are out there. A lot of guys will say turbine time is turbine time, which is true on paper. But flying long legs across multiple weather systems and then coming down final at 150kts vs 90kts is a big difference, as is glass time, and hiring committees know this *ducks from the flaming fireballs coming from the prop guys*. As more and more heavy metal becomes glass, glass turbojet time starts looking better and better. The long and short of it is this: go to PDT if you have no other options (like you're one of those numbnuts who want to get hired at a regional at 19 or have been turned down pretty much everywhere else) or live in a PDT base and don't want to move and don't feel like you need to fast-track your career. Most people who go to PDT end up making the jump to a "better" regional in a year or two anyway. If you live in a PDT base then it could be ok for you (assuming you don't expect to upgrade in 18mos and then jump to FedEx a year after that) but there are better places to be.

PS.
An associates degree will let you do just that: associate with people who have bigger and better letters on their resume (like BA, BS, MBA, PhD, etc). It'll work for the regionals but unless you know some one high up on the inside at a major, you will need a 4 year degree. I've flown with several captains who can't seem to move on no matter how much help they get because they don't have a 4 year degree.

 

I agree that turboprop time seems to be becoming less and less marketable in the job market. I particularly dislike the trend, but does anyone think the trend will reverse as there are more Q400s introduced and turboprops become more and more common with the price of jet-a going up?

 

Turboprop time isn't less marketable when you're looking for a job. Major airlines consider turbine time, turbine time. In fact, when evaluating resumes, I personally consider somebody with a lot of turboprop time to probably have better experience when dealing with the weather simply because they are probably "in it" more often, not having the capability to climb out on top.

Turboprop time from a pilot standpoint is becoming less and less marketable because the new generation of pilots doesn't want to fly something loud, less advanced in terms of passenger comfort and avionics, and smaller (all of which MOST turboprops are, with the exception of the Q400 and a few other select turboprops).

In other words, turboprop time is plenty good to land you a decent job further down the road. It's the combination of poor QOL/pay/outlook at most turboprop operators, and Shiny Jet Syndrome, that is leading to hiring/recruiting difficulties for companies such as Piedmont, Colgan, Big Sky, etc.

 

If your career goal is to drive 777s then yeah, RJ time is better than Dash time. If you want to break into corporate, guess who is gonna be more qualified to fly a King Air?

I don't fly for Piedmont, but from everything I gather the "problem" with Piedmont is lack of a long-term future in newer/larger turboprops and the fact they're a wholly-owned subsidiary of US Airways. They have a very good CBA (better than most RJ operators in terms of work rules), excellent first year pay and you'll fly your ass off if you work there. Lack of a hub domicile outside of LGA for commuters could also play a role in recruitment troubles.

At least those were the considerations I had when sending out resumes...

 

I just read an article in Airliners last night. They had a "special issue" on regionals. Piedmont was one they highlighted. Talking to the CEO of Piedmont, he says they will be around for a long time to come. They seem to be looking for replacements for their Dash 8s however they can't fly the Q400s because of the contract clause with the pilot union. Right now they can only fly up to 68 passenger plane (the Q400 holds 76 I think). It will be interesting to see what they come up with.

If you get a chance and your at your local Barnes & Noble, it's a good issue. They talk about American Eagle, Skywest and a few more..(I haven't gotten there yet).

 

GO TO PDT if no other options. let me say that turbine time is not turbine time. the turbojet with glass is what they are looking for.

 

So...how did you get hired into the 757 if all your PIC was in a Saab?

 

i spent 4 years in the 145. did you not read by blog

 

You have a blog???

Do you have a Myspace or Facebook page too? That would be SWEET, HMP in all her binge-drinking, hard-partying glory for the world to see.