What are your thoughts on Piedmont airlines? Where are their crew bases, and where do you go for training? Thank you.

 

Quite a few threads on this airline already that would answer all your questions......FYI

 

Piedmont isn't bad, but it's not great either. Crew bases are MDT, LGA, CHO, ROA, EWN, and SBY. We fly all over the East Coast and have a Dash-8-100 and -300 fleet. Supposedly they're looking at buying either Q400s or ATRs to replace some aircraft, but I (along with everyone else working at Piedmont) are not holding our breath. I'll believe it when I see the first new airplane on property.

Pay-wise it's not too terrible, comparatively. Pay rates will hopefully rise when the next contract is negotiated. Working rules aren't too bad either - but there will hopefully be some changes to those in the negotiations also.

Upgrade times are shortening dramatically. When I got hired in September upgrade times were around 6 years, and that's already down to about 3. Rumor has it that the company's going to run out of pilots with enough time to upgrade (3000 hrs is our insurance minimum at the moment) by sometime in late summer-early fall. It's anybody's guess if they'll lower the company minimum times or start hiring captains off the street. You'll be able to fly 100 hrs a month right now with no problem. You should be able to hold a block within a few months of being hired, as long as there are no big changes. If we would get new aircraft they're going to need to increase the number of pilots by a lot.

The majority of the crews are great, and have a lot of fun. There are the select few who don't have fun at their job and make a trip miserable - but I don't think the percentage is any higher at Piedmont than anywhere else. You'll hear a lot of different perspectives on Piedmont on this forum. The airline is what you make it - you'll have a good time if you want to have a good time. Yeah the airplanes are old, management's not great, etc, etc, but I'm not sure if those who are negative would be happier anywhere else. If you're looking to live in the East, it's not a bad gig but it could be better.

 

I live in Baltimore, MD, so It should be a good choice for me. Also, thanks for posting a detailed report.

 

I have a number of friends who work for Piedmont. They've been telling the pilots that "new plane" crap for years.


The only comment I have about Piedmont is that their training department is one of the worst out there. The flying, pay, and contract are not terrible, as long as you can make it through the training department. If it was just difficult, that would be one thing because the DHC-8 isn't an easy airplane. But, from everything I've heard from many of my friends that went there, it's not only hard, but also very unfair and seriously lacking in standardization.

 

For you guys flying with Piedmont whats you QOL like compaired to other regionals? If you commute how is it? I live in ROC, how do you think that would be commuting to LGA (is LGA easy to get) or other bases? How many days are you away from home a month and is it easy to get overnights where you live ie. ROC ( I have a new born at home and wife works full time)....anything else you could tell me about Piedmont?

 

The training isn't THAT killer.

If you have 250 hrs, it may be. The AQP training program, as others have stated before, is a condensed/fast-paced program. It was designed for the higher-time applicants (ie. ATP or greater) At this point, they know that you know and understand advanced aircraft systems and have simulator experience. All they do is teach you how to fly the Dash. This is why some ladies/gents have struggled to get through the program.

If you do happen to get picked up by PDT, let me be the first to congradulate you. Just remember "cooperate to graduate" and you will do fine. Do not argue with ANY of the instructors or you will be hosed for the rest of the durration of training. It's "Yes sir, No sir, I'm wrong/you're right sir" and most importantly "thank you sir."

 

Training is not that bad. We have some *** instructors but we have some real good ones too. You can't find a group of guys that know their airplane more than our instructors. Some of them have been there since 100 BC.

If you fail out of the AQP program, it's your falt. If you study, pay attention in class and in the sim you will pass.

Good luck to you and keep us updated.

 

I have heard the low-timers fail out alot due to basic instrument skills. I finished up the end of Nov. Out of 19, only 3 failed out all in the sims and all due to basic instrument skills. If you can't fly a raw data VOR approach, GO PRACTICE!!!! I flew the sim on one of the evaluation flight and we circled to land and he ended up in a 30 degree bank at 300ft because he took his attention off his instruments to adjust the power. He was a nice guy but that is unacceptable. Although, he was told to go out get some more experience and if he wanted to come back in six months, the training department would recommend him to the recruiters.

As for QOL and work rules and such...LGA is really the only commutable base and they normally get more days off because they time out pretty quickly due to all the delays ensued at LGA. There are no senior bases for FO's so if you don't get what you want in the first bid, it will probably come within a few months. As for the other bases, you can actually afford to live in them on your pay. Cost of living in EWN, ROA, MDT, and SBY is not alot. CHO is a little higher but still doable. On reserve last month I flew 85 hours so expect them to use you. This month, I still have 7 days they can use me and so far I have around 50 hrs.

Once you hold a line, you are pay protected so if your flight cancels for any reason, you still get paid. In addition, we do have a commuter clause, my roomate was trying to get to EWN and the last flight was oversold, he called scheduling and they put him on as a must ride so he would be in EWN for the next day on reserve.

From what I have seen, if you are honest with them, they will work with you. Yes training is difficult but that is because although they have lowered minimums, they have not lowered standards which I don't think they should. Give them 100% and you will get 100% back.

 

Is LGA easy to get? I just have an interview with them right now but If I were lucky enought to get a job offer I think LGA is the easiest commute from MIA (I cant afford to live in NYC)