mrglass2626

Hello all,

Just looking for some updated info on Piedmont. I have looked around forums and seem to only be able to find people's opinions from cira '07 '08 and they are mainly neutral/negative.

I have an interview lined up and want to know what the current consensus is regarding:

1) Training - Most post I found were that the training program is/was flat-out awful and unnecessarily stressful due to non-standardized instructors.
2) Upgrade times
3) Age / condition of the Q100/300s and MX issues if any.
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 love flying and believe in being positive. I am however a brutal realist. So basically I'm looking for the bright side and open to people's opinions....but please don't sugar-coat anything.

I appreciate all of your time and input.

For those who are curious - my hrs are: 1800tt, 650ME, pt135 job.

rocketman3746

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.

DASH8AV8R

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/re...ws-rumors.html

This is all you need to read!!

higgi8f6

Check out the PDT News and Rumors thread. Most of it is pretty accurate and the last few pages deal with recent hiring and upgrade questions.

The reason most of the stuff you see online is negative is because morale is average at best. Most people are apathetic to the situation. Show up. Do the minimum. Go home. We've been in negotiations for two years with almost no progress. Company wants current book while they continue to post profits. My biggest problem is that management asks pilots to help them out since we are understaffed, but the door doesn't swing both ways. If management would invest 25% the amount of energy they do to making PDT look good to Tempe into employee QOL, it would be great!

Right now we are severely understaffed. I was assigned a 3 day trip. On my last day, was assigned to stay on duty for 5 1/2 hrs after returning to base then fly the plane back to LGA to overnight and start a LGA 2 day the next day. My 3 day turned into a 5 day. Just to give you an idea of what your life will be like.

They are hiring because FO's and CA are leaving. If you are willing to live in one of their bases its bearable. I don't know how people commute for reserve. I've been at PDT for almost 4 years. Missed furlough by a few numbers and just next month am finallly off reserve. Most recent upgrades were an April 05 date of hire.

If you don't mind, report back to us on what they are saying to new hires about Why Piedmont? According to them, what makes Piedmont better than everywhere else that is hiring?

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me as a current PDT FO. Therer are good and bad things about PDT and I'll try and be honest and unbiased as I can.

mrglass2626

Good forum link - hadn't seen that one, plenty of fodder to get into.

Is there still a 3000hr limit to upgrade? Is this in type or just your TT?
I guess there won't be any upgrade to captain in 1yr then?

And yes, i'll go to the interview and write up some notes on what they're saying. If they promise me A Q400 I know to get up and leave. I am not desperate to leave my current job so will go in with a cautious eye. If it doesn't look good and honest I'll simply decline.

I DO NOT like the hearsay about them flushing lots of people out of groundschool and it all going on your FAA record - is this still the case?

stoki

Gooday mate!

As far as training and washing out, not exactly sure what they are doing now. I know in my initial class (2008), there was a guy who didn't make the cut in training (lacked basic instrument skills), they worked with him a little, then decided to let him go. They gave him the option of resigning, so he took it. I believe no stains on his FAA record. At the end of training there is an MV and LOE.. the LOE being the FAA checkride. If you bust that, it goes on your record.. that said, the LOE is easier then the MV, so if you make it that far, you should be ok. If it is your procedures and flows that is holding you back, if you have a good attitude, they will work with you, and give you some extra sim sessions I have seen. But if your basic flying skills are off, they will not teach you to fly the airplane, not a flight school. You have to have that knowledge signing up.

Yea, definently no upgrades in 1 year here.. The morale at PDT in my opinion is $hit. Hiring at the moment only due to FO attrition as far as I know. Most of the junior guys are making lateral moves to the other regionals that are hiring. I've been here since 08, and on reserve the whole time, furloughed for a year, recalled, and now in a worse spot then I was when I got hired. Seems you move backwards not forwards in this company. Great airplane to fly, though. Great crews. Yes aircraft write ups are commonplace. Good experience all around as far as flying and good hours in the logbook.

Crew bases suck if you live out of base. Not commuter friendly at all, double leg commutes from every base except LGA, which seems to be on the brink of disappearing as a crew base.

If you're looking for an airline to join for the longer haul, I wouldn't recommend it, given there are other options out there at the moment I would try for. Otherwise, go for it. Good luck.

PDTpilotXX

If you are offered a position and decide to come here, come in with a good / willing to learn attitude and you will do just fine. Our training department gets a lot of crap, truth of the matter is we have some AMAZING instructors and a team that truly wants you to get through it. You will work with some of the best pilots you will ever see when you're online. We are upgrading I believe 18 total on the last 2 awards so there is movement and that should continue. The next 12 months here will be VERY telling. I can tell you that if there is no major change in the operation by Feb 12' we are in really, reeeeally big trouble as an airline.