Piedmont Life
 

Hello All,

I am new to these boards. I have an interview with Piedmont later this month and am curious to know about the quality of life? I am very excited about the chance to interview and have not heard many bad things. Any input would be greatly appreciated! My times are about 800 with 250 me. turbine PIC

Haven't heard many bad things... hm. Quite simply we are about as close to death as an airline as you can possibly be and yet still operate day to day. From over 100 planes since the PDT/ALG merger to 44 now. All of our routes can be operated by an RJ (and are) except for one (1). So you say DHC-8s are more fuel efficient than these 50 seat RJ's? Well sadly we are locked into a long term agreement with AWAC for 70 of these 50 seaters, PSA has a large number of them as well. Those aircraft have to be flown someplace and a majority of their routes are former PDT/ALG routes. Our president says that Tempe has given him the green light to spend market rate to lease more 100s and 300s and yet we are out bid by Commutair for 300s (this is a fact and the excuse given by our cp that CAL gave them money is false). So either we were in fact not authorized to spend market rates on new aircraft or our president is just afraid to spend actual market rates for new (used) aircraft. Oh... but tempe will spend money on this: US Airways expects to spend $35m on Express two-class upgrade Anyway, good luck in your interview. If you come here you will fly with some of the greatest people in the industry and that is fact. Also, please let us know what they tell you in the interview regarding the future of this place as they tell us nothing. Oh, if they tell you that we have pref hiring with USairways that is 100% false.

It is not as bad as most people claim. A lot of people had to be on reserve for 3+ years so they are mad about that. Guys coming out of training right now are getting hard lines in some bases. People are leaving and a lot of our younger captains are trying to get out. It is what you make of it. Some months I wish I had gone with another airline and some I am glad I came here. You will have a blast flying the Dash 8 and the crews really are great. Best of luck

Congrats on your interview. I remember being equally excited 4 years ago when I was given the same opportunity. If your goal is to just get 'a job' and you are not interested in building turbine pic time then you should accept an offer from pdt if they deem your pulse is strong enough. If your goal is turbine pic look elsewhere. That's the short/sweet version. If you'd like more in depth info read the pdt news & rumors thread on this board (except for any posts by meyers) and also look at USAirways' financials and determine for yourself how likely a re-fleet of pdt aircraft is within the next 2 years.

That is a little dramatic don't you think? A year ago I was furloughed...today I have 60+ people below me and have seen close to 50 FO's (just FO's not captains) move onto other things. Chances are pretty good you will see an upgrade. Lets just hope we see another early retirement. ;)

Hi everyone I also have an interview coming up in early May with Piedmont. I'm a current flight instructor and my times are 780 TT and 36 ME CFI/CFII. With this type of time is it likely I have a good chance of getting the offer? Also first airline interview, any tips on what to study, etc.

Dramatic? Haha.. No I don't think that is dramatic. Ask yourself how much turbine pic a guy getting hired today in 2011 is going to build when airplanes start timing out in 2012. It is disingenuous to convince these people of anything else because that is the reality as things stand today. Don't let the "hope" obstruct your vision of the big red blob of facts on the horizon.

It's a great opportunity, especially if this is your first 121 job. Best of luck with the interview.

But keep in mind, there wouldn't be such rampant turnover at the bottom of the f/o ranks if things were that great.

If you get the interview you have a good shot of getting hired. Show them a large desire to work there and you will be fine.

It is great.

Airplanes are in great shape and make you proud.

You stay in luxury 5 star hotels, with the hotel van ALWAYS waiting for you after your last leg.

Great pay-scale, one of the best in the industry for turbo-props.

Very little aircraft swaps.

Great morale amongst crews.

If you have a line, you can really appreciate the great schedules that are put together on a montly basis.

Great base structure, especially if you are a commuter.

Fast up-grade, and a very experienced pilot group.

Planned expansion, there are Q400s on the way to replace the older aircraft.

Whatever you ever complain to company about, they always "look into it".

Best of luck man.

P.S - Did I mention the hot hosties?:D

*sarcasm disclaimer*

So why are you still here? Lots of other airlines are hiring, why not get out now while you can?

Thanks for all the encouragement guys. Any current new hire piedmont FO's have any knowledge about the interview like questions or what current approaches they use for the interview?

First of all the thread isn't about me and my situation, its about what a new guy should or should not expect if he accepts an offer with PDT. Secondly, I'm not ;).

I've said my piece, the noobs can read it and make their own educated decisions.

So here are some facts about Piedmont Life and you can verify most of them here on APC.

When you compare pay, first year looks pretty good. We are one of the higher paid regionals for first year pay however it does not stay that way. Go and compare 3rd or 4th year FO pay to any other regional flying 50 seat aircraft and we start to fall pretty quickly. Also our CA are some of the lowest paid CA flying 50 seaters. Or 37 seat rate for CA (FOs are paid the same whether there are 37 or 50 seats) is decent but it still does not justify lower rates for 50 seaters. Most line holders don't notice it because almost all lines are built with 90 hrs. So expect long days. I've just completed 4 days in a row of 14+hrs of duty followed by 12hrs or less of rest. We have the fewest number of days off per month. Most regionals have 11 or 12 but Piedmont is 10. It's only saving grace in regards to 10 days off is we do receive 4 golden days (immovable days off) that can be requested but again it is only a request and the company is not obligated to comply. We do have a commuter clause but I believe (not a commuter) you have to list for 2 or 3 flights ahead of your scheduled start of duty and most bases only have 4 or 5 flights a day. In regards to commuting on reserve while we are discussing it, you may be assigned a trip on your first day a reserve with a 1500 report however the company still wants you in base for a 0500 start to your duty so even though chances are they won't call you, you still have to commute in and be available. I've heard of other regionals that once you are assigned a trip, that is your report. Non of this sit on call before reporting. Our vacation policy is decent if you are trying to get time off. We are assigned a block (either the 1-15 or 16-30 of each month) and can place our 5 days on any trip and get paid for the next 5 days and drop any trip it touches. For example, if you have 3 days off, a 4 day then another 3 days off then another 4 day, you get paid for the entire 1st 4 day and the 1st day of the following 4 day but both trips are dropping giving you a very large amount of time off. Also our travel benefits are pretty good. No yearly fee and no fees for domestic travel. International is unlimited just pay taxes. First class domestically is $20 and internationally is $100. We have the same seniority as mainline on standby and are one of the few regionals who can jumpseat internationally on American. Good luck with your decision but at least now here are some concrete facts instead of he said she said stuff.

2 words: IT SUCKS

All airlines suck... some suck less in different areas and more in others... it's all about which areas you can deal with sucking more than others and which airline's suckiness coincides with your suckiness preferences...

it might suck for someone with some experience, but not when your times are 800TT/ 250ME... when you're in that time bracket Piedmont is like NASA (as the thread starter's enthusiams shows)

The differance between NASA and Piedmont is that NASA has the smarts to Retire it's old Shuttle but we keep operating N906HA.
On a serious note, You will enjoy the Dash and will fly with some great people.;)

Piedmont has long been on my target of airlines for a first airline job. However, I'm beginning to have second thoughts about their future, and by extension, mine with them. They fly only for US Airways, have reduced fleet size significantly in recent years, have not made any credible plans to adopt a new equipment type, share and compete for regional service to US Air with 7 other regionals, and has apparently been unwilling to negotiate in good faith for a new pilot contract. Perhaps this all due to US Airways wanting/needing to position itself for a merger or sale, but it makes me more concerned about working for Piedmont, than say, one of the Pinnacle group of airlines, or even the Trans States Holdings group. Any thoughts?

Well you pretty much summed everything up here at ol' piedmonts. . . I think career progression at piedmonts is about as encouraging and realistic as... well... something that isn't very encouraging or realistic.

Does anyone know anything about employee benefits/ Travel on Usair mainline ? etc?

What exactly do you need to know?

Yes, there are employee benefit programs. Most are individually specific to Piedmont Airlines, i.e. you do not have the same health benefits or profit sharing that US Airways mainline has. There are also employee benefits specific to the Piedmont pilot group that are different from the other employee groups at Piedmont, i.e. the pilots 401k retirement plan is not "company wide" and flight attendants or gate agents have their own retirement plan benefit.

The travel program can be quite complex to discuss, but that is because it is the entire US Airways Group travel program and not limited to just Piedmont. Basically, as the employee (including spouse and children) you have free, unlimited space available travel on US Airways mainline and US Airways Express. Travel priority is determined by placing all Piedmont, PSA, and US Airways mainline active employees into the "S3" category. Within this category, priority is then further refined by date of hire with the more senior employee having higher priority. US Airways Express employees from non-wholly owned carriers (other than Piedmont and PSA) travel at a S4 priority. So even on your first day, you would have a higher travel priority on US Airways mainline, than any employee of the other US Airways Express carriers: Republic, Air Wisconsin, Mesa, Colgan, Trans States, etc.

When available, you can travel in first class by paying an upgrade fee. You can travel internationally for no additional cost, just pay the international taxes. You can purchase confirmed seating on US Airways for 20% off the normal fare. Your parents can travel based on a charge per flight segment (domestic or international). You get 8 "buddy passes" for reduced rate travel on US Airways for friends or more distant relatives. A boyfriend/girlfriend/domestic partner can fly as a travel companion at the cost of imputed income added to your paystub. Six times a year you can change your priority to S1 and move to the top of the standby list. We also participate in the ID90/95 and ZED types of travel programs with just about every other well known airline out there.

Life at Piedmont .... what life???? your are suppose to handle it to management and crew scheduling the first day you come to training.

P.S. I'm not joking THERE WILL BE NOT LIFE IN PIEDMONT

Thank you for your in depth response, I really appreciate it. T-Minus 9 Days until interview. Keeping my fingers crossed and studying ATP / Instrument Procedures pretty hard.