Piedmont Training
 

Does anyone have any info on what the new-hire training is like at Piedmont? Any general info at all would be nice....Thanks!

I would imagine that its like training at any other airline. A week of basic indoc, 3-4 weeks of systems, a week or 2 of sims with a couple written tests and a proficiency check at the end.

Thanks....sorry if it sounded like a dumb questions, but I've not had the expeience, so I wouldn't know....do a lot of people fail out of the training? do you get paid during that time, if so, at what rate, etc? Anyone with Piedmont specific info? ...Thanks again!

Piedmont training is actually not like any other regional airline. Piedmont runs an AQP training program. The whole process, from the beginning of ground school to the end of SOE (our version of IOE), should only take about 6 weeks if you don't have any long breaks in there. The first two days are spent in Salisbury filling out paperwork, etc. The remainder of the training is done in Charlotte after that. Basic Indoc consists of two days and systems consists of four days. There are three tests during ground school, the third being a limitations test. You are expected to have studied the information they gave you before you get to training and to use the ground school as a refresher or way to clear up any questions before taking the test. After ground school, you spend three nights with an instructor and your sim partner at an out station going through the procedures in the plane. The next two weeks after that are spent in the simulator back in Charlotte. Once you have passed the checkrides, you are given your SOE schedule. It takes most people 2 - 3 weeks to complete SOE depending on the schedule you are given. We are required to complete 20 cycles during SOE, but most people are scheduled for at least 30. If you come to training prepared, you shouldn't have to worry about failing out. Make sure you are instrument current. They are there to teach you the procedures in the plane, not how to shoot an ILS. You are paid your 72 hour guarantee during training at 24.84/hr plus 12 hours of per diem each day. You are put up in a hotel, double occupancy during ground school, and single occupancy after that. Hope that helps.

That is exactly what I was looking for...Thanks a lot!

are you in the next training class mustang? How was the interview @ piedmont?

How long is Reserve and how does it work at Piedmont?

Todd

Well....I have an interview actually, but I haven't gone on it yet. I heard the test is hard, so I'm just studying everything I can. Since in order to prepare I have to just assume I'll pass the interview (even though I may not), I figured that I might as well put it out there and ask about the training.

I've been reading a little about Advanced Qualification Program (AQP) training....it sounds very interesting. Does someone know if this is more intensive/hard to pass than more traditional training? What would you say the pro's/con's of AQP training?

If you can study on your own, then it's easy. If you prefer to learn everything from an instructor, then go to another regional.

Reserve depends on the base. I sat reserve for half a month. Other people from my training class are still sitting reserve.

I am finding that seems to be the case....would you say that a lot of the people in your class had low time or high....and of those in your class, how many got through to the end...just curious to compare it to a non-AQP program the more I read about these....it seems that Piedmont is hiring a lot of low-time guys and I was just ondering how that came across in the training, i.e. if an AQP program works well for low time guys or if a lot fail out. Thanks.

80% of my class was low time. The only people that failed out of my class were high time.

really?....that is very interesting...I would think the opposite. Why do you think this was...and what was the pass rate? Thanks.

Only one of fourteen guys in my class didn't make it through training. We had another guy quit in the middle of SOE, but no one has any clue why and as far as we know he just did it on his own and the company had nothing to do with it. Must have gotten a job somewhere else.

Lower time guys tend to do better in training because they are still in the training/absorbing information mindset. A guy right out of college TYPICALLY has much better study habits and tends to absorb information faster and retain it longer than a guy who has been out of college for 10 years. In addition, there is the "old dog, new tricks" cliche. If you have been flying an airplane a certain way for 10 years it is going to be a lot harder for you to change your habits and methods than it is for a lower time guy who is used to learning new techniques and methods.

Where lower time guys TEND to fall behind the old dogs is in the decision making arena. With experience, you are able to apply what you've seen in the past to new situations and make more educated, considered decisions. I am willing to bet the first time you saw ice on an airplane you freaked out a little bit but once you've seen an airplane continue to fly covered in ice and gotten out of the situation, you are more prepared to handle that situation when it arises again.

I agree with that training indet theory the more I think about it. Also, I've been reading a lot about that AQP training, and the more I read the more that it makes sense, especially if the AQP is geared towards lower time pilots. There's a pretty big advisory circular (161 pgs) all about AQP training...I never heard of it before researching this stuff, but then again, I've had no reason to look into 121 training procedures.

Anyone have any information on the Piedmont test? Im guessing it will be a lot of ATP test questions and AIM. Im just curious which parts they will ask the most questions from. Thanks for any help you can give me.

Anybody have a realistic upgrade time at Peidmont? Where does MDT stand as a junior senior base CA/FO?

Right now MDT is one of the most junior FO bases at the bottom of the list (you can get a line quick), but, I think there are some senior FOs and it is VERY senior for captains.

Thanks Doug!

Can anyone tell me with any certainty whether Piedmont is hiring into a pool, or if they actually are starting classes for the people they're hiring now? And if there is a pool, how long might that be before getting to a class?

Also, does anyone know when Piedmont's contract is up? I've heard rumors about 2009 (i.e., something may be happeneing with the company around that time).

Thanks!

Contract is up in 09, and PDT rarely hires people into a pool. If you get hired, you will usually get a class date at the same time in the 2-4 week period following the interview.

What everyone at PDT is hoping will happen is that we get 400s, and agree to fly them at a lower rate just to get them on the property, and then renegotiate in 09. If we dont get the new airplanes, I doubt there would be any reason to renegotiate as the cost of maintaining the current fleet would just become rediculous. We'll see...

Do you happen to know what airlinepilotcentral's site means when it says that Piedmont's fleet is 'shrinking to 50 a/c"? Are they really downsizing their fleet, and if so, why are they hiring so much?
Thanks

I was curious how the fleet at PDT is? Are they quite a bit older? Any updates in the past couple of years to the cockpit? Just curious.

Todd

For the average line guy there is little difference between AQP and other training. With AQP you can take data from your Flight Ops Quality Assurance (FOQA) program as well as other info to modify and change the training program to emphasize areas that need additional work.

Also AQP allows you additional flexibility in training. The only real requirement is that you assure that the aviator meets the same standards as with standard training programs.

So, AQP allows an operator to tailor training specifically to the needs of that operator, not just another cookie-cutter training program.

That's what I've been hearing from others who went through AQP training...thanks for your take on it.

And again, does anyone out there know anything about the "shrinking fleet"? Thanks

AQP's not too bad. Just be sure to study what you can prior to class, be instrument PROFICIENT (not just current), and relax. It's really not that bad, it just takes some good memorization skills! Older guys have typically had a harder time than younger guys with the testing, as it does involve a lot of memorization. Usually, it's the limitations test that gets 'em.

As for the so-called "shrinking fleet", it's mostly just a matter of leasing costs. The company has consisted of Dash 100's, 200's, & 300's, but as of late the company has begun returning our 200's due to the HUGE increase in lease costs. In return, we are supposedly getting previous 100-model leases back. Within the last month or so, there has been a lot of buzz going around about delivery of more 300's and even Q400's. No one is holding their breath, but it seems a little more promising each week.

I like to think its because we get a little more delusional each week:rolleyes:

I think you're right.

So is the fleet "shrinking" really (i.e. some kind of cutback for those crews), or are they just changing from the 200's to 100's (meaning there's no 'shrinkage' at all)? Because on the main airlinepilotcentral page it lists the fleet as "shrinking" from 55 to 50 a/c.

The fleet size is not changing at all. It will be staying at the current size until new aircraft arrive on the property.

If anyone knows anything about how to get in touch with PDT with a resume I would really appreciate it. I am a 1000/100 cfi looking to fly a turboprop before moving onto a jet down the road, planning on staying at PDT for some time to build up experience. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Here's some important advice for you before you even think about applying to Piedmont; It's obvious that you're another low-time rook with "shiny-jet syndrome". If you want to build flying experience, the Dash-8 is not an airplane for you. Go to Mesa and fly an RJ that takes little to no skill to fly. Believe me, you will get in much deeper over your head on a visual approach from 2 miles out at 4000' than you will flying IMC to mins in a little jet. The top half of the Piedmont seniority list consists of 50 to 60 yr-old captains who have flown the Dash 7 & Dash 8 their whole careers-- out of choice. I know you have a lot to learn, but if your dream is to fly a fancy little RJ, start with that. Piedmont guys never make life easy for those looking to laterally move to an RJ-flying regional.

That info is listed on the main airlinepilotcentral website, and it is accurate info because that's where I sent it and I have an interview

Mustang,

What flight time do you have? Do you know what PDT's mins are for an interview?

Shaner...come on now....have you ever flown an RJ with all your "vast" experience? It is certainly not easy to fly and the set of skills involved to fly it are a different set than required to fly the Dash. I have flown both, and I would rather be in a Dash at 2miles and 4000 ft in an RJ, Chop, Drop, Props up and ADD power to land. And when I was there, almost every trip I was on involved that 50 to 60 yr old captain telling me to "get out as soon as you can." I enjoyed flying the Dash, the people I flew with, and I would never tell anyone not to go there.

I've spent about equal amounts of time in the 8 and the WSCoD, and I concur with all of that. So not that I would know, but I think flying the Dash is like driving a dump truck compared to the RJ, and IMO it's more fun to fly...I miss the airplane, but not the company. :)

You have an interview too Mustang? Good to hear, when is it?

Nov 9th...where are you from, UND?