Dear Piedmont,
 

Don't cave. Word on the street is that there are 175's on the table, and a meeting the first week of May. I think you know what to do...

In the meantime, write your reps and let them know how unacceptable concessions are.

ExpressJet, Eaglevoy, Silver, and Republic have paved the way. This shouldn't be hard.

Good luck, we're all counting on you.

So what do you mean by don't cave? Nothing is on the table except a meeting between our MEC and AA Group in early May. And nobody knows what it's about. It could be anything from new aircraft as you say to merger with PSA or Eagle or closing shop. Any of these scenarios could play out.

As a Piedmont pilot I can tell you that I, and many people I work, with have beat this subject of some sort of future to death. We have been fed so many lies by our current management I couldn't think of a more hostile relationship in the regional industry. Ask any PDT pilot who has been here longer than 5 years about TAMDAR, iPads, hub bases, or additional DHC-8s.

So don't cave to what? I will say that if, and that's a huge IF something is offered, the only thing that would need any type of negotiations would be rates. Adjustments to any other part of our contact is an automatic no vote from me.

Pay rates and work rules already exist. If they want to give you the 175s, you should ask for nothing less than Envoy book!

Please don't get all defensive about it. I'm not trying to offend. But let's face it, IF they are coming to you for a place to put these 175s, then that's only happening because Envoy voted no and said they would only fly them under their current concessionary contract and nothing less.

A good bit of our contract is better than Envoy book.also don't pretend to understand what we've been through.

Piedmont pilots will rationalize any deal they can get. Their MEC chair knows they are in line for jets and the senior cadre doesn't give a rats patoot about the rest of the industry. That is why he didn't sign that letter. His claims of it not "meaning anything" are just subterfuge to mask the real reason he didn't sign - SJS.

The simple fact is, they want those jets and will do what they have to, to get them.

Which is PRECISELY why I said nothing LESS than Envoy book!

Anyway, we've all been through our share. I don't know what that has to do with anything. Is that some kind of excuse for something?

Since it was brought up, can you shed some light on why your MEC didn't sign the letter?

If they already have pay rates and word in the contract for 50+ seat airplanes aren't they obligated to accept new flying? Another words how would they ask for more? I don't think mesa pilots had any say on their new 175s.

If that is the case, then the meeting is for something else.

Agreed with you and higgi8f6. Hang in there, former coworkers. There are too many conclusions being jumped to by those on the outside.

Those of you who aren't current or ex-PDT, listen to these guys. This pilot group has been burnt by a 'take this deal and get jets' in the past, and ended up with nothing but lower DH8 pay rates/worse work rules, more aircraft being retired, and generally worse off overall.

We have 50-seat rates (specifically labeled as "ERJ-145/CRJ-50"), but no rates for anything larger.