vinny7

I live in Charlotte and have been trying to compare the two. I've tried searching threads and such but really cant decide which is best. It seems PSA has better pay and the QOL seems better but reserve time seems longer and there are multiple bases you can be stuck at. Where as PDT its PHL or CLT but less pay and seems they don't take care of their pilots as well. I've read that its best to go to the regional that you can drive to base each day. So I'm really leaning towards PDT just because I think I could possibly get CLT right out the gate.
Please provide any input and if you would also choose Piedmont.

JayBee

PSA has SAP.

Not much more else to say.

PeteyT

The two airlines don't even come close to comparing to each other.

PDT pilots are flying 4, 5, 6 legs a day. Working significantly more days every month. But still making significantly less money than PSA, and putting fewer hours in their logbook. PDT pilots have almost no schedule flexibility. We're flying old, noisy, dilapidated aircraft.

PSA pilots have FAR more days off every month, but still fly more hours, still get paid much more, and still have the ability to adjust their schedules to a high degree to get what they need.

Who cares if there's a bit more reserve or if you don't get your base right away. Don't damn yourself to Piedmont for the entire time you're a regional pilot just because you're scared you might have to commute for a while when you're brand new.

You're either an idiot, or woefully ill informed, if you choose PDT over PSA. They're not even close. Piedmont is a garbage airline. They're barely an airline at all.

AirBear

PDT has 2 advantages, the 1st is getting CLT right away. IMO that's not worth it, just commute for 6 months or so at PSA until you can hold CLT. 2nd advantage at PDT is only valid if you can hold Direct Entry Captain. I have read on these forums DEC's can hold CLT out of training.

Thedude86

You might not get CLT right away at PSA but any base is attainable within a few months. Even if you can get CLT immediately at Piedmont it’s not worth spending your entire regional career there.

I’ve said this plenty of times in other threads but it’s worth mentioning again for anyone that’s new..... The difference is even if you have to commute at PSA you will still be home significantly more at PSA compared to Piedmont. Piedmont you’ll have only 11-12 days off no matter if you’re on reserve or a senior line holder while crediting only 75 hours. You only want 75 hours at PSA? Once you’re a line holder you’ll have 16-18 days off. Those days are of your choosing, not what the company awards you. Think about that. Over only a years time thats anywhere from 2 to 3 more months spent at work at Piedmont for the exact same hours, not to mention the lower pay rates. You won’t have to commute for long at PSA (if at all), but even if you had to commute the whole time... is it worth spending an extra 2-3 months at work each and every year just to be able to drive to work for lower pay?

vinny7

the big player is I'm tied to clt for my military job so I'll be splitting time at both jobs. And doing the math at PSA the flow has to be closer to 10 years at the current rate. So if the flow at Piedmont is a couple years less wouldnt that be worth a less desirable schedule?

ZeroTT

Psa>>>>>pdt as above

no its not worth it for questionably faster flow. If you’re a military pilot you are unlikely to flow anyway

at least recently clt has been available out of IOE

Thedude86

PSA’s flow right now for a new hire is very long, but I think AA’s plan is to keep it in the 5-6 year range for all of their wholly owneds. They don’t need to change our flow right now because we are currently flowing in said time frame. My theory is once our flow reaches the point where it’s getting closer to 7 years, AA will up the flow to match Piedmont and Envoy.

Even if our flow stays at 10 years and I had to start over and do it again there’s no way I’d be willing to only have 11-12 days off for my entire regional career just to flow quicker. If you’re single maybe, but you can’t have a family life like that. 11-12 days off sounds like a lot for a normal job, but with the airlines it feels like you’re never home. For December I only had 12 days off (by choice) to take advantage of our holiday pay at PSA, and I felt like I was gonna die if I had to do another month like that. PSA’s SAP spoils you. If you add up those extra days worked I mentioned in my earlier post, and you’re lucky enough to get out in 5 years... that adds up to a total of 10 months to 1.3 years MORE of extra work and days gone from home. That’s in just a 5 year time span. All for the same exact hours at a lower pay rate. If you’re actually wanting only 12 days off at PSA also, I would estimate you’ll make about 30k-40k more per year at PSA as a Captain. 20k-25k as an FO

ninerdriver

This. Keep your nose clean, and you should be able to have your pick of legacy jobs in one to three years.

vinny7

my concern is no one in my unit has moved on without the flow. However, we do fly the c17 now so maybe that will change going out of the flow. So if yall are saying maybe 3 years max wouldnt it be better to be able to be based in clt sooner?