Piedmont has had a flurry of upgrades recently and word has it that 18-month FO's will be getting the nod soon. The problem is that the PDT Captain minimums are at 3000 hours currently, and in the next 4-5 months there won't be any FO's left that have that much time. The company is looking to have the insurance requirements lowered to meet the demand, or possibly hiring street captains. All that said, how low do some regionals go for CA mins?

 

Hey there Coop,
I started in December and heard about the street captain rumor too. My sim partner was a 3200 hr upgrade and he was the most junior at the time. Seems like the 3000 hr req is BS since its really company imposed and the insurance wouldn't be that much more. Lemme know if you have any more info.
-MJ

PS. Where are you based? I'm in MDT and hoping for EWN at some point.

 

I hope our mins come down but this week hasn't been good for upgrading FO's I know one washed out and is going back to the line as a FO. Also heard another is close don't know if the second one is true or not.

 

They could change the 3000hr requirement but it would cost them and you'd also see an increase in FAA observation during training since it would be outside the outline of the AQP that Piedmont currently operates under. YIPEE!

 

Comair is supposedly 3000hr, but you can still be awarded and upgrade with less, just can't go to class till 3000

 

Yeah. It's 3000 TT / 500 Company. Most junior guy that got awarded upgrade last vacancy bid has been here 5.5 years, but by the time he goes to class it'll be 6 years. Yes, upgrade is long, but at least you have someone in the left seat who has experience and has been flying the plane for 5+ years, can't say that for some "other" regionals.

 

Skywest= 2500TT, 1000 turbine, 1000 crew environment

 

Have all the 2004/2005 hires at PDT gotten or bypassed upgrade yet?

Oh yeah - AWAC only requires ATP minimums.

 

Does matter about the mins, all upgrade times are about to change due to $110+/barrel oil.

And I don't mean for the better, unless you're talking about mainline taking flying back and upgrade times there dropping, that would be good.

 

PNCL mins require a college degree to decipher and I will try my best to get this right...

3500TT off the street
2500TT with 1000 at PNCL
2000TT with 1300 at PNCL and a "mentor" program- you fly with a CA who has undergone check airmen training and fly 100 hours with mentor CA's. If they give you the nod you can upgrade at 2000TT. Basically 1000 hours of free OE but you fly your current (FO) seat position as I understand it.


I think there are a few other requirements but if you are 23 and came in with 1000-1500TT you can upgrade at 2500TT after about a year being an FO (you will have 1000 in the plane). Right now upgrades are pretty much time based unless you want QOL. I have been here about a year and a half and I would barely hold rsv for MEM and be borderline for a line/rsv in DTW. MSP is being dowsized and ATL is a mix of super senior (commuters and those hoping for a better payrate) and junior guys.