Yea apparently we're pretty short FOs. Captains have nowhere to go and theres a crapload waiting for re-upgrade. Lots doing RHS flying as well.

 

So they have called everyone for the Jan 26th class. There are only about 4 of us left to be called and apparently they want to do their last call through the list for a Feb class. Don't know what date in Feb, if anyone does know post it up or PM me.

 

AP says a mid Feb. class for upgrades, so I assume some more recalls too.

You guys in the hiring pool, when you get back from re-interviewing post up what company told you.

 

My buddy just got an off the street invite (not in the orginial pool) for one of the interview dates in January. Also, the recalls have already been added back to the seniority list. Looks like 10 coming back. Goes two people into the 5/13/08 class. Welcome back everyone!!!

 

well... a buddy over at PDT just called and said that he talked to BT and there is supposed to be an email for me for an interview. He said sometime this month.. I have yet to get the email. Exciting, but I wont hold my breath til I get the email.

Anyone else get an email/call for an interview? If so what dates do they give? Do they pos. space you to charlotte? hotels in the area? any tips?

Also to all the piedmonters out there.... how are things for you? I am hesitant about commuting for piedmont because of the small cities and the two legger from Albuquerque. Is training paid? Hotel? How long is training? How long will a newbie be on reserve? What is it like on reserve? Days off per month? How long are trips and are they mostly out and backs? Is it possible to commute on reserve? any other info would be great.

Thanks.

 

Alright FSUPilot, I'll fill you in on Piedmont and you can make up your own mind. I've been on and off reserve for almost 3 1/2 years. I've been based in 3 bases and moved each time so I can't comment much for commuting on RSV but I'll do my best. For the interview, at least when I did it in 07, they would positive space you in for it, but you were responisble for your own hotel. You arrive the night prior and leave CLT around 2 or 3 the next afternoon. Check the Quality Inn for hotels as I think the rate is $30. Just tell them you are airline crew. Don't know if they'd give you that rate or not but the whole hotel is almost all US Airways and regional crewmembers. Training is paid monthly guarantee and the hotel is paid for. Ground school lasts about 2-3 weeks and simulator training can take anywhere from two weeks to two months depending on how often you are scheduled for sims. Monthly minimum days off is 10 days. One stretch of 4 days off in a row that are REQUESTS (more on that later).

When it comes to reserve I can tell you how it is. We are allowed to request first or last out, but that is all they are, REQUESTS. The company is not required to honor them. What this translates to is if you are a reserve crew member with two days left before your days off and there is a two day trip ending at 2300, you WILL be assigned that trip even if you request last out because you only have two days of reserve left. In addition, if the day prior to your start of reserve, you are assigned a trip with a 1700 report on your first day, you are still assigned a time; normally around 0700; where you go on call requiring you to still be in base the night prior because just about no flights arrive in any of our bases before 1100 (You might have a shot commuting from NM to LGA but no guarantees how much longer it will be a base). Trips vary from out-n-backs to 4 days. There is no rhyme or reason as to who gets what and it fluctuates monthly.

As for actually coming to Piedmont, I personally don't regret it. I learned alot and flew with some great crews. You won't regret flying the Dash, even if it is almost as old as most of our first officers, it was built like a tank and is very demanding but very forgiving at the same time. Although I will say this, the only reason we are hiring is because so many people are leaving. We haven't received any significant increase in flying other than a little increase in utilization. In addition, I would say we have around 200 captains. Of those a few will take the recent early retirement package but probably the top 50-60% will not leave because they have decent QOL. That leaves around 70-80 captains who will could leave for greener pastures once they have the experience and can be picked up elsewhere. Figure a few will probably stay cause they have a decent QOL and live in base and have a family so they don't want to leave. That leaves about 50 Captains who would need to be replaced in the next several years. Now I have no clue how FO attrition will be but that is just my thoughts. If you are going to use Piedmont as a quick get 121 experience and reapply somewhere else as soon as possible. Good luck. If you get stuck at Piedmont for a while, it's not the end of the world and could be worse. It's not the best place but it isn't the worst. We're pretty much the red headed step child to US Airways. When they want to acknowledge us and give us credit it sounds great, but the next day it's back to normal like nothing has changed.

 

Bravo.

Before Meyer's chimes in here with his trademarked "pdt will survive, lets all hug a kitten and HOPE you guys get a flow thru to PSA" mantra, let me also add a few things for you.

Before you interview at PDT know that the mgmt here is very well versed in selling things that do not / will not exist. When I was hired along with Higgi, "flow thru" and "new airplanes" were right around the corner.

The reality of it is that since PDT/ALG was acquired by USAirways the company has gone from over 100 DHC-8s to 44. As Higgi described at least half of the Captain list is stagnant and will not experience significant movement for the next 10 years. I did not realise the significance of this fact when I took the job, but if you aspire toward getting some 121 PIC time this will not be the fastest place to do it. Some of the remaining 44 airframes are reaching the point at which they will become too expensive to maintain in the next 2 years. With Airways returning to profitability there is a chance that they may address the aging fleet issue at PDT but there is an equal chance that they let the airline along with its legacy costs go the way of Comair a'la Delta.

On the upside, you are given an opportunity that is not available nearly anywhere else in the regionals, and that is that you get the opportunity to work with the oldest crustiest sons of bishops that can be found in the regional game. They will teach you, scare you, and you will learn skills that will benefit you throughout your career.

 

Yeah I hear you guys. I am really just trying to figure out if it will be a good move or not. I spent the past hour or so trying to sort out this thread. I dont like what I am seeing. I really appreciate both of your inputs.

I will just wait and see if I actually get the call or not and make the decision then. Thanks again.

 

I'm no longer there, but PDT is a decent place to be IF YOU LIVE IN DOMICILE. Even commuting to a line will make you miserable as the motherless soul who builds the lines made them extremely commuter unfriendly. I was #3 in base before I left and couldn't find a decent line to bid.

That being said, living in domicile takes most of the sting out of it. The reserve rules are junk, but they are at pretty much every regional. The airline is also most likely dying.

The plus side, other than what's been mentioned, is you will fly with some of the best people in aviation. In 4 years there I made many good friends that I would love to work with again (under different circumstances though). You will go through a thorough, but manageable training program that will well prepare you for other airlines later in your career. You will gain experience in some of the nastiest weather and in the busiest airspace.

If you are going to move to your domicile, take the job at Piedmont. Understand though, that is going to be a short stop to most likely another regional if nothing changes. If you plan on commuting, that airline will suck the life out of you.

 

Been at PDT 3 years now, one of which I was furloughed.

Reserve the whole entire time. Commuting back and fourth for reserve, I am pretty miserable. The only good base LGA, seems like it is on its last breath. Flying we thought we picked up from Colgan we are losing there now. It will stay open a bit longer probably, maybe a year, but might get downsized.. which makes no sense considering we will still be doing a fair share of flying out of there. A hub base yet only 30 spots for FOs and CAs there. Yet SBY, ROA, MDT all have around 40ish, and their trips consist of a leg out of base on the first day, 3.5 days of LGA flying, then a leg into base on the last day.. while LGA crews keep holding their breath for the damn place to stay open.

For me the complete stagnation, along with the crap bases make this place hell. Not even going to mention the 2 years of reserve I have done thus far. And after all that time, and all the crap, I'm in a worse position now, then I was when I started off. Talk about taking steps in the wrong direction.

For interview you get pos. spaced, and they pay for hotel, at least that's how it was when I got hired in 08.

Great airplane, great crews, fun flying. But everything else pretty much sucks. The morale at the place is at critical levels. Every junior FO I know is looking at going elsewhere. If you are at a job that pays decent, and one that don't mind, I would think long and hard about it. Unless you plan to come here, bang out some hours and takeoff, then it might be ok for that. But surely not for an upgrade.

It could be a lot better here, and the QOL much higher, if some people in certain positions would make the effort. Even stuff like building lines and schedules. It's not that it can't be done, it's that who ever is doing it is either overworked and does it just so it all sticks together, or simply is too lazy to figure it out to make them more pilot/commuter friendly. Which adversly affects everybodies QOL.