Originally Posted by PDTpilotXX

PDT has been losing guys to Atlas Blue and United as well as US the entire time the current hiring letter was signed. I bet that continues even with the flow.

How's life on the 76 at AA?

Originally Posted by Lambourne

That is pretty dubious to post that without taking into context what happened in those 5 years. In '01 ( 4 years into your 5) 9/11 happened. The industry furloughed thousands, combine that furlough with the increase in retirement age to 65 and that is the reason you are just now in class. You should be very well aware that advancement predictions are only accurate in a vacuum. Once a world event or a corporate event (BK) happens all bets are off.

My airline has always been "hiring for the foreseeable future" right up to the day they furlough.

Originally Posted by prop1900

In regards to the possibility of 175s to piedmont, How will that fit into the current route structure with most of there legs around 30 minutes long. Is there a need for 70 seats on existing routes?

Originally Posted by higgi8f6

So I ask some hypothetical questions since we have yet to see the TA. I'm currently on the fence at PDT about this TA. You can sit here and tell me to hold the line and all other BS but no regional is in the same situation Piedmont is currently in. Republic and ExpressJet are both locked into multi-year contracts with the majors. Envoy has equipment that will be around for years to come and leases that can be extended. Piedmont has at best 2-3 years. We park 1 plane in 2016 and in the first quarter of 2017 we are scheduled to park 4 or 5 with a few more being parked later that year. Currently Piedmont staffs about 8 pilots per aircraft so in 2017 we will no longer require at least 15% of our workforce or about 50 pilots. There are no options to extend leases or anything like that. We will park aircraft because they have reached their cycle limit.

Now I'm not excited about a 12/4 cap because it took me 7 years to upgrade ,however is it a concession to accept a 12/4 where you reach the top amount faster and the hourly rate is consistent with what you top out after 20/8 currently? Let's say our 12 year cap is still higher than other carriers who top out after 20 years? Same for FOs? It may not be industry leading but it is in line with industry standard? In addition, because we make more money we have a net gain on income even paying higher insurance premiums? Is this a concession? I'd be making more money and consistent with other regional carriers?

ALPAs policy has always been get the aircraft on property then negotiate upwards. With this TA we are allowed to open up QOL items i believe twice or three times during its term. That gives us the opportunity to better our contract once the aircraft are present.

Personally I wanna vote no out of spite but that is not fair to the industry and definitely not fair to the Piedmont pilot group. Emotion should not be a reason to vote one way or another. Now I personally will probably be able to get hired by a major in the next year or two but is it right to vote down a future for Piedmont? Because that is really what we are voting on. Is it fair to the FOs who are just starting or the senior guys waiting to retire? Yes they will be able to find other jobs flying but at what financial and personal costs to them? If Piedmont doesn't close they will be in a much better position.

My biggest internal struggle is that if I am still here when the term of this contract expires, will I still be happy with the way I voted. There is no easy answer.

Originally Posted by prop1900

Well I don't claim to be as smart as you, But American airlines was not a big player in the PHL market. Airways [ Piedmont ] has serviced the smaller market in the northeast for a very long time probable before you were born and I don't see that changing just to accommodate a larger aircraft. There could be some routes where a larger aircraft makes sense, But in the northeast doubtful unless the load factor is needed. I have flown on some of these routes doing business in the past and never seemed to have a problem getting a seat. Most company's only purchase the size of equipment that is needed to do the job.

Originally Posted by JohnGardner

I'm not fluent on PDT route structure, but looking at the equipment and just a glance at their route map is one of the reasons I'm very skeptical about 175s at PDT. I think if one takes a very hard look at the TA when it surfaces, one will be able to discern what the plan is.

Originally Posted by billyho

The plan is to get us on board with the contract. Let envoy and piedmont shrink. Piedmont takes over Envoys assets in a transfer. 175's come...Game done.

Originally Posted by JohnGardner

I'm not fluent on PDT route structure, but looking at the equipment and just a glance at their route map is one of the reasons I'm very skeptical about 175s at PDT. I think if one takes a very hard look at the TA when it surfaces, one will be able to discern what the plan is.

Originally Posted by JohnGardner

Hmmmm. Okay, and you deduced this how exactly?