I'm hoping to get on with PDT by early December. How different will it be in 7 months or so? More deliveries of the ERJ, less training backlogs, overall improvements, etc? I know things can change quite quickly in this industry, but I wanted to get a decent idea, since it's my number one choice and my first regional job. Also have a friend who's a new hire and loves it; seems like there's a good future there.

 

Don't let my pessimism sway u.. It has some positives.. We have wonderful people here. We stay at some top notch places that I enjoy.. Except tri and BGM.

I got in as the flow just started and the jets were announced shortly after.. Lots of positive vibes.. Boss Hogg got in as well and u would swear some people were in nirvana.

The little erjs are rolling up quickly. And if you want to upgrade to captain as soon as u get your 1000 hours it's there for u. That being said, the pilot group overall is fairly grumpy. We are working really hard to cover all the flying. Our pilot group has actually shrunk over the last few months and we are stuck flowing 3 a month since we can't get to the magical number 475 pilots. We lose 3 amazing people this month and next month, three more really awesome guys.

The dashes are old and maintenance heavy. It's actually amazing how we are able to keep them in the air so much. The dash is simply an amazing plane to fly.. 200 kts at five miles out and you'll be fully configured and at vref 100 knots no problem. When approach says can u make a short approach the auto pilot is already clicked of, and your grinning ear to ear before the guy next to you can even key the mic. It's a pilots aircraft and truly something to experience.

Our schedules absolutely suck. A max duty day and only getting paid for 4 to 5 hours while turning a plane 6 times with 3 swaps, and an approach to mins each leg.. You will be more tired than a monkeys ass.. And the pay for all that hard work is atrocious. Yes there is the unheard triple premium available to everyone, but with only 11 days off, picking the stuff up is like selling your soul and making out with Bruce Jenner.. It might feel good while your doing it but kaitlyn Jenner is still a dude..

We are having a really hard time recruiting. We are short by about 250 pilots from last years goal.

There are many in are management team that lack leadership and any formal training as a leader. Many of them having no college or project management training. Therefore many projects start and fail miserably. Further, the effective leaders in the group get so mired down in projects and picking up for others that are not handling their work and they are burnt out.

The erj program roll out is often a running joke and its dispatch reliability is horrendous. Right now it's on time departures is running less than 55 percent. And the flights cancel so often. Yes it's a new plane to the pilots and maintenance and the training department, but the management could have planned better and brought in some more erj guys to get the program running efficiently. The biggest hinderous is the company thought captains could be dual qualified. Luckily the faa said no, but there is a huge shortage on the right seat on the erj.

Nothing is going to change here until the management change takes place. Right now there is a lot of bad blood between the pilot group and sby.


Pay.. Sucks.. If I haven't said it.. Pay sucks.. I worry about the future of the company, without being able to attract pilots with our pitiful pay and our poor dispatch reliability, I nervously wait to see was aag does. Otherwise it's a cool place with some very dear friends.

 

There are lots of things to complain about, but the pay isn't bad. If you're a lineholder, you're typically credited at 85-95 hours a month. $29/hour first year pay isn't "industry leading", but it's not terrible. Heck, even reservists are crediting nearly 100 hours per month with the staffing situation. You can bank on about an extra $500 a month with per diem on top of that. If you consider the $5000 sign-on bonus...more if you have prior 121, and a 3 month paid vacation after ground school, the first year here really isn't awful.

There are lots of ways that PDT needs to improve. Yes, pay needs to increase and schedules HAVE to get better to attract more new hires. That being said, our pay is not pitiful...not by a long shot. 100% cancellation guarantee also helps out a lot with our current situation.

My opinion of my time here is great crews, decent pay, fun airplane. The flip side of that is tough schedules. That is the one point that everyone complains about and needs addressed quickly. Realistically, with the new management coming in at the end of May, I think we will see schedule improvements quickly. We also just appointed a new head of our Scheduling Committee, so that could be a sign of something...

 

I honestly believe hem to be the worst schedules of any regional. Pretty sad. New scheduling comm chair doesn't mean anything unfortunately as even with dozens of fatigue reports every other day won't get schedules changes, someone jumping up and down saying "not fair not fair not fair" won't work. Boss Hogg needs to change things himself when SF leaves. The month after he leaves will be very telling

 

Talked with Piedmont several times at FAPA and OBAP in Las Vegas.

They seem like a hidden treasure and really sell what they have to offer. I was just getting some info and wasting time talking to different people.

Their recruiters actually care. I heard one of them say to someone that Piedmont may honestly not be their best choice for their circumstances. WHAT?! Never hear of someone saying stuff like that when all regionals are trying to hire.

Their whole outline of "why piedmont" can sell anyone. I didnt realize it was that competitive of a package. From what I remember these are some of their points...

Small pilot group that's a real family and has a lot of fun, you're a name not a number, fast upgrade (apparently as soon as you have the time you can upgrade... anyone know if thats dash or 145?), fastest flow to American out of any wholly owned and apparently no interview? (not sure how thats possible. It's american. Why wouldnt you interview), pay benefits that supposedly make up for their lower first year pay like health insurance that costs less than $1000/yr (also not sure how thats possible), bonuses (cant remember numbers).

They gave me cell phone numbers and offered to talk whenever even if it wasn't about Piedmont.

I've never seen a regional care enough to answer questions about other regionals or take THAT much time to talk to an individual. Their motto was "we're a family and we want you to make the right choice for you." Pretty impressive!

 

Wow.

I don't even know what to say.

You spent all that money to go to OBAP and FAPA and wasted time talking to Piedmont?

You might want to do some more research about Piedmont.

 

Since you took the time to respond with nothing, would you happen to enlighten us of your vast knowledge of PDT???

 

Well. Thanks for the assumptions and the info... (sarcasm)

Any answers to my questions? I thought these forums were supposed to be about current going ons at different regionals? Did you go to Obap and FAPA? Everyone seems really helpful and kind and interested in helping anyone with questions! The Piedmont people we're especially approachable.

Is it still good for potential pilots interested in these airlines to go to these events? Where can you talk to and interview with this many airlines in one day? AND get face time with the others where you may want to work one day?

Having gone to nearly every aviation event the last few years and a long time lurker on apc, shouldnt someone pass on the info gained to help out the community? Personally, I've been grateful for people who post things about airlines.

 

All of this information is posted...again and again...

The flow at the wholly owned is talked about daily.

The fact that new FO's are attempting to upgrade to captain right out of training and failing miserable has been well documented.

The terrible schedules are out in the open.

And when a recruiter says that there might be a better airline for you, it means that either 1) they don't want you to work at their airline or 2) they know that you will see through their BS offers sooner or later and they don't want to waste time on you.

 

Was it Heath and Heather you met with? They were the ones that did my interview last month. They did push the flow, first year pay and bonus pretty hard in the interview. They tried to give an "estimate" for flow numbers, but anyone with common sense would know this is nearly impossible to predict until your number is close to being called. Everyone I've talked to there has been more than willing to answer all my questions and concerns and have been extremely helpful overall. I don't want to post the specifics on here, but you won't get the PPO plan for $1000 per year. I think it starts around $150 per month single. They have a high deductible plan that yes, you could get the premium to around that amount. I did accept a job there and start next month. I am from Salisbury, MD and currently live near DCA, but my parents live in Salisbury so I'll just crash there when need be.