Went to TSA in 2007 for the year up grade; in 2008 it turned into a furlough. Refused to do Go Jet like some of the others, after 3 years came back and was one of the few to re-qualify in TSA's jaw-dropping 3 sim - 3 days of ground re-qual program after 3 years away. After passing IOE and hitting the line the news came that the wife was losing her job and could no longer support my regional airline hobby. I took a high paying job I hate but got the finances in order. Wife has her job back and can pay the bills, I'm older/wiser, but a stroke of the pen leaves me with a few hundred hours to get back for the 1500. Now CFIin again and a few months away for the prize if I bail from the hated but paying gig, go full time and find some place to get an ATP written.

I'm interested in the happenings at Piedmont because of the flow up and talk of ERJ flying on the west coast (live in Cali and SIC ERJ from TSA). I could be qualified by years end when the equipment arrives. Also curious about Compass for the LAX base, but not sure how hard it is to get in there. Is this industry in any better shape now? Is now the time to make another run at it?

 

You must enjoy flying to want to leave a high paying job. Go for it, do what you love!
Many left left the desk, the 6 digit salary, families etc ... to pursue the dream!
I think PDT is a good option.

 

The industry is in MUCH better shape at the moment man! 180 from when we were at AX in 2008.

...but for the love of God please don't come back only to do the trans-con commute thing like I do...let's keep you in LA. Have you hit up any of our buds at Compass? I think LAX is junior...and believe it or not I'm hearing whispers of an LAX TSA base....which would suck since we both left but still.

 

Piedmont just unveiled a program last week where they'll pay for your last 300 hours of flight time toward the atp, I don't even think there is a contract involved but things are moving very quickly here, wouldn't be a bad option.

 

Get on the Piedmont website and contact the pilot recruiter ASAP. If you get a job on the ramp at one of their many ground handling operations (nationwide not just east coast) they will pay for up to 300hrs of flight time up to 130/hr until you hit 1500 ATP mins. The props are all currently out stationed bases but the 145's are most likely going to DCA and we are expecting an announcement in the coming month or so. Feel free to PM me with any questions you might have.

 

So I just wanna give you facts about Piedmont.

We have no idea when or where the 145s are going. It depends who you talk to and their mood. I've heard everything from DCA, to ORD, to NYC (first time I've heard a west coast base). The 145s won't be on property til first quarter of 2016 so if you are hired today that would mean an outstation base til the 145 shows up. We also have a 1 year seat lock so you will be commuting to an outstation for at least a year unless the 145 goes so junior you are forced onto it (which could happen). We do have a descent commuter policy and descent nonrev seniority so commuting is marginally better than TSA or Compass.

I've been at PDT for 8 years and one thing I've noticed is things rarely change so I'm skeptical on a west coast base. I'm sure our management is salivating over the idea of reopening LGA since we had a base there til about 3 years ago. With Envoy annoincing they are closing NYC but the flying being replaced by some other regional I can very easily picture them referencing Piedmont.

Good luck in your decisions.

 

LAX base at Compass is junior and will most likely always be since it is our largest base.

 

Thanks everybody, I probably will be reaching out to some of you soon. I sent Mike Campbell an email at Piedmont, he asked for a resume and I passed one on. I guess we'll see what comes of it, how do they get you the 300 hours? How hard is it to get in at compass?

 

All they do is reimburse you $130/flight hr, it's up to you to get the hours so if you're having trouble getting enough flight time flight instructing this could help supplement those hours and get you there faster, from what I understand.

 

If you live in Cali I would say Compass or SkyWest would be your best bet. Haven't heard anything about west coast base for Piedmont.