Piedmont Airlines?

[DMBinHBurg]

Hey everyone,
I know I just had a thread going about Colgan, but I wanted to get some thoughts on Piedmont Airlines. They also have a base near my house (CHO) and as a passenger, I really like flying on a Dash 8. Does anyone have any huge pros or cons about them? Do they have a similar setup as Colgan in which almost evernight you are back at your base? Just curious.

Thanks

T

[jtrain609]

I didn't think they were hiring?

Something else you've gotta realize bro, is that airlines open and close bases on a whim. And that's assuming that the base you're talking about is junior. What if it takes 6 years to hold that base? What would you do then? What if they closed it? Delta used to have a HUGE hub in DFW for many, many years and they shut it down.

I wouldn't go anywhere under the assumption that you won't be able to commute and that the base will stay open. If history is any indicator of the future, the base will close, move somewhere else, then that one will close and it'll move to the north pole, then they'll close that base and take it back to where it was originally and in the press release they'll say something about synergies.

[gomntwins]

One of my best friends flys for piedmont. I realize there are better people to answer this question on here, but I talk with him enough to make a few basic comments. He's gone from home alot. There are some out and backs, but a lot of nights in motels away from home. He loves the airline though, and cannot say enough good things about them. The biggest concern to him seems to be upgrade times. He's been there two years with no real upgrade in sight. Good first year pay. Good group of pilots he says. And, he loves the Dash. There's concern with the future of the airline, but no more concern than with any other airline it seems.

[Seggy]

Met a Captain at Piedmont based in CHO, he's away a lot and like someone else said it can close tommorow.

[mtsu_av8er]

My best friend is an FO there, based in EWN - which is his hometown!! He was pretty lucky!

I'll see if I can get him to log in again, and give some scoop!

[Cav]

I don't know much about the airline but I do ride on them a lot. I've yet to run into a better group of people.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

I'd think Piedmont would have an outrageously good upgrade time and staffing problems. Due to SJS. So I'm very surprised to hear that the upgrade is so long there.

[Cav]

Originally Posted by Maximillian_Jenius

I'd think Piedmont would have an outrageously good upgrade time and staffing problems. Due to SJS. So I'm very surprised to hear that the upgrade is so long there.

I'm guessing you're kidding but, I would think that most guys flying there don't have SJS. It generally infects some new hires. In fact most guys I've met there are pretty proud of being prop guys. Good for them.

[BobDDuck]

Originally Posted by Maximillian_Jenius

I'd think Piedmont would have an outrageously good upgrade time and staffing problems. Due to SJS. So I'm very surprised to hear that the upgrade is so long there.

Max, not a slam or anything, but outside the webboard world there isn't really a whole lot of SJS. 80% or better don't care what they fly. They are looking for the upgrade, pay and quality of life. I'm sure PDT has no problem staffing the airline.

[CaptChris]

I had a guy in my class from Piedmont who said that the upgrade runs a better part of seven years. They are hiring though---talking to someone in their training dept. they are going around to UND/Purdue doing interviews.

Descent gig to get some 121 experience... but if you're looking to build the quick PIC turbine time you're barking up the wrong tree with Piedmont. Look into Colgan!

[doug_or]

Upgrade is around 5 1/2 years right now, though that would probably start going down a bit as soon as all mainline pilots are recalled (even without a flow through, a decent # of people would probably still go to mainline). As others have said- not the place for a quick upgrade. There have a been quite a few base realignments since the Allegheny merger and Air Whiskey started flying for US, but things might be settled down.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Originally Posted by Cav

I'm guessing you're kidding but, I would think that most guys flying there don't have SJS. It generally infects some new hires. In fact most guys I've met there are pretty proud of being prop guys. Good for them.

Originally Posted by BobDDuck

Max, not a slam or anything, but outside the webboard world there isn't really a whole lot of SJS. 80% or better don't care what they fly. They are looking for the upgrade, pay and quality of life. I'm sure PDT has no problem staffing the airline.

I was talking more about new hires and people looking at the company as a potential employer.

[DMBinHBurg]

What is SJS? Sorry, I'm the new guy!

Also,
Why would you not build a lot of PIC time there? Doesn't FO time count as PIC if your flying certain legs?

T

[gomntwins]

Originally Posted by DMBinHBurg

What is SJS? Sorry, I'm the new guy!

Also,
Why would you not build a lot of PIC time there? Doesn't FO time count as PIC if your flying certain legs?

T

Shiny Jet Syndrome. A certain number of new pilots don't wanna fly turboprops because of the perceived respect involved with flying a jet.

FO's can't log it because for the most part they aren't rated in the aircraft. If both pilots have a type rating it would be possible... but there aren't a whole lot of crew settings where both pilots are typed.

[TaterSalad]

Originally Posted by gomntwins

FO's can't log it because for the most part they aren't rated in the aircraft. If both pilots have a type rating it would be possible... but there aren't a whole lot of crew settings where both pilots are typed.

And to expand on that even further; when you're applying for 121 jobs, and I would assume most corporate jobs, PIC is a slightly different definition. They're looking for PIC time where you signed for the aircraft, ie: you were the captain, not just the FAR definition of PIC.

[jml2992]

All of this leaves me wondering why I am SIC typed in the airplane that I fly. Does this have any bearing or sway on somebody when I apply to a 121 company? Probably not but just wondering. Also, are employers going to look at my 400 hours of PIC time and 1200 hours of SIC and put my resume in the garbage due to my low PIC time? I am hauling cargo for a 135 carrier out of HNL right now and was wondering about my chances of applying with a regional in a couple of years.

[gomntwins]

Originally Posted by jml2992

All of this leaves me wondering why I am SIC typed in the airplane that I fly. Does this have any bearing or sway on somebody when I apply to a 121 company? Probably not but just wondering. Also, are employers going to look at my 400 hours of PIC time and 1200 hours of SIC and put my resume in the garbage due to my low PIC time? I am hauling cargo for a 135 carrier out of HNL right now and was wondering about my chances of applying with a regional in a couple of years.

I was under the impression the relatively new SIC types have mostly to do with being able to fly out of the country. I think any 121 pilot flying into Canada now needs an SIC type. At least that's how the SIC type started... I think anyways.

[dingo222]

CHO would be pretty hard to hold as a new FO at Colgan. You could probably do it in about 6 months or so though.