Garryowen1

I don’t think it so much as “being picky” as it is the pool of qualified pilots is starting to dry up. If you think about it, the good ones, the ones that were going to make the jump to an airline career; already have (young cfi’s aside). The last wave of pay raises brought a few more qualified folks out of hiding (part 91/135, lateral 121, mil helicopter). Good pilots will still trickle in but until pay and QOL issues are addressed the attrition to hire ratio will continue to skew negative.

I think we all agree that you don’t want anyone to lower the hiring standards just to fill a seat. Addressing pay and QOL is the only way to attract the next batch of qualified folks - they are out there.

flydpaarrow

I don’t think they are being picky they did take away the written test. That being said that test IMO was just to prove you would/could study.

CADR

Exactly, make the job "easier" to get. That's why I think/hope the well of applicants is drying up.

Sure, there is the cadet program, but that's a long term investment for a new hire and it may not even pay off for PDT in the long run since the cadets can give the money back and go elsewhere. Besides, PDT's cadet program lags behind other airlines similar products in terms of what it offers to the cadet (surprise, surprise).

I hope those looking to make the jump to a regional no matter if they are lateral 121 movers, 91/135, former military, or a CFI, I hope they all do their research -actually talk to the pilots who are there and ask what life is like. PDT is not the best choice once you get a clear picture of the lives of its pilots. It's a pilot's market in today's regional world. PDT needs to be trendsetter here and change its ways. However, that said, I'm not holding my breath, and the can will continue to be kicked down the road.

ArmyRWP2018

The Newsletter came count on November 27th. 11 October departures. 6 to flow and 5 outside attrition.

Cicada

Spirit and Frontier are going to be taking Piedmont pilots in greater numbers going forward. Big numbers. Plus, it's an easy way to hit AA where it hurts.
The regional pilots will hopefully, finally, be rewarded with jobs at all the majors.
I wouldn't want to be in hiring and trying to keep up with what is coming. It's going to be huge.

MidLife

January thru October, we have averaged pretty low attrition - 4 (+flow) - so the tsunami of pilots leaving, (F9, NK, wherever) maybe somewhat overstated. I don't think Frontier/Spirit are trying to "hit AA where it hurts" - like everyone else, they are competing for us!! Yay!!

OpMidClimax

Every pilot we lose hurts. For years this airline has run on the backs of pilots not able to go anywhere, working with a substandard CBA now compared to our peers. We have the lowest QOL/pay of any airline in the USA regionals. Including three bottom feeders.

The next few weeks will be the litmus test for next summer.

I see attrition picking up Q1 and Q2 2020.

Also remember, our union newsletter only includes union pilots, not apprentice pilots, ie off probation.

Our attrition numbers are the steady shrinkage of the seniority list.

standardrate

the lowest paid? are you sure about that

havick206

Hourly rates mean jack all without efficient schedules, or lack of min day pay and decent work rules etc

OpMidClimax

Yes... a 3 year captain makes $80 per hour... we average 80 hours credit a months with 11 days off, $6400/mo. So 233 works day to make 76,800, assuming your vacation periods don't kill ya.

Some simple math, third year captain earns an average of $329.61 a work day. That's a 5 or six leg work your rear off work day. Or a thirty hour over night on day 2 at Erie and due to our modified min trip rig, almost all 4 day trips are worth only 16 hours.

Piedmont is the lowest paid regional airline.