KirillTheThrill

It sounds like if you commute you’ll never see your wife and kids, as others have stated, it’s min credit 12 hour duty days min days off at a below average pay rate. Obviously better options available in the job market than this $hit hole. If you chase a bonus you’re a total sucker.

TransWorld

I would generally agree. There will be a few exceptions. EAS airports is where the 50 seaters will try to be used just as long as they can. I think that will be longer than 7 years.

In 7 years the youngest E-145s in the WO portfolio would be about 24 years old. That is about the age of the current oldest E-145s flying for the WOs.

Tjeff

You know where else commuting to reserve the past year and a half would’ve sucked? PSA and it probably would’ve been a 2 leg commute most likely. Just saying.

Goingupinverted

Ok?
Did you read the second part?

OpMidClimax

Take SWF and IPT off that list. Really not much stuff we do that they don't use larger aircraft for.... except SBY..

I have mixed feelings about PDT.. I have only driven to base.. but man.. these schedules can be taxing on the body and a romantic relationship. I don't mind working hard., in fact I enjoy it. But, my body can't physically recover with 1 or 2 days off between segments. Especially if you do reserve here, the past 6 months were brutal. To those who commute, I really feel for you. The lines have gotten slightly better with the 4 on 3 off rotation they have been doing lately. but your still vulnerable to the interface which can take your dreams of 14 days off down to 11... with the same exact pay. So basically Piedmont gets you for 3 free days of work with the interface. Plus they have been doing a ton of 4 plus 2 day trips in the lines... so 6 days on.. 2 off.. really hard on a family person..

Piedmont has provided a decent amount of money for me while here, I worked hard on the dash and had a great time. I gained allot of experience and feel, that if I can get through a check ride with Pfeifle breathing over my shoulder and the only comment was you left your landing light on while taxiing to the gate... are those lights going come out of your salary when they blow... I think I can get through any 121 training program.

The company has been very stingy with pay right now and most pay adjustments are being denied for some reason or another with "new rules". That in itself can be the most infuriating thing here.

Although I haven't had any particular issues with the CP office the stories that get told by other crew members gives a reputation of a rogue cast of characters. I'm sure there is two stories and the truth lies in between, but our union has been busy defending some very innocent souls. There are a few knuckleheads out there though that ruin it for us and does give credence to the CPs having to Crack down on discipline... but I hear allot of stories of guys getting bravo Sierra in their file for SOP stuff. That brings morale down allot.

I fear about pdts sustainability. Our line check airmen are literally being swallowed.. attrition is still high, as we have allot of 121 experienced FOs and military FOs that are jumping ship. The bonuses do help and I'm sure many will stay with the financial cushion it provides. It's a lot of money to think about, but if you do the math... what ever gets 7 digits in the bank at the earliest age should be your only goal. If you have a chance at a seniority number that will pay your 200k in 3 years or wait it out 3 years before flowing, that is a lot of money on the table that your future self will not have.. . That's the difference of taking your kids out on the 21 foot Boston whaler center console or the 50 foot Bertram convertible...

For those that come here I hope you enjoy your time, make some great lifelong friends and keep eachother safe. For those that go to some place else, I wish you the best in your career. If your commuter I would steer clear of Piedmont.. if you live in near a base, PDT is an option.

For those people trying to get people here just to help your flow...... really dude.. be better.. there will be plenty of people that come here... Cessna 172 CFIs aren't stopping anytime soon.. Piedmont can fix our QOL overnight if they wanted, but out cost per available revenue mile will drastically increase. Will AA keep funding to make this place to make it attractive is what you should be worried about, as it's going to be an arms race soon. TSA, XPRESS were just the start...

phrogfella

That’s some good stuff right there. No cheerleading or hating, just a balanced, rationale opinion from one guy’s perspective, just the same as you’d get on a trip with a good CA. This is just the kind of info people need to make informed decisions!

send a check

You can say whatever you want and I can do the same. It’s the beauty of a public forum to cry about crying!!

In addition: I am not crying about the flow increasing or staying the same. I’ve done my time and I will be out shortly. At 6 or 9 per month it is just a winter or spring question for myself. For those that have a 5 year or a 7.5 year wait is who I feel for. I do hope we go to 9 for all the folks further down the list.

I like Piedmont and I’ve seen a lot of improvements. I expected absolutely nothing to change and was pleasantly surprised by the pay almost doubling, props to jets, electronic releases and W&B. A 100K kiss out the door doesn’t hurt either!!

We do lag in QOL, schedules and soft pay. But I live near PHL and I only sat reserve for four months in almost 6 years. That was what appealed to me most back in 2015.

Lahey

This +1000

When you value your time, family, and friends, PDT makes it tough. The 4/2 and 6/2 are brutal, with a sprinkle of 3 days off each month. I can count on one hand how many times I've had 4 or 5 days off in a row here (5+ years). The only upside was I was able to build my resume while others banked on the flow and just flew the line...which paid off tremendously.

I've got a few stories about the PHL CPO and it mainly is micromanaging and a lack of understanding from their end, which is what you get when you have two guys chasing their own agenda (one just trying to spruce up his resume and sweet talking the AA CPO to get a job prior to the flow and the other...man I don't know what jonnyjetprops plan is?? P.S. CD you need more PIC time buddy......). I'll cut them some slack though, they have a bulldog of a boss who has been here long enough he knows the place inside and out...they get all the marching orders from MK and don't have much say in what they can do. You're on your own out there on the line at PDT, so be careful and be conservative.

In the end, I got what I needed....but I certainly could of done the exact same at another airline with better QOL, pay, and career progression.

flybywp

Agreed. Funny how quick the euphoria of a company throwing tens of thousands of dollars at you for absolutely nothing at all in return wears off. The only other industries you can expect lucrative gifts like that are the kind where you work 60-80 hours a week.

Funny thing is, you can go to just about another other sub forum here and read all sorts of complaints about how bad XYZ airline is and why you shouldn't go there. It's always the same people complaining. Some people are just naturally unhappy and love to find things to complain about. I've enjoyed my years here and nearly all of the people I fly with are happy and glad to be here.

The typical complaining crowd will always find something; and if they had gone to PSA or Envoy or Republic or just about anywhere else, they'd be complaining about how bad it is there too. Living in base makes your QOL at ANY airline leaps and bounds better than commuting, it's common sense. Do your research but you're never going to know exactly what a certain workplace is like until you actually work there. My two cents? If I had to do it all over again, I'd still pick Piedmont.

Fm0Bm

6/2, 4/2 is trash and isn't standard at any regional airline.