MilDriver

Can anyone tell me about Piedmont atmosphere? I'm holding a CJO from Endeavor but I have an interview next month with Piedmont. I have seen the new scale and the benefits that come with that. More specifically, I know PHL is JR but also heard Harrisburg PA is opening or opened? That's a 2 hopper commute for me, whereas PHL and CLT are directs. Commuting at 9E would also be direct, minus CVG a 2 hopper. So thats a wash. How long until someone could get a line in CLT at the moment as that would be a more beneficial spot for me as I have a few close friends who live there making commuting more palpable. Do you as a pilot group enjoy Piedmont? What's the talk on getting bigger airplanes such as a 175? 50 seaters in this economy with gas prices seem like not a sustainable move. Anyways, thanks for any info you may have!

Otterbox

AA is replacing its 50 seat RJ flying with busses. You’ll only get to fly something bigger if you leave or theres a merger of WO in the next 5 years.

Except for downtime due to training backlogs and vacations you’ll work hard at Piedmont. Not military hard but in the long run much harder than any of the other WO and AA and most other airlines out there due to high times away from base and low schedule efficiency in return for minimum days of and little schedule flexibility outside of taking sick time, which the company will hammer you for if the even suspect you’re doing. Expect 6 days on and 2 days off regularly until you’re senior enough to upgrade as an FO and regularly as a Captain until you’re senior enough to flow and you won’t be disappointed.

With these new pay scales you’ll be paid well, but you’ll earn every penny and you’ll have to keep an eye on the company as they’ll mess up paying you regularly “on accident”.

That being said, If your ultimate goal is Delta or United you should go to Piedmont or one of the other AA WO regionals. If you want to go to AA long term you should go to Endeavor.

MilDriver

All makes sense, how many avg hours of block time a month at Piedmont could one expect?

Confusedpilot

Even with the 12 off? Is piedmont really that bad? I feel like it gets a lot of bad press, I wonder how much is actual piedmont pilots and what’s the rumor mill ya’know?

This coming from someone about to start at piedmont so checking this thread religiously 😅

Goingupinverted

Yes, it’s really that bad. F da flow. I left for a LCC. Didn’t know the level of pain Piedmont really was until moving to greener pastures.
the APC talk is a lot of bs in many threads, but this is the exception. I was miserable for the almost half-decade I was there for. Sure the pay now is cool, but Envoy and PSA offer the same.
Save your sanity, be smart, and avoid. If you still come here even with all of the warnings, do bear in mind you are probably not the sharpest ace and should question if you’re actually “of sound mind” and mentally fit to fly. (every 3-4 pages seems to keep asking “is it really that bad?” With a definitive “yes” response).

Ye be warned.

ArmyRWP2018

At Piedmont working the normal schedule you will “Average” about 60 hours of block each month. So about 720 hours per year after completing training (5 to 7 months to get through. You would have the 1000 hours to upgrade at 18 months after initial training. You can fly more than this but will be giving up more days off. Also if you are in the Guard expect those mil leave days to reduce your average block per month.

Otterbox

Actual Piedmont pilot…the difference between 11 and 12 days off will be minimal.

I hope you’re planning to move to an hour of PHL. Your life will be better if you don’t have to commute. Don’t ever answer your phone on your days off. You’re welcome in advance.

bamike

How much money are you losing out on by not answering your phone? 300% is 147*3*4 hr min day= $1,764 per day worked. Commuting is bad because the company hates commuters.

Otterbox

The company doesn’t call to pay you 300% (they announce it on a twitter page that the OCC Director doesn’t give all pilots access to). They call you to junior man you on your day off or to change your schedule for the next trip, or assign you airport standby 8 times a month.

Thatsapproved

Piedmont is super chill place to work. I don’t know why the bad press either. 12 days off plus show/release time will feel more like 15 days off. Remember you HAVE to live within an hour of either CLT or PHL to enjoy working here. Living even closer is better. I moved 20 mins from the airport parking lot. Made it better than most regionals