Anyone at Piedmont care to send me a PM about the current culture/hiring situation? I think I'll be at ATP mins in the spring of 16 and am looking at regionals in the northeast or east coast. Is the PHL base a definite? Should I apply/will I get an interview being 300hr away from mins? Just want to get the ball rolling since my written expires in July, would be nice to get into a class beforehand.
How's PDT these days?
- Thread starter bp
- Start date
Maurus
The Great Gazoo
I am not at PDT but I can say that PHL is a definite as it was officially announced to be a -145 base. I would expect it to go senior. All of their other bases are outstations (commuter hell). Senior commuters will likely want PHL pretty bad since it could turn a 2 leg commute into 1. Also those lovely shiny jets will be there.
They, as well as other airlines, are on Airlineapps.com so putting an application in wont hurt you at all. HR just wont see it unless they decide to adjust their parameters.
They, as well as other airlines, are on Airlineapps.com so putting an application in wont hurt you at all. HR just wont see it unless they decide to adjust their parameters.
Comair 100ER
Well-Known Member
I read on APC (airline piloTs complaining) that upgrade just fell to one year. PHL is a for sure base and they're sscheduled to get at least 20 e145s from us. I wouldn't be surprised if they got more, especially with the TSA and XJT AA flying winding down over the next year. It sounds like they're pretty happy over there. They are finally growing after a good decade of shrinking.
SFCC/UND
Well-Known Member
I believe at TSA it's 5 years. Plus we are opening a RDU base. But honestly they can have the AA flying, it's junk.
Soku39
Well-Known Member
Shiny? which early 2000s vintage -145s are you talking about? Shiny, lol.
Maurus
The Great Gazoo
It was sarcasm.
Soku39
Well-Known Member
Darn, that was lost on me.
Maurus
The Great Gazoo
Tis a problem with text. One can't "hear" the
.Apparently I forgot that tag existed. Doh!
chrisreedrules
Master Blaster
They are set to grow a lot in the near future. But they will be retiring the Dash at the same time. I don't know if it will be growth or ultimately just fleet replacement when it all shakes out. Haven't seen the numbers on how they plan to manage all that.
PHL would be great if you commute, but as others have said, it will likely go senior.
Heard from a friend who started there about the same time I started at PSA (about a year ago) that upgrades have dropped dramatically. I expect they may have a situation like PSA next year with pilots upgrading within a few months of getting hired if they have the required 121 time.
I had offers from PDT and a couple others that I turned down in favor of PSA... I do wonder if I would have been better off just going there. But the 2 leg commute killed that prospect for me. Even PHL would be a tricky commute at times from where I live so I guess it's not so bad where I am.
Bottom line, of all of the airlines that are currently hiring, I would consider PDT or PSA if you live on the East, and CPZ or SkyWest if you live out West. Just my .02.
PHL would be great if you commute, but as others have said, it will likely go senior.
Heard from a friend who started there about the same time I started at PSA (about a year ago) that upgrades have dropped dramatically. I expect they may have a situation like PSA next year with pilots upgrading within a few months of getting hired if they have the required 121 time.
I had offers from PDT and a couple others that I turned down in favor of PSA... I do wonder if I would have been better off just going there. But the 2 leg commute killed that prospect for me. Even PHL would be a tricky commute at times from where I live so I guess it's not so bad where I am.
Bottom line, of all of the airlines that are currently hiring, I would consider PDT or PSA if you live on the East, and CPZ or SkyWest if you live out West. Just my .02.
Thanks, I was wondering what the future of the Dash was going to look like, a friend at Commutair has hinted about something similar in the works to be revealed next week. East Coast base would be preferred. Just don't get the argument that some have posited about staying away from 50 seat operators, meanwhile these Dash operators are inheriting E145s. Been looking at AWAC as well but geez that looks like a stagnant pool...
chrisreedrules
Master Blaster
You should read the article released by the Boyd Group as well as watch the video from the Mesa TA road shows. While your questions aren't specifically about Mesa, it details a lot of the scope and financial issues facing regional airlines.
I have friends at AWAC. They are a great regional to work at. However, I do fear for their future and ultimately the future of the 50 seater in wide use. I do think some airlines will continue to fly them, however most will eventually go away.
Ultimately, over the next 5 years, regional airlines will shrink. Some will merge, others will disappear altogether. At this point, I don't think it is a matter of one regional's feed costing their mainline partners more than another. I think it's more about who can attract pilots to staff the flying, and ultimately who isn't flying primarily 50 seaters. Working for a wholly owned American regional is probably guaranteed job security for the next 5 years at least. At least that is how it appears right now. Many of the non-wholly owned regionals may have a more difficult time hanging on to contracts in the future.
I have friends at AWAC. They are a great regional to work at. However, I do fear for their future and ultimately the future of the 50 seater in wide use. I do think some airlines will continue to fly them, however most will eventually go away.
Ultimately, over the next 5 years, regional airlines will shrink. Some will merge, others will disappear altogether. At this point, I don't think it is a matter of one regional's feed costing their mainline partners more than another. I think it's more about who can attract pilots to staff the flying, and ultimately who isn't flying primarily 50 seaters. Working for a wholly owned American regional is probably guaranteed job security for the next 5 years at least. At least that is how it appears right now. Many of the non-wholly owned regionals may have a more difficult time hanging on to contracts in the future.
Yeah I watched the Mesa TA video that you posted a while back, learned a lot about the fee for departure business model.
I figured a wholly owned with 50 seaters would be less risky going forward. As much as I don't like to think about it, I could probably spend 10 years at a regional if the industry takes a dump and would like it to be somewhere that won't be complete misery.
chrisreedrules
Master Blaster
Every regional is its own special brand of crap sandwich. Even the "good ones". It's impossible to predict 10 years in the future. Who knows what will happen? Yesterday's good regional's are crap today, today's good regional's will likely be crap tomorrow. It's all cyclical. Just do your best to network, build time, keep your logbook and resume updated and get out ASAP.
Nark
Macho Superpilot
I've lost count of the guys I've flown with that are still waiting for that magic call from the big 3. Meanwhile, I'll be an Airbus captain by the time they're possibly called.
wheelsup
Well-Known Member
And they'll make more as an FO than you'll make as a CA...
SFCC/UND
Well-Known Member
#truth
Nark
Macho Superpilot
And I'll only have 1 wife to worry about.
Kingairer
'Tiger Team' Member
Career gold?
Nark
Macho Superpilot
Yep, have you hit your career gold yet?