How's PDT these days?

@Kingairer
What happens in 30 years and you look back and say, crap?

Too many pilots look left and right, to the Jones, and see that they are flying 767's to Europe and say I want that too, without thinking for themself.

Speaking of pay: according to Audries, a 30 year career for me at Cheap Ass Air, compared to American, is $800,000. That's $26,666/ year. None of that incorporates soft pay, Or intangible issues of QOL.

I was much happier making 1st year pay at RAH, than making nearly double flying freight.

Perspective, it's a word between pedantic and pessimism.
 
I live in VA and I'm looking at PDT as well.

I was looking as Wisky but a lack of future certainty (well less than those who have flying contracts beyond 2 years) doesn't give me the warm fuzzy. That and stagnation on upgrades. If I have to take a massive paycut to get into the industry, I want it to be a short of a period of time as possible.

I see dudes getting wrapped up about CRJ this, EMB that- my plane is cooler than your plane dick measuring contests but I don't care about what airplane I fly. I've flown 45year old planes and planes just off the assembly line so while new smells nicer and has cooler displays, 121 life will be new enough for me to keep me occupied with the operation of the aircraft vs how fancy my cockpit is.

I understand the don't chase upgrades argument, but I already have 1k TPIC time, and my QOL in the military vastly increased every time I upgraded to Aircraft Commander in the plane I flew so I'm guessing life as a CA at a regional is significantly better than life as a FO.

I hear great things about wisky and express jet from people who work there. Are people at PDT generally happy with the company etc? It would be nice to find that nice mix of happy people, decent work conditions and quicker upgrade times.
 
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Nark said:
@Kingairer
What happens in 30 years and you look back and say, crap?

Too many pilots look left and right, to the Jones, and see that they are flying 767's to Europe and say I want that too, without thinking for themself.

Speaking of pay: according to Audries, a 30 year career for me at Cheap Ass Air, compared to American, is $800,000. That's $26,666/ year. None of that incorporates soft pay, Or intangible issues of QOL.

I was much happier making 1st year pay at RAH, than making nearly double flying freight.

Perspective, it's a word between pedantic and pessimism.
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I'm not sure the point you're trying to make. If it's "get out of the regionals and move up" , I agree with you.
 
Kingairer said:
I'm not sure the point you're trying to make. If it's "get out of the regionals and move up" , I agree with you.
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Yes, that's exactly it.
Never stop moving up. ULCC is an upward move from any regional.
My point about upgrading in two years, is that, if your end goal is a 777, great. Being an Airbus captain affords you a lot more than a 175 captain while you wait that call from American.
 
zippy said:
I live in VA and I'm looking at PDT as well.

I was looking as Wisky but a lack of future certainty (well less than those who have flying contracts beyond 2 years) doesn't give me the warm fuzzy. That and stagnation on upgrades. If I have to take a massive paycut to get into the industry, I want it to be a short of a period of time as possible.

I see dudes getting wrapped up about CRJ this, EMB that- my plane is cooler than your plane dick measuring contests but I don't care about what airplane I fly. I've flown 45year old planes and planes just off the assembly line so while new smells nicer and has cooler displays, 121 life will be new enough for me to keep me occupied with the operation of the aircraft vs how fancy my cockpit is.

I understand the don't chase upgrades argument, but I already have 1k TPIC time, and my QOL in the military vastly increased every time I upgraded to Aircraft Commander in the plane I flew so I'm guessing life as a CA at a regional is significantly better than life as a FO.

I hear great things about wisky and express jet from people who work there. Are people at PDT generally happy with the company etc? It would be nice to find that nice mix of happy people, decent work conditions and quicker upgrade times.
Click to expand...

As for life as a CA vs FO at a regional... yes and no. (I'm prior military).

One of the things that is difficult for military pilots to understand until they reach the 121 world (or any outside pilot for that matter), is the importance of seniority and the impact of a strong/weak contract on your quality of life.
First, the obvious. Yes, as one moves from FO to CA your pay goes up. Sometimes substantially. However....
Your relative seniority normally goes down. If you are the number one FO you pretty much fly what you want when you want. If you then go to being in the bottom 5% of captains after upgrading that means 95% of the captains bid before you. Guess what kind of schedule you get? Guess what choice you have on base selection? This is why you often see FO's defer their upgrade until they can hold the base they want and a schedule (versus sitting reserve).
There are many other things I would try to look at or get information about when comparing regionals. Look at contract- soft pay, duty/trip rigs, pay guarantee, commuter clause, bases (though these change), DH pay, reserve rules... many things that can have a huge impact on QOL, especially if upgrade times slow down or you get stuck at a regional.

Finally, from what I've seen as a military pilot, if your TPIC is fixed wing, you probably won't be at a regional very long.


Having said all of that if live in VA PDT may not be a bad choice, but also look at other regionals with VA bases or short commutes.

Good luck.
 
PDT would prob be a good place to go. Being WO means you get a lot of the benefits of the mainline carrier. It's all about the flow these days if you want to work for AA.
 
Kingairer said:
PDT would prob be a good place to go. Being WO means you get a lot of the benefits of the mainline carrier. It's all about the flow these days if you want to work for AA.
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I don't want to work for AA, as much as there are only 3 options left.
 
I work at PDT. Feel free to send questions to my inbox. I'll answer what I can from what I've heard/seen (and to a certain extent been told).
 
Got a letter in the mail a little while ago from USAirways Shared Services...it was my pension statement from PDT. Seeing as how I am at least 2 addresses down the road from when I quit there, I give them props for hunting me down.

Turns out I was there long enough to vest in the A fund, so at age 60, I get $20/mo for life.

WINNING!

Richman
 
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