Five Questions to Ask in your Direct Entry Captain Interview

From training details and airline lifestyle to company stability, what do you need to know before taking your pilot career in a new direction? Here are five questions to ask during your Direct Entry Captain interview with Piedmont Airlines.

I have Part 121 experience at another airline. Do I get credit for my experience?

Make sure your hours count. At Piedmont, pilots may bring their longevity from their previous Part 121 carrier and get credit for pay purposes. For example, if you have three full years of service at CommuteAir, Endeavor, or any Part 121 carriers combined you would start on Step 4 of the Captain pay scale ($157.50/hour).

What bonuses are available for DECs? 

Get rewarded for your hard work . At Piedmont, Pilots with 950 or more hours of qualifying Part 121/135 time will earn an additional $15,000 in bonuses. Read more here. 

What does stability look like at Piedmont? 

As a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Airlines, we have the full backing and support of the world’s largest airline – and you get the security of knowing a job at American is waiting the day you arrive for training. American’s path to profitability depends on a strong regional network that connects customers from small and mid-size towns into AA’s hubs. Piedmont is critical to this mission and is growing our fleet to further strengthen the regional feed. We expect to receive 15 Embraer 145 aircraft in the near future as we transition to become the sole E145 carrier for the American network.

What are my base location options? 

Whether you’re looking for a new home base or planning to commute, it’s important to consider your base options. Piedmont currently operates three crew bases on the east coast: Charlotte, North Carolina, Harrisburg and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pilots who live in a hub domicile receive six commuter hotels per quarter and those based in non-hub domiciles will receive four commuter hotels per month.

Will I fly as a First Officer until I upgrade? 

Direct Entry Captains are currently going straight to upgrade training. If training is delayed for any reason, you will continue to earn one of the highest CAPTAIN rates in the industry even if you fly as an FO. Our goal is to get you in to upgrade training immediately.

Are you ready to elevate your pilot career? Apply to Piedmont Airlines through AirlineApps.com or contact a recruiter at flypiedmont@aa.com.