October 1982
volume 33, number 5
News about Piedmont. The Up-And-Coming Airline.
N544P5
.Ml* M U
For each of the nine 727-200s
Piedmont purchased In 1981. the
last stop before going into service
was our Maintenance Headquar
ters at INT. On October 1. the ninth
aircraft rolled out of the hangar
and into service. Here are some 56
of the maintenance personnel
many more could not be on hand
for the photograph—who put each
aircraft through 'C checks, stand
ardized cockpit avionics, and in
spected every area of each aircraft.
In addition, new galleys and seats
have been installed on the last
five 727-200s.
11 more 727-200s to keep us growing
Piedmont will keep on gro-o-owing
with the addition of 11 more Boe
ing 727-200's between now and
mid-1983. The first five of these
aircraft, purchased by Piedmont
from Delta Airlines, will be in the
fleet for the December holidays traf
fic push.
The purchase of these aircraft,
agreed upon the last day of Sep
tember, means by the end of 1983
Piedmont will operate a fleet of 88
modern jets, including 63 Boeing
737-200S. 20 Boeing 727-200s, and
5 Boeing 727- 100s.
Piedmont President William R.
Howard believes the most recent
727-200 purchase was an excellent
deal for the Company. The purchase
price was $4.5 million per aircraft,
and five spare engines were ac
quired for an additional $4 million.
"The seller will provide major
renovation and refurbishing of the
aircraft before delivery,” Howard
said. “This will include new seats in
our configuration, new galleys, new
lavatories, new interior panels, car
peting, and large overhead bins
capable of carrying carry-on
luggage."
In addition, the cockpits will be
equipped with new avionics, stand
ardized to Piedmont cockpit
specifications.
A new wrinkle to the Piedmont
fleet will be the JT8D-15 engines
powering these B-727-200s. This is
a more efficient engine which will
give the aircraft more improved
performance, particularly at high
altitude airports.
Howard pointed out that these
aircraft will help Piedmont con
tinue to expand its system aggres
sively, yet leave Piedmont postured
to purchase the new generation of
even more fuel efficient aircraft
which will be available in the near
future.
"We have been very pleased by the
additional capacity our present
fleet of 727-200S has provided, and
particularly their profitability con
tribution to Piedmont." he said.
"With the more efficient engines on
the new 727-200s, we will have even
more flexibility in adding capacity
at key points over our system."
At the end of September, Pied
mont had a fleet of 53 Boeing 737
200s, 9 Boeing 727-200s, and 5
continued page 4
on the inside
• Take a weekend trip to Atlanta
or Houston. Hot tips, page 2.
• GSP, GRRjoin Piedmont’s sys
tem. Page 3 for details.
• Kudos for Joe Culler. More ap
plause, page 4.
• MCO’s reservations office ex
panding its service. Page 5.
• Service pin banquet honors
491 employees. Pages 6-7.
• The guest of honor at BOS’s
clambake? You guessed it...
the lobster. Photos, pages 8-9.
• Need a new hat? Carellnes has
two new versions as well as
many other items from which
to choose. Page 10.
The fleet: Piedmont's bold expansion program
%
December 1980
48 aircraft
5,082 seats
December 1981
58 aircraft
6,410 seats
December 1982
73 aircraft
8,929 seats
December 1983
88 aircraft
10,921 seats