Newspapers / Piedmont Aviation Employee Newsletter / Feb. 1, 1983, edition 1 / Page 7
Part of Piedmont Aviation Employee Newsletter / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
The Up-And-Coming Airline 7 mont’s logo on the aircraft’s tail. ■'It costs $44 and has to be changed often. And the nine bolts needed to hold the brake on cost S8 each. With prices like that, it doesn't take long to add up,” he says. The weather conditions at ORF can play havoc on mechanics work er experience in the military is nec essary for anyone seeking a license. For someone in avionics, the train ing is just as extensive. "We have veiy good and ex perienced people in maintenance." Hendrix says. "For example, for someone to become a mechanic at an outside 2an high gear light aircraft ing on the outside of the aircraft. “Located near the ocean like we are,” says David Williams, “the wind can whip around you when you’re working outside on that plane. And it can really get cold when rain or snow is being blown with such force it comes sideways instead of straight down." Most of Piedmont’s almost 800 mechanics have airframe and power plant (A P) licenses from the FAA. An 18-month program at an accred ited school, a long apprenticeship. station, he has to have 20 months’ experience on airline equipment before he can be hired. They’re pretty much on their own in the field and they have to be prepared." Hendrix, a man who admittedly doles out compliments sparingly, had nothing but praise for line maintenance personnel, especially those working third shift. “We’re right proud of’em," says Hendrix. "Their total performance is really good, and they often work under adverse conditions. But whether there’s rain, snow, sleet, or what ever, they’ve got to get their work done, ’cause they know the air planes have to go on time the next morning." Left; Cleaning the Interior of an aircraft includes washing the windshield. Bernard Brown expertly takes care of theJob. Below: Avionics techni cian Loy Dunlap tests theILS (Instrument Landing System) in the cockpit of a 737. Pied mont's Maintenance Depart ment has a total of 119 avionics technicians. 787 me chanics. 29 fuelers. 136clean- ers. and 37 automotive specialists. [ On hand for a ribbon -cutting ceremony marking Piedmont's first flight from Chat tanooga are (I to r):ATL District Sales Man agerTed Dawson. CHA Station Manager Earl Grisivell. Hugh Davis. Jr.. Captain Vandell Phmketi who is based in ATL. CIIA Mayor Pal Rose, and CHA Commissioner Jim Eberle. Chattanoogans cinoo-sing New Piedmont fliglnts ‘We’re going to turn some heads here,” says Earl Griswell, Chatta nooga's new station manager. "We’re going to do a lot better than anyone ever anticipated. Chattanooga is excited about us being here and we're excited about having the opportunity to offer the community better service." Piedmont began serving CHA on January 9 with two nonstop, round-trip flights a day to Char lotte. The city of 160,000 (306,000 in the metropolitan area) had lost 27 percent of its service since de regulation in 1978. Eastern and United left in 1978, leaving Delta and Republic airlines and Sunbird and Tennessee commuter carriers to serve the area. Piedmont is the first major air carrier to enter the market in over a decade. "People are stopping by eveiy day to welcome us to their city," says Griswell, former customer service manager in ORF. "The most frequent question we get from potential passengers is 'Can you get me there without going to Atlanta?’. When we say yes, they’re ready to buy a ticket on Piedmont." Located about 100 miles north of Atlanta at the foot of the Great Smokies. Chattanooga is the fourth largest city in Tennessee. Many large industries have plants in the area, and it is headquarters for Coca-Cola. Seven other employees trans ferred to CHA, the first city to join the system in 1983. Ellis Berrier and Hal Tallent both transferred from ATL. Bob Whittaker and Thomasinia Hall moved to CHA from RDU. Scott Calahoun and Dick Lee were previously in CLT, and A1 Prewitt, in LEX. The seven new part-time employees are Vin cent Cook, A1 Evatt, Malcomb Favors, Tim Gerke, Jerry Hall, Cyn thia Hendrix, and Will Myrick. Piedmont is operating from Gate 3 temporarily. Gate 4 is being ren ovated, and in a few months. Piedmont will have an exclusive loading bridge and hold room. "Our facilities are second to none,” says Griswell. “Chattanooga has a very nice, small airport, with total boardings of only 25,000 passengers per month. But we’re planning to in crease that number considerably. ” If the first week of operation is any indication, that prediction may soon prove true. In just the first few days of service. Piedmont was board ing an average of 60 passengers per day, way above its quota. Left: Agents check in arriving passenger for Piedmont's first flight from CHA. Above: ATL based Flight Attendants Chris and Karl Carr, who are hus band and wife, worked the first CHA flight.
Piedmont Aviation Employee Newsletter
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 1, 1983, edition 1
7
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75