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'Angel to the rescue'
William Pierson, a mechanic at SDF, assisted in the
raising of flags as part of the dedication of a new flag plaza
at the Ixiuisville airport. Pierson, a Vietnam War veteran,
was assisted by representatives of the Kentucky Air Na
tional Guard during the ceremony which featured U.S.
Representative Romano Mazzoli, Third District, Ken
tucky. Pierson is commander of the Oldham County Post
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
* * ♦
The Ninth Annual Airlines of the World Chili Cookoff
will be held on Sunday, April 10, in Long Beach, CA. The
cookoff is a yearly celebration of fun and friendly rivalry
created by Aspen Airways to help build good interline
and public relations. All domestic and international air
line employees are eligible to participate in this one-day
cooking extravaganza which is being held in conjunction
with the Long Beach Grand Prix.
For more information, contact Harold Mallet at United
Express/Aspen Airways, 818/361-2221.
* ♦ *
MCORO is sponsoring a “We Care For Kids” raffle on
April 8 to benefit the Osceola Children’s Home. Tickets
are $2 each and may be purchased by sending a check to
MCORO for the amount of the tickets made out to WCFK
("We Care For Kids”). Tickets are also available from the
personnel representatives at the reservations centers.
The person with the winning ticket may choose from a
VCR, television, microwave, or compact disc player.
How ’bout that Piedmont Rac
ing Team? And Sterling Marlin?
They're off to the best start
in the history of Piedmont’s in
volvement in NASCAR racing, a
period covering seven seasons.
Indeed, Sterling (left) is even
ahead of Terry Labonte’s 1984
championship pace.
By finishing third at Rocking
ham, Sterling climbed to second
place in the Winston Cup point
standings, just behind leader
Neil Bonnett and just ahead of defending national cham
pion Dale Earnhardt.
The red, white and blue Piedmont car finished eighth
at Daytona Beach, fifth at Richmond and third at Rock
ingham. They have earned over $72,000 in prize money
in these three races.
The team, strengthened by the addition of new crew
chief Jake Elder late last year, has been in the lead at least
once in every race, and is one of but three teams to have
finished in the top ten of all three Winston Cup events to
date.
In 1984, by comparison, the team had finished 12th,
3rd, and 2nd over the same schedule.
* * *
Flight Attendant Moe Omson, BWI, recently received
the Key West Metropolitan Heaviest Tkrpon Award for
pulling in the biggest tarpon in Key West during 1987.
Her catch weighed 112 pounds and was brought in on a
20-pound test line on a spinning rod. Omson has been
fishing professionally for eight years.
* * *
Piedmont’s Second Annual Tennis Tournament will be
held at Hilton Head Island's Beach and Tennis Resort the
weekend of May 13-15.
Rates include lodging for two nights, all tournament
fees, a welcome gift, a party on Saturday, and court time
for random play on an availability basis. The cost begins
at $45/person for a one-bedroom, one-bath villa oc
cupied by four people. One-bedroom villas contain a
queen-size bed and a double sleeper sofa. TWo-bedroom,
two-bath villas sleep up to six people with the cost begin
ning at $45/person when occupied by six people.
Players may enter two categories, a singles and a dou
bles or two doubles. Categories include men’s and
women’s open singles, men's and women’s 50 singles,
men's and women's open doubles, men's and women’s 50
doubles, mixed doubles open, and mixed doubles 50.
For more information or to receive an entry form, call
Tennisaction, 803/842-5150 or write Tennisaction, P.O.
Box 6645, Hilton Head Island, SC 29938. A $30 deposit
is due by April 13. All entry forms are due by May 6.
snorts
Inclement weather can adversely
effect the normally smooth operation
of an airline as well as one’s compo
sure; however, as excerpts from some
of our customers indicate. Piedmont
employees are primed to handle the
situation.
I was on Flight 80 from Norfolk, 'VA to
Newju’k, NJ. . .a miserable snowy evening
that could have been disastrous. . .Your
ground euid flight crew were relaxed, effi
cient and kept their senses of humor. The
captain (Richard Enos, ORF) and first offi
cer (Robert McCoy, ORF) were very careful
to keep us informed. . .which was extremely
comforting on such a stormy and potentially
uncomfortable flight.
* * *
On November 11, 1987, I was scheduled to
fly Piedmont from Miami to Baltimore. Due
to the snow situation in Baltimore, I opted to
stay an extra night in Miami. . .One of your
station agents, Barry Smith (MIA), was
most courteous and helpful in getting me a
hotel reservation and retrieving my luggage.
Many people were stranded so it was a tense
time for all of your people. . .Thank you for
having people such as Barry dealing with the
public.
* * *
The first snow storm of 1988 caused delays
all over the Eastern Seaboard. Keith Stew
ard, an agent at LaGuardia, was great. His
professional manner and take-charge ap
proach kept the situation under control.
* * *
Thought I’d send you a note of praise for
your Raleigh-Durham staff. I had to change
planes to leave the area because of snow.
What a shock to hit the airport and find ex
ceptionally long lines wrapping around
everywhere. . .at all carrier desks. Only Pied
mont had a full contingent of staff working
to keep the lines moving and ultimately han
dling the other airlines passengers as they
cancelled flights right and left. It was a time
of panic for most of us but your staff re
mained helpful and cheery. I’m glad to say
I’m a Piedmont flier!
* * *
Obviously, adverse weather conditions can
make an airport a living hell, with many pas
sengers feeling helpless, outraged, incon
venienced and weary. Through many hours
of observation. 1 witnessed all of your Char
lotte agents exhibit never-ending patience
and courtesy. I would like to acknowledge
Charlotte agents Joyce Lancaster, Brad
Bowles and Lisa Peek, for their efforts in ac
commodating me with the available flights.
I would like to express my appreciation for
a job well done, especially in the face of
adversity.
* * *
Here’s a sampling of some other
eireas where Piedmont personnel have
gone the extra mile.
I would like to commend the Piedmont
Aviation Inc. cargo customer service person
nel who have helped us. . .The assistance we
have received has always been courteous,
prompt, and exceptional. I would especially
like to recognize Karen Ann Christenbery
(CLT).
* * *
We missed our Piedmont flight home. . .We
were clearly upset (with ourselves) and reluc
tantly allowed. . .her (ROA station agent) to
book us on the late flight which had 2 plane
changes and some long layovers. . .An hour
later, we were paged to come back to the
Piedmont desk. Expecting the worst (of course)
we were met in the lobby by Sandra Fore.
She had watched the overbooked flights and
found a cancellation for two. . .Maybe this is
“just part of her job,” but I suggest that she
is an extremely conscientious individual who
went above and beyond duty to uphold the
Piedmont name and help us out.
* * *
London Gatwick Airport. . Much to my
horror I've lost my passport. Super person to
the Rescue! Your Ms. Margaret E. Chaloner
scurried about, made phone calls, and finally
I received clearance to depart with paper in
hand, to replace my passport. . .Ms. Cha
loner, angel to the rescue. . .someone I will
always be thankful to.
* * *
Piedmont employees have also
shown their capacity to be caring sind
empathetic.
Charlotte to Seattle. . .It wasn’t a great
flight due to very strong headwinds, an un
scheduled fuel stop. . .and an arrival a couple
of hours late. . .We also had a passenger get
sick. . .Yet with all the problems, the flight
attendants (Isabel Colero and Deeme
Walker, GSO) never stopped smiling.
# ♦ *
A friend of mine was scheduled to leave
Raleigh for Newark. He had left his wife in
Newbern, NC visiting her critically ill father
. . .1 received a call that her father had taken
a turn for the worse and she desperately
wanted her husband to be with her. I called
the Raleigh airport. . .and was advised that
. . .the plane had left. Your gate attendant
then transferred me to operations where a
Mr. Buster Ray made radio contact with
your pilot. Your pilot then returned to the
gate and allowed (him) to deplane. As a re
sult he was able to be reunited with his wife
. . .As a frequent flier 1 know the importance
of on-time departures and arrivals. And as a
businessman, 1 am well aware of the costs
and disruption involved in returning a plane
to the gate. However. I was not aware that at
Piedmont the concern for humanity and peo
ple’s needs transcended these real business
considerations.
^ *
Last week there was a personal tragedy in
the family of a paralegal that works in my of
fice. . .her grandfather unexpectedly passed
away. . .(and she was) unable to afford the
trip (for her grandfather's funeral). . .1 had a
Piedmont voucher. . .called your Frequent
Flyer Center. . .and. . .talked to 'Vicki Cain
(INT). . .(who obtained) permission for (the
paralegal) to use the voucher. . .1 would like
you to understand that we are eternally
grateful that you would allow a bending of
the rules for (her) to use this ticket for hu
manitarian purposes.
on April 3
number of departures: 1,372
miles flown daily: 505,073
ASMs: 60,472,451
number of aircraft in fleet: 185
average aircraft hop: 368.1 miles
daily block time flown: 1,678 hours
24 minutes
next schedule change: May 6
Piedmonitor • March 1988