Piedmont Airlines

Piedmont Pilots Make Meaningful Progress

Meaningful progress was made on the negotiating front for Piedmont Airlines pilots in 2025. Early in the year, the pilot group’s Master Executive Council (MEC) ratified two preferential bidding system letters of agreement (LOAs), strengthening scheduling provisions and laying important groundwork for upcoming negotiations.

The pilot group also began preparing for midterm bargaining, set to begin in January 2026. “Our midterm survey saw 50 percent participation—well above the typical 30 percent—giving the Negotiating Committee clearer guidance on pilot priorities,” said Capt. Kim Gott, the pilot group’s MEC chair.

In 2025, the MEC leaders launched new weekly newsletters: the Piedmont Gazette for MEC news and the Piedmont Pilot Digest for committee updates, with committees submitting reports after national training courses. Participation in the group’s weekly “Contract Quiz” has grown by about 50 percent, with pilots scoring 100 percent earning a $10 Starbucks gift card. The MEC has also increased podcast production to almost monthly and introduced a popular monthly photo contest.

Like many fee-for-departure carriers, attrition remains a major challenge. Several committee chairs will be flowing to American Airlines soon, taking valuable institutional knowledge with them. Fortunately, volunteer numbers are strong, and MEC leaders have been working proactively to identify and train successors. Still, 2026 will be a transitional year, which will require careful planning by the MEC and continued support from the pilot group.