American Airlines: Piedmont sets out plan to resurrect Embraer 145 desert fleet

The American Airlines regional US carrier Piedmont has set out plans to resurrect its fleet of Embraer 145 aircraft from storage in Marana, southern Arizona. 

Piedmont parked dozens of Embraer 145s at a remote airfield among the desert landscape during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when air travel dried up due to restrictions placed on flying.  

The American Airlines subsidiary, which operates American Eagle flights, announced on July 30, 2024, the first Embraer 145 was in the process of returning to work after leaving storage. 

Piedmont said that while the fleet of planes was ready to return earlier there were not enough commercial pilots to fly them.  

However, with the “recent rebound of pilot hiring” and the need for “increased lines of flying to support the American Airlines network” the fleet resurrection has begun.  

“Bringing our first plane out of long-term storage is a big deal,” Bill Arndt, Vice President of Maintenance and Engineering, said. “The planes that are planned to leave storage will first move through heavy check and conformity before joining the fleet.” 

Two Embraers per month will leave storage at Pinal Airpark (MZJ) through February 2025, increasing the Piedmont fleet to 70 aircraft. 

The removal of aircraft from the desert involves removal review of the storage program, transfer of the aircraft to Piedmont operation specifications and transfer of logbooks. 

The first aircraft left storage in June 2024 and flew to one of Piedmont’s heavy check facilities in Abilene, Texas where it undergoes around 40 days of inspections.  

The Embraer 145 is then due to spend two weeks at the carrier’s maintenance base in Richmond, Virginia where the aircraft is validated to meet internal airline specifications. 

“Total time from starting the removal process of leaving the desert to joining the line is approximately two and a half months,” Piedmont said.  

Piedmont’s maintenance department said it will need 42 additional technicians to look after the increased fleet of 70 aircraft and is continuing to focus on recruitment to bolster its team.  

The airline will utilize the Tuition Payment Program for aircraft maintenance technicians in which Piedmont pays for students to attend school and guarantees them a job at one of its maintenance bases after completing their Airframe and Powerplant certifications. 

“Bringing parked aircraft from storage and returning them to the line is a sure sign of recovery and growth for Piedmont,” Arndt said. “We are excited to be on our way to flying 70 aircraft and supporting the American Airlines network and our customers.” 

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