Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Friendliest aviation Ccmmunity on the web
  • Modern site for PC's, Phones, Tablets - no 3rd party apps required
  • Ask questions, help others, promote aviation
  • Share the passion for aviation
  • Invite everyone to Flightinfo.com and let's have fun

Question for Colgan Pilots..?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mdt301
  • Start date Start date
  • Watchers Watchers 10

Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Modern secure site, no 3rd party apps required
  • Invite your friends
  • Share the passion of aviation
  • Friendliest aviation community on the web
Register   Log in
M

mdt301

Active member
Joined
Nov 9, 2006
Posts
35
Do you have to fly the Beech 1900 as Capt before you upgrade to the SAAB and capt..? So if your hired as FO in the SAAB can you upgrade to Capt in the SAAB if you got the time..?
Thanks
 
from what i know all or at least most of the hiring is going into the saab
 
Unless things have changed in the last two years. No to the first question. Yes to the second.
 
mdt301 said:
Do you have to fly the Beech 1900 as Capt before you upgrade to the SAAB and capt..? So if your hired as FO in the SAAB can you upgrade to Capt in the SAAB if you got the time..?
Thanks
Click to expand...

I dont think anyone is being hired into the Beech now as they are looking into phasing it out. But new hires can go either way Beech or Saab FO. Soon Saab or Q400 FO.

There where 4 guys last month that where the first to possibly go from Beech FO to Saab Captain. They where interviewing the candidates for it at least...
 
mdt301 said:
Do you have to fly the Beech 1900 as Capt before you upgrade to the SAAB and capt..? So if your hired as FO in the SAAB can you upgrade to Capt in the SAAB if you got the time..?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Majority of Saab upgrades are from Saab FOs. Many of the Beech CAs are transitioning to the Saab, though, so there is a little slow-down on Saab FO upgrade.

In a related note: Why are you even asking? You're an idiot if you choose Colgan. First, there's the ALPA issue that you're going to be immediately exposed to. Secondly, the way Colgan is run is a joke. Enjoy your training, it's a nightmare. Do the wise thing and go elsewhere. Try an airline that's higher on the food chain, like Mesa. Colgan is a stinking hole, save yourself. It's nearly impossible to get the stink out of your cloths and hair...

Shy
 
Well the major reason I was looking at Colgan was for the quick upgrade (PIC Turbine), and they have a base in TYR where I could live for free.
 
mdt301 said:
Well the major reason I was looking at Colgan was for the quick upgrade (PIC Turbine), and they have a base in TYR where I could live for free.
Click to expand...

There always looking for people for TYR. There was a fairly brand new FO who quit a few weeks ago because he got stuck in TYR and wanted IAH and just didnt like it.
 
ShyFlyGuy said:
Majority of Saab upgrades are from Saab FOs. Many of the Beech CAs are transitioning to the Saab, though, so there is a little slow-down on Saab FO upgrade.

In a related note: Why are you even asking? You're an idiot if you choose Colgan. First, there's the ALPA issue that you're going to be immediately exposed to. Secondly, the way Colgan is run is a joke. Enjoy your training, it's a nightmare. Do the wise thing and go elsewhere. Try an airline that's higher on the food chain, like Mesa. Colgan is a stinking hole, save yourself. It's nearly impossible to get the stink out of your cloths and hair...

Shy
Click to expand...



Jeez, guy. Sounds like you deserved that slap you got from the captain.
 
I'm the most junior Captain in TYR and happen to like it here. The worst problem I have is commuting, but if you live here, you'll like it. Tyler has no traffic, an easy drive to the airport, not as many obnoxious northerners, 80+ hours of flying with 14 days off a month. Colgan is not as bad as you'll hear from the previous posts. You just have to use Colgan for what it's worth. Quick upgrade, lots of flying, outstation bases, home every night, and overall a good experience for a stepping stone. If you want to sit on reserve, stay at a regional for a career, have a wide-set scrambled egg b/w the leg with heavy flow, hate to handfly airplanes, declare emergencies if you're autopilot or FMS doesn't work, simply go to another regional. If you want to literally fly an airplane and can do so, come to Colgan and you will not be dissapointed. If you can't fly an airplane, but can push buttons and like computers, go to another regional with a jet. It's that simple
 
Bulldog Price said:
I'm the most junior Captain in TYR and happen to like it here. The worst problem I have is commuting, but if you live here, you'll like it. Tyler has no traffic, an easy drive to the airport, not as many obnoxious northerners, 80+ hours of flying with 14 days off a month. Colgan is not as bad as you'll hear from the previous posts. You just have to use Colgan for what it's worth. Quick upgrade, lots of flying, outstation bases, home every night, and overall a good experience for a stepping stone. If you want to sit on reserve, stay at a regional for a career, have a wide-set scrambled egg b/w the leg with heavy flow, hate to handfly airplanes, declare emergencies if you're autopilot or FMS doesn't work, simply go to another regional. If you want to literally fly an airplane and can do so, come to Colgan and you will not be dissapointed. If you can't fly an airplane, but can push buttons and like computers, go to another regional with a jet. It's that simple
Click to expand...

F****n A!
 
Bulldog Price said:
If you want to sit on reserve, stay at a regional for a career, have a wide-set scrambled egg b/w the leg with heavy flow, hate to handfly airplanes, declare emergencies if you're autopilot or FMS doesn't work, simply go to another regional. If you want to literally fly an airplane and can do so, come to Colgan and you will not be dissapointed. If you can't fly an airplane, but can push buttons and like computers, go to another regional with a jet. It's that simple
Click to expand...


Isn't this how it is at the majors too? Isn't it everyone's goal to end up pushing buttons and sitting on reserve forever.....
 
Bulldog Price said:
I'm the most junior Captain in TYR and happen to like it here. The worst problem I have is commuting, but if you live here, you'll like it. Tyler has no traffic, an easy drive to the airport, not as many obnoxious northerners, 80+ hours of flying with 14 days off a month. Colgan is not as bad as you'll hear from the previous posts. You just have to use Colgan for what it's worth. Quick upgrade, lots of flying, outstation bases, home every night, and overall a good experience for a stepping stone. If you want to sit on reserve, stay at a regional for a career, have a wide-set scrambled egg b/w the leg with heavy flow, hate to handfly airplanes, declare emergencies if you're autopilot or FMS doesn't work, simply go to another regional. If you want to literally fly an airplane and can do so, come to Colgan and you will not be dissapointed. If you can't fly an airplane, but can push buttons and like computers, go to another regional with a jet. It's that simple
Click to expand...

obnoxious northerners!!!! HA

I agree with most of this post. I don't hate on button pushing RJ drivers though. RJ's are cool airplanes. Saabs are cool too. like a huge Seminole.

My experience at Colgan as been good and bad. I'll list them for you

GOOD
- Never sat reserve
- 900 hours of flying a year. more if you want.
- quick upgrade with no reserve as captain
- Majors hiring like crazy out of here
- Average tenure at Colgan before moving on is 3-4 years if you try to get out
- AWESOME flying. there are days when you will shoot six to seven appoaches to mins or near mins. Hand flying approaches in bad weather becomes very comfortable.
- Many days off
- Home every night
- Short drives to outsation airports and no security lines

BAD
- no commuter clause
- some very mickey mouse things about how it is run compared to your friends regional airline.
- airplanes are ugly and dirty
- chicks are impressed with your uniform but not necessarily your plane
- everyone asks you when you will upgrade to the jet
- commuting is horrible to most of the bases

All in all, if you are looking to accellerate your career and can deal with creative living you will not only like colgan you will appreciate it and make it work for you. You have to always keep in mind that Colgan is a stepping stone. if you ever forget that and think that it is the sum total of your career you are going to get into trouble.
 
Last edited:
better up here said:
Idiot, nice choice of words. So then that makes you.?.?.?

Three choices -
1. Quit
2. Shut the fu(k up.
3. Shut the fu(k up.
Click to expand...

Those are all the choices I get? Good thing I don't count on you to run checklists.

Me: Before Start Checklist please.
You: Parking Break
Me: Set
You: Parking Break
Me: Set
You: Parking Break
Me: Set
(And on, and on...)

MDT, I apologize for giving unsolicited opinions about the company you asked, but honestly, you've got to ask yourself why you would pick a company like Colgan over... say, Pinnacle or Shuttle. Both are just as quick of upgrades, they're run well, the schedules are just as good (if not better), and they're not run by stool pigeons. Colgan is a joke. The pilots, mechanics, and rampies are great people and I respect them all, but don't buy the propaganda that management is spewing about that company. It's a joke. Misery loves company... particularly that company.

I can not emphasize enough how much I love and respect most of the pilots over at Colgan, but there is a reason the headquarters in Manassas is nicknamed "the Kremlin". Think before you leap. If you get just as decent feedback about all the other airlines, why would you choose Colgan?

Shy
 

Share this page

Latest posts

Latest resources

Latest media

Carbon Cub FX-3 Shenandoah Valley
Carbon Cub at Kittyhawk
FX-3 in the backcountry
IFR Panel in a Carbon Cub FX-3
Cub-Provo-UT-c.jpg
Back
Top