Interview @ Colgan

[yasir1212]

I went last week and they offered me a CPT position on the Q. I'm not sure if I'll take it.

Sure, they been begging people to take the left seat of the Q. The smart ones ran. It's pathetic anyone in the right state of mind would even consider flying the Q at Colgan's pay rate.

 

[DoinTime]

I'll play it by ear. if they offer me a job I'll take it, gain some experience and then part ways....

Working for the crap wages and benefits at Colgan destroys the foundation of this profession. Regardless of the short term intent of your employment you are killing professional pilots everywhere and undercutting the rest of your career.

 

[Striptyler]

Or you can go to the interview, and form your own opinions... Either way it's not a bad experience. You'll find most of the people on here that complain about Colgan, have never infact been involved with colgan.

Honestly, some hate it, some love it. Depends how the company fits you. With your flight times, it will be at least 2 years before you upgrade, even at colgan... so i wouldn't pick a place for fast upgrade. The Q will not be a fast upgrade at all. FO rates are pretty decent in the beech, ok in the saab, and crappy in the Q, but you get the same no matter which airplane you end up in. If you go to the beech, you'll end up in the saab or Q within a year, and it's not gonna be an easy few months.

The Flying at colgan is excellent experience. Down low in the wx gets you up to speed fast. Typical legs range from 30 min to 1:30, so you get to do it lots of times a day.

Before Pinnacle bought colgan, Colgan pretty much went under the radar, and did as regional was supposed to... Short feed routes to our code shares. the Q has changed things. Colgan, for now, is still partialy outstation based. Makes commuting hard some times, but, Everybody at a base gets to know eachother well, and you will develope into a small "family" Seems colganites always stick together, and are always willing to walk resume's in etc...

If you want a real feeling for the airline, go on the interview, and then afterwords, sit in the terminal and introduce yourself to colgan pilots... ask them how they like it, pro/cons etc.

 

[www.]

Sure, they been begging people to take the left seat of the Q. The smart ones ran. It's pathetic anyone in the right state of mind would even consider flying the Q at Colgan's pay rate.

It's all about me. I don't care about other pilots. If I can get the time and money what's it to you. Sure I'll have good schedules for awhile until the low timers can upgrade but it's all about me.

Isn't that what this job is all about? Forget everyone else and look out for #1?

 

[On Your Six]

Colgan is a 2nd or 3rd tier regional. That's the point. There are better jobs out there and you need to keep that in mind when interviewing. Your overall time is low but, guess what, regionals are hiring at those times. If you add another 100 hours worth of instruction you will have more offers because all of the regionals are desparate. Maximize your instruction time for now so that more doors will open up for you.

You have the leverage in this case. You don't have to go to Colgan - it is one of many options. If you want to fly the Q400 and get better glass experience - you should request it. Tell them you want to fly the Q400. This could be your view from the FO seat:

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=1323978&size=L&width=1200&height=812&sok=&photo_nr=18


Sure the rates suck (they are a complete insult to the flying profession), but you won't be staying. You can always get a year's worth of experience on that and then go elsewhere. The point: your departure after a year or so won't change the low rates - that's unfortunately the reality of the situation in the industry. You would get the experience and then get out. They obviously will need to improve the rates if they want to hold on to their pilots (not likely).

With that said, I would probably hold out for other regionals unless location was an absolute requirement (i.e., LGA or EWR). If I were you I would look for a place providing jet time - Mesaba, Air Whisky, Republic (if you have the hours), Skywest and even Trans States. Get some seniority now vs. waiting for a year or two and then getting on. Why go prop when you qualify for jet? If you can go to an operator where your upgrade time won't be too long (i.e., not American Eagle) and it flies jets, that's where you want to be. Colgan is one of many choices (and not a great one) - you need to remember that you have the leverage in this situation and they need to "sell it" to you.

 

[suupah]

I can't understand why any low timers would come to a place like Colgan when the earning potential and quality of experience and life are soooooo much better at almost any other place. If you had like 1000 and were looking for a lightening fast upgrade i might understand....but even then....

 

[On Your Six]

I can't understand why any low timers would come to a place like Colgan when the earning potential and quality of experience and life are soooooo much better at almost any other place. If you had like 1000 and were looking for a lightening fast upgrade i might understand....but even then....

That's my point too. Colgan is desparate for pilots right now. People interviewing have all the leverage. You don't see many pilots leaving other regionals for Colgan - do you? If you can get on with a better regional you should do so. Why waste time if you want to move on down the road anyway?

I am sure Colgan would provide great experience in general for any low-timer, but jet time and time to upgrade are two big considerations. It will take you awhile to upgrade anyway given your low time - but you might as well get jet time if you can and plenty of jet operators are hiring low-timers.

 

[Striptyler]

You don't see many pilots leaving other regionals for Colgan - do you? If you can get on with a better regional you should do so. Why waste time if you want to move on down the road anyway?

I see Bunches of people leaving their regional to come to colgan... as captains seems like a lot come from Eagle.

I agree... form your own opinions, and pick based off your needs, after all, it is about "your" job. I'm one of the few that really can't complain. I have always been treated well, got senority fast, upgraded fast, and i'm home with the wife every night. I think i've been drafted maybe 3 times? never had a reserve line, and generaly found the company to be understanding when i need time off etc.

 

[Texx]

I went last week and they offered me a CPT position on the Q. I'm not sure if I'll take it.

Me too! I interviewed last Tuesday. I went and took the job. This is going to be great!

 

[Superpilot92]

The problem with this industry especially the regionals is that there is always someone willing to do it for less. Why raise pay when they can just hire less experienced people and people looking for the quick upgrade??uke:

 

[Beech Balls]

Working for the crap wages and benefits at Colgan destroys the foundation of this profession. Regardless of the short term intent of your employment you are killing professional pilots everywhere and undercutting the rest of your career.

I agree with you partially. It certainly doesn't help our industry. And we tried to get some ALPA representation to get this changed. I VOTED YES BTW.

However, when offered a position within your company to fly something a little exotic (at least on the east coast), also bigger, faster, and newer, for MORE MONEY..you'll take it too.

I am NOT going to the Q anytime soon, and think the wages are absurd, BUT, $58.11/hr is better than $44.50/hr, and it'll help me out quite a bit.

It is a fact we cannot deny, however disgusting it is, and many of us here at Colgan are tired of the same old SH!T, so this is just a little change for a bit more money within our company. At our rates, every little bit helps.
FWIW..lots of us more senior people are bailing.

 

[dingo222]

I think more are going to bail after the announcement tonight.........

 

[Beech Balls]

What's Coming?

 

[On Your Six]

What's Coming?

Cessna 402s will replace all non Q400 aircraft.

 

[TNHillbilly]

Yeah whats happening tonight?