ACA or Colgan info needed

[Balou]

Hi all- I just got interviews for both companies next week for an A&P position and I would appreciate any input from any current or former employees from either comany. I am just trying to get a feel about working conditions, how the mechanics are treated by the pilots or management, scary storries, ect.

Any Info good or bad would be apprciated.

Feel free to PM me if you want .
Thanks in advance

Balou

 

[Tug Driver]

ACA rocks!!!

enough said.

 

[WhiteCloud]

My opinion........Colgan is only a place to build experience to move on other regionals like ACA or a major airline.

 

[chperplt]

As an A&P with Colgan, you can be assured of working way too much and being asked to violate numerous regs on a daily basis.. BUT.. Colgan A&Ps make a lot of money with all the overtime you'll get.

Go work on a jet for a company that won't put your life or career in harms way.

 

[Balou]

Thanks cherplt !! I was hoping you would chime in. I have read most of your posts in the past about Colgan and I have a pretty good feel from your posts that the pilots are not treated very well. It sounds like the mechanics are no exception !!

Have you seen any changes or Improvements since the Accident ??
I saw alot of A&P job openings not too long after the accident and I was currious if things were improving (as far as maintenance)

 

[chperplt]

Have you seen any changes or Improvements since the Accident ?

For the most part, Colgan has a great group of mechanics. The problems come from above and are tough to avoid.

Unless changes have been made since I left a few weeks ago, I haven't seen any. Personnel were shifted around but the foundation and policies have stayed the same as far as I have seen.

 

[727PAA]

Not discounting Chpr's experiences, I can say I have a slightly different opinion.

I think the Colgans operate a fiscally responsible airline. They have treated me well, and I for one appreciate it.

You will get plenty of experience and I think with the hiring they are doing for A&P's that the maintenance will get better, along with working conditions for all mx folks.

I can't tell you at all about ACA. I can only tell you that the folks that work at Colgan, pilots etc will treat you well.

Hope it helps.

 

[flyin4jsus]

I was just wondering chper! I heard that you don't even work at Colgan anymore. That you had left 2 months ago just curious?

 

[chperplt]

I left 3 weeks ago

 

[Flyairjason]

Balou,
I don't know much about ACA, but Colgan is NOT a sound option if you ask me. They'll treat you poorly and pressure you to "bend" regs in a coercive, nametaking sort of fashion...
Besides, you'll be that much more competitive in today's job market if you've been working on ACA's modern fleet as opposed to Colgan's dogged out swap meet fleet...
I just call 'em like I see 'em...
Jason

 

[flyin4jsus]

Hey you have to way out the pros and cons for yourself. But I was a flight attendant for ACA for 3 years. I thought it was a great place to work the people are great. You have to think about what might be in the future with them flying A319-320's. But I can't speak for Colgan all my friends seem to like it there as well.

 

[BRA]

I would say the mechanics are treated well by the pilots at colgan air. I like most of the mechanics i meet. Treat others as you would like to be treated and you get the same in return i guess. The feel i get from the mechanics through specific conversations is that they feel the colgan operation is just as messed up as the pilots think it is. They tell me stories about stupid decesion making all the time. They feel it is more messed up then most other airlines. Some of this is to be expected though when a company is constantly growing larger. Colgan had like 10 planes a few years ago and only a few bases, today the planes have doubled and so have the bases pretty much. You have to look at all the angles.

 

[chperplt]

Trivia Question

An airplane ferries to a maintenance base after the gear fails to extend normally. The airplane is put on jacks and the gear is raised and lowered. It is obvious to everyone involved that the power pack is quite weak and needs replacing. However, without an air load the gear does go up and down. The maintenance base the aircraft was ferried to does not have a power pack in its parts inventory.

DO YOU


A) Wait for a replacement power pack and keep the airplane out of service until the part is replaced?

B) Sign the discrepancy off as "Ops checked ok" and let the aircraft go?

I know the correct answer as well as the Colgan answer. The answers are NOT the same.

 

[Mungusaurus]

They signed it off!!!!!!!!!!!

YTBSM!!!!
I flew it in there with the gear locked down and they let it go!!!!
Thats fuc#ing it the next time that hapens I will sit there until the d@mn plane is fixed. So I was imagining the gear not going down, the CB popping and the scream of submission coming from the power pack.
This $hit has to stop now.

 

[chperplt]

They signed it off!!!!!!!!!!!

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!

 

[Balou]

Thanks for your input guys !! I called today and cancelled my interview with Colgan. There were other factors involved in my decision, but your comments did help me lean that way.


Fly safe !
Balou

 

[big ol' one]

Hey chperplt,

Your Christmas card came back to me today. It said the address was "undeliverable." Just wanted to let you know i WAS thinking of you!!! PM me with the right address and I'll get it back out to you.

Hi to everyone else!! Hope you guys are all having a good week!

 

[acaTerry]

well, if you work with an Airbus operator, expect lots of work!