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Colgan Air, then what?

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SmellsLikeAvGas

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 17, 2004
Posts
45
I am a low time pilot with two offers on the table right now. One, flying a jet with Mesa, where I'd have to commute to IAD, ORD, or JFK. One with Colgan, where I could potentially be based at home, flying either a SF340B, or the Dash 8 Q400. My question, primarily to Colgan and ex-Colganites, has flying turboprops been hindering anyone from getting a job later on at a major/big cargo airline? I know upgrading is a big one, and it looks like similar upgrade time at both companies, so that's not really an issue. I really, really like the idea of having a shot at a home base, but I'm just wondering if anyone from Colgan has been turned down b/c they "lacked jet experience?" When people leave Colgan, where do they tend to go next? Thanks in advance!
 
No you won't have a problem at all. I work for Piedmont and we have had Captains and FO's hired everywhere from SouthWest to Cathy Pacific.

If you have a chance to be home based while at a regional then I would do it. Makes your life much better while at the regional.

I think that Mesa and a jet is where you don't wanna be.

Good Luck
 
Well, United has an RJ fetish, and a lot of overseas operations would rather see jets than props. JetBlue and some others won't consider anything below a certain MTOW (20,000 lbs). Other than that, props will get you hired just about anywhere else and are generally kickass. I'll go ahead and do my civic duty as a FI member and remind everyone that Mesa is making new and exciting discoveries in the field of employee abuse. All this, and you could be based at home with Colgan? Not even close - take the Colgan job.

...not that either of these places are exactly full of flowers and sunshine right now.
 
First, don't buy into the whole "jet time is better" BS.

Second, ALL regionals suck. No matter where you go, pay blows. But not having to commute to the one you do work for is golden.

As for SJS, airlines currently hiring turboprop guys-
Southwest
Air Tran
Delta
Continental
United
USAirways
Spirit
North American
Every ACMI cargo company
 
SmellsLikeAvGas said:
I am a low time pilot with two offers on the table right now. One, flying a jet with Mesa, where I'd have to commute to IAD, ORD, or JFK. One with Colgan, where I could potentially be based at home, flying either a SF340B, or the Dash 8 Q400. My question, primarily to Colgan and ex-Colganites, has flying turboprops been hindering anyone from getting a job later on at a major/big cargo airline? I know upgrading is a big one, and it looks like similar upgrade time at both companies, so that's not really an issue. I really, really like the idea of having a shot at a home base, but I'm just wondering if anyone from Colgan has been turned down b/c they "lacked jet experience?" When people leave Colgan, where do they tend to go next? Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...


Get the Jet time..period.
 
OnTheRocks said:
stay the hell away from colgan at all costs, im with this dude.....keep on looking
Click to expand...

Yeah, Colgan sucks. I spent 4 years there and 4 years later am a Captain at AirTran. But, as an above post said, all regionals suck!. I'd go with Colgan, Mesa has even a worse rep than them, plus that Q-400 might be a gold mine with the way oil prices are going!
 
You're one of the lucky ones that actually has an airline base at the home airport. I wouldn't even think twice take Colgan. Being home based will make life a lot easier and in my opinion worth not flying a jet. As far as future jobs get the 1000 hours of TPIC then worry about that. The only TPROP, "now a days" that might be a problem for majors is the B1900 because of weight and other things. The Dash8 and the SAAB 340 are as good as jet experience and probably more fun. Good luck
 
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yeah, go to work for the non-union carrier - that's a great way to ensure job security - right after they lost the pinnacle arbitration.

Neither of those options are good.
 
SmellsLikeAvGas said:
I am a low time pilot with two offers on the table right now. One, flying a jet with Mesa, where I'd have to commute to IAD, ORD, or JFK. One with Colgan, where I could potentially be based at home, flying either a SF340B, or the Dash 8 Q400. My question, primarily to Colgan and ex-Colganites, has flying turboprops been hindering anyone from getting a job later on at a major/big cargo airline? I know upgrading is a big one, and it looks like similar upgrade time at both companies, so that's not really an issue. I really, really like the idea of having a shot at a home base, but I'm just wondering if anyone from Colgan has been turned down b/c they "lacked jet experience?" When people leave Colgan, where do they tend to go next? Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

What is your time (TT/ME)? Are you a CFI?
 
SmellsLikeAvGas said:
I am a low time pilot with two offers on the table right now. One, flying a jet with Mesa, where I'd have to commute to IAD, ORD, or JFK. One with Colgan, where I could potentially be based at home, flying either a SF340B, or the Dash 8 Q400.
Click to expand...

Where is it that you live? If you live in EWR then JFK is hardly a commute.
 
Avoid Mesa. Go to Colgan and request the Q400 if you already live in the area. The Saab would be OK because it would also give you a lot of operating experience in the busy NY area. That said, I would still request a Q400 slot because Colgan is desparately looking for pilots - you have some leverage. Have you applied to Republic?
 
SmellsLikeAvGas said:
Yes, I did apply to Republic, but my time is very low (about 330 and 55.) No CFI, either. lol, no I don't live near JFK; I live in PIT.
Click to expand...

If you live in PIT you are going to be a commuter. I have heard that Colgan has closed (or is going to close) the PIT domicile. The Q400 would have never been based in PIT anyway.
 
Do what every other Colgan guy does and go to Allegiant! After all, Allegiant is Colgan with jets!!!!
 
DoinTime said:
If you live in PIT you are going to be a commuter. I have heard that Colgan has closed (or is going to close) the PIT domicile. The Q400 would have never been based in PIT anyway.
Click to expand...

There is a Q400 base in PIT at this time, with no current plans to close it.
 
suupah said:
Remember props are for boats. Real pilots fly jets.
Click to expand...


Yea... and jets are for hot tubs...

Discussing either is like comparing intestinal discomfort caused by Salmonilla or Bocholism.... Either way... life is the $H!T$ And currently... there is no immodium AD for relief with either symptom....errr company Just make sure.... what ever toilet you choose to roost on.... make sure its comfortable... You my find yourself stuck if this industry doesn't find its own solution.....

Choose your poison carefully young Jedi.... these are not the droids you are looking for....

Peace

V1
 
V1cutsrfun said:
Yea... and jets are for hot tubs...

Discussing either is like comparing intestinal discomfort caused by Salmonilla or Bocholism.... Either way... life is the $H!T$ And currently... there is no immodium AD for relief with either symptom....errr company Just make sure.... what ever toilet you choose to roost on.... make sure its comfortable... You my find yourself stuck if this industry doesn't find its own solution.....

Choose your poison carefully young Jedi.... these are not the droids you are looking for....

Peace

V1
Click to expand...

nice avatar!
 
Have you tried CommutAir? That would be an easy commute from PIT to CLE. If you can't JS you could make the drive if absolutely necessary. The Q200 is awesome, and we are on the verge of hopefully passing ALPA in the next few weeks. I would at least consider it, if you haven't already.
 
You want to work for a regional carrier, and you've narrowed it down to either Colgan or Mesa?

Have you done any research on these companies other than their crew bases?
 
Take the Colgan job, fly for 6 months and build your time on thier dime.....THEN decide if you like the company, the flying, the airplane and where you are based. If you don't THEN shop around for a regional that you REALLY want to work for and then pursue the job, you'll at that point be job hunting with nearly 1000 hours total time, of which 5-600 will be multi-turbine 121 time...you will be able to get a job anywhere!

You are not married to whatever job you take, pay and work rules suck at the regional level with little exception no matter where you go. Avoid Mesa like the plague. Try NOT to commute to work, it'll burn up at least 20% of your little time off every month and the stress is not worth it.

Piedmont is also hiring low time guys and in my opinion is a much better place than Colgan and they have bigger a/c on the way as well (I think the Q400 or ATR, not sure). But as a new guy you don't have too many options with your hours/experience, take what is offered (except Mesa) and re-evaluate your situation 6 months later. Don't feel that if you get hired someplace that you "owe" them and must stay there...do what is best for YOU, they will cut you in a nanosecond if it would mean improving thier bottom line. Welcome to the industry, you'll do fine:)
 
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andyd said:
Take the Colgan job, fly for 6 months and build your time on thier dime.....THEN decide if you like the company, the flying, the airplane and where you are based. If you don't THEN shop around for a regional that you REALLY want to work for and then pursue the job, you'll at that point be job hunting with nearly 1000 hours total time, of which 5-600 will be multi-turbine 121 time...you will be able to get a job anywhere!
Click to expand...


And while you're flying for those 6 months, try to save $8,000. That's what it will cost you to leave at that time.
 
well at Colgan, you will owe them money if you leave before the end of the training contract.

And no, Piedmont is not getting big props. It would be a miracle if they get even one within the next year or two. By then the rates will have expired and we will be in contract negotiations. Leases will up on 20+(???) planes in 09. All of our instructors are going part time (save one, maybe two). We are operating 4 sims now, somehow. There have been a lot of mechanical issues lately with the fleet.

We are getting fat on pilots, hopefully for expected increases in summer flying and attrition to mainline. We are upgrading a lot but a new bid just came out with NO captain vacancies. There is a strong resistance to lowering the 3000TT requirement for upgrade in training. We are 13 numbers away from 07 hire upgrades... They say we will be short qualified upgrades in NOV, I say July/August. There is no hope of ever holding a line as a new captain here, quite a few are bypassing upgrade ('00-'01 hires) for QOL. Reserve here blows ass.

We are painting all the planes and are putting money into making our manuals match mainline's. Hopefully that means we are in the long term picture (>1 year).

We are hiring non-college grads with 200 hours!!! If you aren't part of the 25% that get canned in training, welcome aboard. No training contract and get paid more than a first year FO at mainline. The dash 8 is a great airplane.
 

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