Colgan IAH

[dal757]

Have things smoothed out with the Colgan IAH operation. I heard there were lot's of "growing" pains at first. Any talk of expanding routes out of IAH?

 

[Whiskerbizkit]

Im not sure who runs the operation there, maybe CAL, but its a cluster f--k there. Had to dead head on Colgan the other day, what a mess.

 

[Prop2Jet]

Surprise! You work for the airlines! No one runs smooth these days!

 

[Alchemy]

I deadheaded on them the other day, things seem to run fine (although the plane was met by mechanics after we arrived, probably glad I don't know what went wrong). Maybe I just got lucky. I have many friends over there, some are looking for ways out because they're concerned about maintenance practices (among other reasons). Then again, those were the same guys who would b*tch constantly about the condition of the airplanes when I was instructing with them. Sometimes you just have to make the best out of what you're given.

 

[bender]

28 lines, 37 FOs....allllllriiiiiight...

 

[ATRCA]

Ok, I'll try to head off the bashing. I have deadheaded on Colgan several times and have never had any issues with their operation. The crews were freindly and the flights ran mostly on time....... Maybe I got lucky but hey...so good so far.

 

[vtchaz]

Perhaps Routine?

I deadheaded on them the other day, things seem to run fine (although the plane was met by mechanics after we arrived, probably glad I don't know what went wrong).

Never occur to you that they could be doing routine maintenance? There are daily checks that need to be done by mechanics on the Saab. It probably never affected the operation.

Just an observation, why is it most of they guys on here who like to bash the Colgan IAH operation have E145 in their profile? Not necessarily the guys on this thread, but in general. Perhaps feeling threatened? Just a thought.

 

[Alchemy]

Nah, I doubt it was routine maintenance since the captain was out there chatting it up pretty good with the mechanic. But hey, maybe it was, I don't know.

I have nothing against Colgan, and as best I can tell, the operation is probably going pretty smoothly now in IAH.

Insecure, yes definitely. I wish that we were flying the props at our company, but that obviously isn't in the cards. Enjoy the CAL flying while it lasts, they seem to enjoy changing regional partners every 3-4 years. Skywest - X. Expressjet - X. Colgan - ?.

 

[vtchaz]

Learn Some History

Nah, I doubt it was routine maintenance since the captain was out there chatting it up pretty good with the mechanic. But hey, maybe it was, I don't know.

I have nothing against Colgan, and as best I can tell, the operation is probably going pretty smoothly now in IAH.

Insecure, yes definitely. I wish that we were flying the props at our company, but that obviously isn't in the cards. Enjoy the CAL flying while it lasts, they seem to enjoy changing regional partners every 3-4 years. Skywest - X. Expressjet - X. Colgan - ?.

Chatting it up? You don't talk to your mechanics? I know I do, even when they're there for routine maintenance I go out and talk with them.

As for changing carriers, you can't even compare. Skywest voluntarily gave up that contract. They didn't even bid on it again. The route CAL wanted to go with it wasn't where they wanted, so they parted. Expressjet flies RJs, and like the other operators of RJs there's a lot of changes going on there. Colgan flies turboprops, a market that is making a strong comeback for obvious reasons. I don't think we have much to worry about.

 

[Whiskerbizkit]

Im not bashing Colgan, but the IAH operation is/was messed up. With 6 flights leaving at one time with one gate and one bus, its a cluster. Im sure its CAL running things there.

 

[Alchemy]

Chatting it up? You don't talk to your mechanics? I know I do, even when they're there for routine maintenance I go out and talk with them.

As for changing carriers, you can't even compare. Skywest voluntarily gave up that contract. They didn't even bid on it again. The route CAL wanted to go with it wasn't where they wanted, so they parted. Expressjet flies RJs, and like the other operators of RJs there's a lot of changes going on there. Colgan flies turboprops, a market that is making a strong comeback for obvious reasons. I don't think we have much to worry about.

Nah, I usually don't talk to them if they come out for a service check, other than a cursory, hi how's it going. I hope it was routine maintenance, actually I don't care as long as you got me to IAH on time and in one piece, which you did, so well done. Don't take it so personally, christ.

 

[mckpickle]

Colgan has a real fine group of people. Good guys! The MX and management however...... I just don't understand why they can never seem to get a union in there. At least it might take the pressure off the pilots for MX issues etc.

 

[vtchaz]

What pressure?

Colgan has a real fine group of people. Good guys! The MX and management however...... I just don't understand why they can never seem to get a union in there. At least it might take the pressure off the pilots for MX issues etc.

I've never once felt any pressure for MX issues, or etc (whatever that is). If it's broken we right it up. If they have time to fix it right there they do, if it can be MEL'd we do that (the purpose of an MEL, by the way), and if they can't do either the flight is delayed until it can be fixed. I've never once been asked to do anything else.

 

[dal757]

Any rumors on Colgan growing IAH?

 

[Superpilot92]

the crews are great, its the ground crews that are HORRIBLE.

on a side note, is it me or does every SAAB look like its doing a wheelie or about to flip when its taxing?

 

[suupah]

28 lines, 37 FOs....allllllriiiiiight...

9 on reserve?

 

[pilotkppsg]

Just an observation, why is it most of they guys on here who like to bash the Colgan IAH operation have E145 in their profile? Not necessarily the guys on this thread, but in general. Perhaps feeling threatened? Just a thought.

Yeah, I'm threatened, I really miss doing CLL, BPT, LCH, AEX and GRK turns all day in the ER, those were really productive trips and I wish I had them again.....NOT!

 

[Saab guy]

your welcome

So you get a free ride deadheading to IAH, and then you get on here and bash us afterwards, Nice!

As for the maintenance at IAH, We do the best we can at getting the aircraft to the gates after RON mx for a on time departure, Clear all possible MEL's and complete all scheduled maintenance.

As vtchaz has stated mx techs are never asked to look the otherway or not fix a known problem. We are professionals who care greatly about the operation and the safety of our coworkers and customers.

Safe flying to all, and please say hello to the mx personal when you see them/us, we work hard and it is nice to get some pleasnat conversation on occassion, instead of just a gripe about something that broke.

Saab Guy

I deadheaded on them the other day, things seem to run fine (although the plane was met by mechanics after we arrived, probably glad I don't know what went wrong). Maybe I just got lucky. I have many friends over there, some are looking for ways out because they're concerned about maintenance practices (among other reasons). Then again, those were the same guys who would b*tch constantly about the condition of the airplanes when I was instructing with them. Sometimes you just have to make the best out of what you're given.

 

[saab fixr]

Saab guy your my hero!! next time i see ya can i get your autograph on my logbook!! U da man

 

[Saab guy]

No you the man

Saab fixr you still the big dog, I just hate flamers!

Autograghs are $5.00

Come on down dude, we miss ya

 

[Deerkiller]

......

As for changing carriers, you can't even compare. Skywest voluntarily gave up that contract. They didn't even bid on it again. The route CAL wanted to go with it wasn't where they wanted, so they parted. Expressjet flies RJs, and like the other operators of RJs there's a lot of changes going on there. Colgan flies turboprops, a market that is making a strong comeback for obvious reasons. I don't think we have much to worry about.

Actually, SkyWest did bid on the flying. CAL wanted bigger turboprops back on property. SkyWest didn't want another fleet type. They bid the contract with i believe 20 Brasilias. But CAL wanted a bigger prop. I guess they thought the SAAB was the answer. It broke up the best SkyW base. All well. (sigh)

As far as the terminal A thing, I thought walking out to spot 114 sucked. I imagine the B hardstand would be a welcome change.

 

[Deerkiller]

Also with regard to the MX, I know off atleast a couple of SkyWest techs that stayed behind at Colgan. I knew these guys and I never doubted their work. I dont think work ethic changes with a uniform.

 

[bender]

I don't know if the IAH operation is growing. Colgan is re-opening Tyler, TX as a base so that takes away 3 lines from Houston.

 

[Captain X]

Have things smoothed out with the Colgan IAH operation?

It's seamless. Like a ripped seam.

Any talk of expanding routes out of IAH?

From what I've been heard any "growth" for CAL out of IAH will pretty much be done by CHQ replacing XJT flying. I don't think there will be any "new" routes unless they were ones that were pulled down after 9/11.

 

[Alchemy]

I am not bashing Colgan. Every time I have ridden them so far (once) it has been a nice flight, things went smoothly, and it wasn't much different than an RJ flight except for the fact that your overhead bins couldn't fit my flight kit. I simply mentioned that we were met by MX and you act like I spit on your mother's grave. You guys are too sensitive. If I got this knotted up every time someone told me I had "shiny jet syndrome" I'd be out on a ledge somewhere by now.

 

[GreenFolder]

It's all about the benjamins

 

[FIXIT]

Also with regard to the MX, I know off atleast a couple of SkyWest techs that stayed behind at Colgan. I knew these guys and I never doubted their work. I dont think work ethic changes with a uniform.

You know it. We miss SkyWest. Come back soon. As for our work ethic, unchanged. As with the rest of the techs. Tell all the old IAH guys hello.

 

[txpilot1974]

I thumb rides from CLL to IAH on Colgan quite often and have never had any trouble. The crews have always been awesome.