Colgan Question

[homer6242]

Hi All. Have a interview coming up with Colgan and wondered if you might tell me how many days off are the minimum? Is it possible to commute? how long on reservein the Saab? what is per diem and what is hr guarentee? Thank you in advance. I know some of the comments on this board but it maybe one of my only choices right now and they called me. Thanks!

 

[BRA]

10 days off minimum. No contract or anything here. They may ask you to work during those 10 days off, but this doesn't seem to be a regular thing. Per diem is $1.35/hour. 75 hours/month min pay. Not sure on reserve. Many people commute, no commuter policy though.

 

[av8n4life]

Dont' listen to everything you hear on this board...Lots of angry pilots who left just to find out the grass isn't greener on the other side...in fact, from what I understand lots of people who left for the RJ have asked to come back. Colgan is a great place to work. If you want flight time, this is the place to be. Be willing to work and get those hours built up so you can upgrade. Good luck

 

[jetops]

JuSt My TwO 02c

You better hope US Air does not go belly up there pretty close this time. Only time will tell if US air will be around this fall, Cash is king and they’re running low on that.
There a good and bad sides to any company, so just remember if you decide to work for the colgan’s there lot of there family member working in about every department.
Colgan air also expect the pilot’s to fly the aircraft until the end of the night then write up
the aircraft . The way they run maintince seem to leave 1/3 of the fleet broke every morning 0530am.Well good part is you build time and then you can depart to bigger and better places.Also I find it hard to believe some one flying a nice new RJ would want to go back flying a old Beech 1900 .Well good luck to you what ever you do.

 

[Seahawker01]

We just picked up Houston for Continental. Starting march flying 2 Saabs building it to about 10. There is also other stuff in the works with United and Delta so not totally reliant on Airways anymore either way at least Airways will be flying for another 6 months. Good people here for the most part and the Colgans really do try to take care of you. With this Continental thing training classes are being planned for 2 classes a month of 20 people. (I don’t think there are enough Saab sims to support that but oh well). One year contract and training is paid at 50 bucks a day plus hotel. Upgrade about a year. Gauenteed 10 days of a month but I typically have 15. I have been blocking 85/month but guarantee is 75. Per diem right now is not a factor with out station bases but it might happen in Houston. Colgan does not really expect you to carry mx anymore but it is often easier to carry it and deal with it later especially on the Saab where everything seems to be intermittent. The Saab has some complicated systems and is old with about 25,000 hours so it does break a lot, just deal with it. It’s an honest airplane although it flies like a truck.

 

[Kaman]

Hello,

Only "real" Cowboys and Snake Wranglers need apply! Kidding aside, Colgan is a great place to work and the training is excellent. Manger of Trng. is perhaps the best instructor I've had in over 25 years of civil and military aviation. Good luck and come here ready to test your skills to the max. Can't address too much about the SAAB, I'm in the hills flying the Beech, but the upgrade times are pretty rapid if you have the time and recommendation.

Regards,

ex-Navy Rotorhead

 

[flifo81]

There is also other stuff in the works with United and Delta so not totally reliant on Airways anymore either way at least Airways will be flying for another 6 months. .

What are you hearing about United and Delta??

 

[generaltso]

Where do people go after Colgan? Do you generally find FO's going to other regionals, and Captains going on to SW, AirTran, etc?

 

[Ben Johnson]

Homer, your going to get two sides of the story. Colgan is a revolving door. No contract, they will ask you to work on your days off, they will ask you to fly airplanes broken. There are those who will never see how distructive that place is. And those those who will only look the number of days to upgrade thinking they found gold. Some will see the expaned as quality management, many others will see it as under bidding your fellow pilot out of a job. Truth is always one reality. If this is all you can get, learn what you can. Try to notget jaded and keep a current resume. good luck

 

[homer6242]

Thank you very much for all who responded. Whatever happens is supposed to be and I'll give it 110%. God Bless all and keep it safe!

Homer!

 

[Pukindog]

Where do people go after Colgan? Do you generally find FO's going to other regionals, and Captains going on to SW, AirTran, etc?

There is your million dollar question... is pic colgan going to get you anywhere?

There are some (very very few) colgan captains that leave for airtran, jetblue types. However, the pilots leaving for airtran's and jetblue's have a lot more prior experience than just colgan. These are pilots with prior military flight time, prior 121 jet captain time, or other experience that most do not have... they most likely came to colgan from a furlough or such and was hired as a street captain. Those without these experiences are leaving for places such as fractionals (ie Citationshares) or cargo outfits like North American.

 

[English]

There is your million dollar question... is pic colgan going to get you anywhere?

I've been asking that question for three years...

 

[SEFlyer]

Dont' listen to everything you hear on this board...Lots of angry pilots who left just to find out the grass isn't greener on the other side...in fact, from what I understand lots of people who left for the RJ have asked to come back. Colgan is a great place to work. If you want flight time, this is the place to be. Be willing to work and get those hours built up so you can upgrade. Good luck

Grass isn't always greener on the other side, just a bit cheaper... Somewhere to the tune of 18,000 dollars cheaper.

 

[BRA]

To help some more on the commuting question...I would guess as much as 70% of the pilot group commutes. People of course commute to places all over the east coast. As far as going west...I have heard of: Texas, Nebraska, Seattle, California, Wisconsin, Denver and Las Vegas. I don't know about how easy these commutes are for people, but i know they do it. We are looking to fill openings for cowboys for any interested.

Memo to Colgan Pilots

"Welcome to Texas, we are happy to have you. However, the following are not invited: checklists, straight shooters, blue state residents, and healthy gums"

-Texas

 

[I.P. Freley]

Red state residents aren't welcome in the red state of Texas?

Or do you mean "red" in the classic sense, as in Commies? Like... Residents of New York, Massachusetts, and California?

 

[BRA]

fixed it. At least you got it!

 

[I.P. Freley]

Hey, I sign the release... I never miss anything in print!

*please note the above was meant to be sarcastic*

 

[BRA]

I can now move on to planning my next moderately useless post.

 

[BRA]

Here ya go...


"Holy dogsh1t! Texas! Only steers and queers come from Texas, I like you. You can come over to my house and $%#@ my sister.. "

-Gunnery Sergeant Hartman

 

[getout]

Whats a Punkindog?
Cargo? North American. Other exprience? Can you say Jody to Airtran. If your gonna type get the info first. Set the pipe down