Colgan Schedules, What's Up?

[usav8or]

What's up with these schedules? Are they looking to drive some of us away? From one source, they are looking for ways to get pilots to stay around longer, and then we get schedules that encourage burn-out and broken marriages. I don't get it!

Today I heard that one of our Asst. Chief pilots told a group of new-hires that they have gone to these types schedules to encourage people to live near there base. Well I have been bases at 5 Colgan bases and 3 times I was forced out because they closed the base. Lets get realistic, unless you are Manassas based you are at the whim of Colgan and ultimately the airline indistry.

Why do they want you to live near your base? Because, you wont be far away when they want you to work on your off days. Dave Rose calls them "Colgan Days Off," this is really unpaid reserve isn't it?

I just want to go home, be with the kids, relax, and not have to be bothered with their problem becoming my problem. If you need more people, first start with taking care of the ones you have, if you you need something more, it's the real world, you're going to have to pay for it.

 

[Slave Pilot]

Union Talk

I agree, and there has been LOTS of talk about a union lately!!!!!!!!! I think it's time for a descent schedule, decent pay, and most importantly, decent treatment!!!!!!!

 

[Slave Pilot]

Centralized Bases

Heard through the rumor mill that Colgan was considering centralized bases (LGA, BOS, etc)? Anyone heard anything to this degree? Would sorta make better sense, so it just doesn't sound like something Colgan would consider.

 

[usav8or]

I haven't heard a world about a union for a very, very long time.

 

[usav8or]

I cannot see central bases in places like BOS and LGA. Where do you park the airplanes? What about those guys in Maine or all our chiefs in Manassas, or the mx bases in ALB and HYA? Basing at hubs would do nothing for our schedules, they would still give us the same number of days off and we would be in a 2 bedroom apartment with 20 other pilots and FA's because nobody has time to go home. The only thing that would work is if we did overnights like everybody else. But that would mean paying for hotel rooms and per diem.

This company suffers with "I got mine, too bad about you" syndrome. The fact is the powers that be, and the people that keep telling us that they are the pilot's representatives to management got theirs. They get to go home every night, they don't get harrased by DR or crew scheduling. I suppose the thing that bothers me the most is that the person that ellegedly made the statement re schedules is the one that had the most credibility of anyone in Manassas.

I hate unions! I wish someone could come up with a working alternative, but something needs to change.

 

[chperplt]

I absolutely love waking up from a great nights sleep and immediately getting to bash the Colgans!!!

You guys need to wake up and realize that nothing will ever change at that place.. until they go out of business or the FAA shuts them down.

usav8or

You answered your own question.

Dave Rose calls them "Colgan Days Off," this is really unpaid reserve isn't it?

The Colgans do not like commuters. They want you at their call 24/7.

As you said, the problem with living at your base is that they open and close bases at will. How many times has PWM been a 1900 base? In 3 years I was at 9 bases with only 1 base change request.

I hate unions! I wish someone could come up with a working alternative, but something needs to change.

You may hate unions my friend, but in aviation they are a necessary evil. Until you get someone with enough power to tell DR where to shove it, you guys are going to continue to get abused.

Let's not forget that the shenanigans of DR cost two of your coworkers their lives last August.

 

[chperplt]

Heard through the rumor mill that Colgan was considering centralized bases (LGA, BOS, etc)? Anyone heard anything to this degree? Would sorta make better sense, so it just doesn't sound like something Colgan would consider.

That rumor was around when I got there in 01.. Do you think they are going to spend the time and money to move things around when US Air may not be around?

 

[BRA]

Basing at hubs could help commuters. You wouldn't have to depend on colgan equipment to get you to your base. That would be HUGE. More people would be willing to live in base. Some commute because the bases absolutely suck for the most part....and none of them are ever secure to staying open. Interesting point about them not changing things around while USair has it's problems. I agree with you...but why are they buying more planes then? They said they got 5 from american eagle. THey have recieved 3 of them, and will get the next two within 60 days. And the memo said they would get more planes in the future. That seems crazy if you are on a potential sinking ship. They must have something else in the works? One would hope anyhow. And i believe it is true they own some of these new saabs they are getting.
here is another letter i got when i was first hired on:

Dear Sir or Madam:
Welcome to colgan air. We are very happy to have you onboard the team. We regret to inform you that you will not find any of us around here.

Sincerely,
Commuter clauses, bases you've heard of, and Unions.

i wrote them back and said that i had heard of syracuse.

 

[chperplt]

I agree with you...but why are they buying more planes then?

They are adding aircraft because US Air has told them to. US Air says jump, and they jump.

In reality, it's not that much of a risk for them to add aircraft. First of all, look at where they are getting them from. AE is leasing them to Colgan after they've been sitting in the dirt for a while. AE isn't risking a whole lot. If Colgan loses US Air and can't find another life line, they default on the lease and the aircraft goes back to the dirt. It doesn't really matter if they default on 10 aircraft or 100 aircraft. The corporation takes the hit either way.

Don't get a warm and fuzzy just because new (to you) aircraft are arriving.

 

[BRA]

there is no warm and fuzzy here. Some of these saabs have a placard in them that says "owned by colgan air"

 

[chperplt]

Some of these saabs have a placard in them that says "owned by colgan air"

A placard or a registration certificate that says Colgan Air? A placard is meaningless.. It's just another way of saying operated by...

 

[flifo81]

i don't know much about the ownership of the saabs....but i do know that as of today, one of those saabs will be runnong on monday, possibly to be put on hya-ack-lga until our runway opens.

 

[hifhflyer]

huh?

 

[dh82dvr]

I understand that the planes from Eagle have been purchased outright...no leases.

I don't see them centalising bases. Originator flights still have to run from out stations everyday whichmeans trips and per diem. The benefits are intangible but hotel bills a are check to cut every month.

Schedules have always kind of suked. Sometimes it seems there is a mistake and you get a good one.

The best way to deal withcalls from DR on your days off is don't answer the phone. It works well. Let the machine get it then decide if you want to do it. Thats what the chief said to do anyway.

 

[chperplt]

dh82dvr

How's the Saab? Are the kids doing well?

 

[deez_nutz2000]

They are adding aircraft because US Air has told them to. US Air says jump, and they jump.

Its US AIR says jump, and they say "How high?"

Jackass.

 

[usav8or]

I know, I screen calls on my days off, but everybody should do it. The problem Colgan hires a bunch of low-time time builders who will do whaterver DR wants regardless of the consequences.

What message do you think they would get if nobody returned their phone calls on their days off? On one occation I heard about a couple years ago, DR called the police out to do a welfare check because he wasn't able to get the pilot on the phone. We should try it, I curious to see what kind of support we would get from the CP.

Anyway what other recourse do we have under these curcumstances?

Put the word out! "Silence speaks volumes!"

 

[v-snap]

Hey guys what was the contract amount for Colgan? I forgot and am reweighing the decision. Also what does HPN availability look like for a new hire?

Thanks for the info

V-Snap

 

[chperplt]

Unless it's changed, it was 1 year/12000 prorated.

 

[Northern Lights]

What's up with these schedules?

So what is up with your new schedules? They obviously sound uncommutable, but could someone post an example?

 

[usav8or]

HPN is a junior base, but the only way you can get there is if there is an opening and I haven't heard of any movement there. The only place I have heard of any Beech new-hires going to is Johnstown and Altoona, PA., but I don't get the big picture.

 

[usav8or]

To post an example could give away our position, and since Colgan is so concerned about our careers that wouldn't be prudent. But, don't plan on any more the 3 days off in a row and remember when it comes to commuting in US Air we are an A5. That means we go on after all of the main-line employees and families, Alliwiney, Piedmont, PSA, and probably United folks too. Not to mention SWA is flying out of PHL now so fares are low and airplanes are full.

 

[Tony Soprano]

Union at Colgan?

Excuse me while I pick myself up off the floor from LOL!

Serious? Talking about the U word here? Watch Out!!!! Big Brother is watching!!

Better talk to me in person or PM me before you get all of us in trouble. Besides I got the real scoop on the Dog Food U and it ain't good news.

 

[chperplt]

What ever you do.... make sure your user name here keeps you anonymous. Once the Colgan family knows who you are, your schedules will get bad, your days off will go away, and you'll always get the crappiest airplanes...

Wait a minute... your schedules already suck, you don't have very many days off, and all the airplanes suck.. I guess you have nothing to lose.

Didn't the Senator say that he would sell the airline if the pilots tried to unionize?? Hmm.. Maybe that's what you ought to do!

 

[halfmoon]

Colgan this, colgan that. whats with all the colgan questions??

I hear the eagle saabs have been purchased........no lease. stupid move with the state of usair.

unions..........yeah right. that'll never happen. for the most part if you go to the saab side of things the crews are fairly content. i don't know anyone that would sign the dotted line.

centralized bases....... that'll happen when we get jets. if your still at colgan in the year 2031 most likely you'll have the choices of BOS or LGA for a base.

oh yeah... don't role your sleaves up when it's 90deg out side otherwise you'll be the main topic of the weekly conference call!!

 

[chperplt]

oh yeah... don't role your sleaves up when it's 90deg out side otherwise you'll be the main topic of the weekly conference call!!

That's because Tommy has nothing better to discuss..

I heard you guys got a new assistant CP.. Did the cold one leave or do you have 2 ASS CPs now?

 

[halfmoon]

chperplt,

not sure about that. Just found out a couple days ago about the new assistant CP. I can't see there's a need for 2 of them. What we need is an assistant CP at every base so they can take care of that "2%" .

 

[Chosen One]

Just found this on Amazon.com

Man, they really do have one of these books for everything. I suppose that there's a copy floating around at Colgan already. So much for the stocking stuffer idea.

 

[climbhappy]

quote: what availibility is HPN?

i was a captain there til oct 03. my old roomies, 2 of them fos and one captain are still there. there's three fos. one lives in the city.

one capt is local now as well. the other , a street capt from northwest is commuting

one fo is waiting on a comair class date. the other lookin as is the capt.

there is isn't enough flying in HPN to support four crews, the schedules always stunk.

 

[BRA]

For V snap-
with your flight time, i would hold out a little longer. Have you had anyone else look at your resume? Just to make sure everything is right on it and makes sence? But if you still want colgan give it a try. It is a year of your life minimum i guess. And many have left earlier then that. But for what it's worth i am pretty much a middle of the road type person. I am happy i am at colgan....but wish i could trade my seniority here with the same seniority at chautauqua. That isn't gonna happen. Since i have been here.....the place has only gotten better. More routes to fly, more bases to chose from, and more airplanes. The relations with management are better for some pilots then others. I also don't believe too many come to work here outright depressed. Some do, but not many. Most people i think are having a lot of fun throughout the day. The company is growing a lot, and a long with that comes growing pains. This may be part of why some don't like the june schedules. I believe the girls making the schedules try real heard to make good ones actually. I think they just have a lot of other jobs too. I was pleasently suprised that for 2 months in a row now...the schedules actually came out pretty early. In the past they have come out extremely late. So Props for that. At some point with the growth... the administration will have to grow too. And they did just add a new assistant chief pilot. So it is slowly starting. As far as upgrade...who knows? just like everywhere else. Of the last class of new hires...one was a street captain.. so that really complicates the upgrade process. Before that dude was hired....we did have a multiple number of pilots on the property that met the requirements to upgrade in the beech. Late