Commuting to Colgan

[ROSWELL41]

What bases and schedules are the most commutable at Colgan? How possible is it for a new hire to be able to commute?

 

[GEORGE DUBYA]

You can commute but you are responsible for being there no matter what. I commuted for a year and never got screwed.

 

[paulsalem]

George,

Don't you end up at back in base every night at Colgan? Did you commute to and from your base every day?

 

[Trogdor]

Only the 1900's are home every night.

 

[Mesabi Miner]

Colgan is advertising for Beech 1900 street captains. Why are they doing this, and how many are they planning to hire? How hard is it to hold a HYA base?

MM

 

[It will roll]

Holy crap, I cannot believe GEORGE W just answered a questions seriously, is this a new thing for you GEORGE or were you feeling normal for a minute?

 

[dingo222]

almost all of the saabs are home every night also. If you want to commute, find a base where you can get there in one leg. 2 or 3 leg commutes blow and you will get screwed real quick.

 

[great cornholio]

almost all of the saabs are home every night also. If you want to commute, find a base where you can get there in one leg. 2 or 3 leg commutes blow and you will get screwed real quick.

Also try to pick a base where you could drive to it if needed...and its better if Colgan isn't the only airline in town...That can screw your commute up real fast.

 

[CJCCapt]

What bases and schedules are the most commutable at Colgan? How possible is it for a new hire to be able to commute?

In the NE both Saab and 1900's are home each night. There are very few NE overnights, if any. Schedules are an early morning shift ending in the early afternoon or an afternoon shift ending late evening, typically 4 on 3 off, occasionally 3 on 4 off. You will lose at least one day to commuting because you'll either have to come in the day before or leave the day after. If you live in one of the hubs (PIT, LGA, or DCA) then it's a one leg commute. Airports like PVD, BUF, or Norfolk that have other carriers flying to them can be one-leg commutes too. Commuting is tough, but more than 70% of Colgan pilots make it work. The nice thing is it's pretty easy to switch bases; it's only a two month base lock when you do. Because the bases are small in the NE, initial reserve is very short or non-existent. Most guys hold lines very quickly and build time fast.

 

[GEORGE DUBYA]

I commuted in and out every pairing and was back at my base every night except one in a year.

 

[paulsalem]

I commuted in and out every pairing and was back at my base every night except one in a year.

So you had a crash pad at your base then?

 

[jtrain609]

So you had a crash pad at your base then?

Mostly all of the bases have a crashpad

 

[GEORGE DUBYA]

Yep a crash pad that is the way to do it. I had a room at a holiday inn for almost a year. It was a nice holiday inn though. I paid 1000 a month. It was a good deal. I had a roomate a few times.That left me with a couple of hundred for food and loans and beer and beer. It is survivable. I had a girlfriend at the time it was tough. Nothing a few 19 year old flight attendants couldn't fix. I have 3 girlfriends now and two of them are each others girlfriend as well so it works out for everyone. You have to live the dream the way it was meant to be lived.

 

[paulsalem]

It was a nice holiday inn though. I paid 1000 a month. It was a good deal.

Isn't that your entire paycheck at Colgan?

I have 3 girlfriends now and two of them are each others girlfriend as well so it works out for everyone.

Nice.

 

[AWACO]

Yep a crash pad that is the way to do it. I had a room at a holiday inn for almost a year. It was a nice holiday inn though. I paid 1000 a month. It was a good deal. I had a roomate a few times.That left me with a couple of hundred for food and loans and beer and beer. It is survivable. I had a girlfriend at the time it was tough. Nothing a few 19 year old flight attendants couldn't fix. I have 3 girlfriends now and two of them are each others girlfriend as well so it works out for everyone. You have to live the dream the way it was meant to be lived.

How does that situation leave enough $ for your hair products?

 

[bertengineer]

WHat is the upgrade time in either the Saab or the 1900?
Base openings in AOO? UNV? JST?

 

[norskman2]

I have 3 girlfriends now and two of them are each others girlfriend as well so it works out for everyone. You have to live the dream the way it was meant to be lived.

YOU ARE INDEED "LIVING THE DREAM"!

 

[ROSWELL41]

What about the Texas bases? Are they commutable schedules? What is the likelyhood a newhire could get a Texas base?

 

[cx747]

Texas, not very good...probably about 4-5 months. Texas is where all the _____hole captains go...at least thats what I gathered from the one I did IOE with down there. Not my problem you're old and still flying a Saab...lighten up. I worked for where I am, can't help I'm half your age. Lots of people can confirm this about the IAH captains. No more Colgan for me, I'm done. I'm now flying over those MEL'd Saabs 20,000 ft higher and a hell of a lot faster. Corporate is the way to go...don't waste your time at Colgan. Saab is a good airplane when its used by a decent outfit. If you want a IAH base, go to expressjet.

 

[CoolSidePillow]

Texas, not very good...probably about 4-5 months. Texas is where all the _____hole captains go...at least thats what I gathered from the one I did IOE with down there. Not my problem you're old and still flying a Saab...lighten up. I worked for where I am, can't help I'm half your age. Lots of people can confirm this about the IAH captains. No more Colgan for me, I'm done. I'm now flying over those MEL'd Saabs 20,000 ft higher and a hell of a lot faster. Corporate is the way to go...don't waste your time at Colgan. Saab is a good airplane when its used by a decent outfit. If you want a IAH base, go to expressjet.

Well there are a-hole Captains at Colgan... there are a-hole Captains everywhere.... there are a-hole FO's at Colgan that will someday be a-hole Captains as with every other airline. It seems everyone you flew with were a-holes..... well since you are the common denominator maybe YOU were the a-hole ingredient. Good riddance.

 

[CoolSidePillow]

OK to all of you with commuting questions. It is better to have teeth removed with a sledgehammer than to commute anywhere for anyone. LIVE at your base. No job is worth the life you give up spending so much time in airports with these ungrateful sloppy Walmart shoppers that we cart around begging for a seat so you can have a day and a half off. If you are married or with an ugly girl.... dump them. Get a hot one and live at your base so you can tap it as much as possible. Make a lot of money or get the best quality of life.... can be both but cant be neither. As far as wondering what bases are best or which ones you might be able to get. Just look at a route map for any airline and you will get an idea what it is like for commuting. Too hard to tell what base you might be able to get. If you arent even hired yet you are at least 2 months from being assigned a base. A lot can happen depending on the FO's seniority and how close to upgrade they are and where other FO's might want to move to. It doesnt matter either way.... once you are in you can move to new bases in a few months. There is over 20 bases to choose from.

 

[cx747]

Everybody at my base were awesome captains and I had recieved complements about what a good job I was doing, etc. Captains wishing other FO's were as easy to fly with as myself. I backed up the captains I flew with. I am not a riddle rat, just an average FO. When a captain is going to be a dick from the get go then I will not give them the time of day and will not back them up as needed. They say the captain sets the tone, that is right. During an emergency, that may come back to haunt them. What would you rather have, a relaxed crew that reacts better under pressure or a nervous FO afraid of getting his head bit off by some bitter prick that busted the upgrade on the first time and is a lifer at Colgan? Hmmm. Enjoy your entire life career at colgan coolsidepillow.

 

[GEORGE DUBYA]

I am the only a hole I know of at Colgan

 

[air cowboy]

It is survivable. I had a girlfriend at the time it was tough. Nothing a few 19 year old flight attendants couldn't fix. I have 3 girlfriends now and two of them are each others girlfriend as well so it works out for everyone. You have to live the dream the way it was meant to be lived.

Uhhh.... is there really 19 year old fa's? I'm getting a semi right now. No, seriously... is there?

 

[dingo222]

19? ha, we have 3 in my base that just turned 19, and one was a hooters waitress before she came to colgan! Too bad i started loosing my pubes before they started growing any, lol

 

[Fred Rogers]

I am also an a-hole but the people I fly with are really cool. (Not IAH)

I also commute across the continent of America with 2 legs. It could be worse actually. Would be worse if had gf/wife/kids. Especially worse with my ex wife nagging me every day of my miserable life. "why don't you make any money?" "Why aren't you ever home?" "Are you boning that flight attendant?" "You aren't meeting my needs!" "Why are you such a looser?"

the last one got me so I dumped the B!tch and now am trying to emulate George's lifestyle with many concubines and sluts. Life is good

 

[air cowboy]

19? ha, we have 3 in my base that just turned 19, and one was a hooters waitress before she came to colgan! Too bad i started loosing my pubes before they started growing any, lol

Forget flying a jet, I'm taking chuck up on his interview! Ladies here comes the cowboy! YEEE HAwww!!!!!!!

Props might be for boats, but I dig sailing!

 

[Prop2Jet]

I heard George ate his own A-hole !

 

[Prop2Jet]

upgrade blows now!

 

[CJCCapt]

WHat is the upgrade time in either the Saab or the 1900?
Base openings in AOO? UNV? JST?

Assuming you meet the min upgrade times (at the moment the Saab is 2000TT 1000 in type, I don't know on the Beech), Saab 14 - 18 months. On the Beech as little as 8 months. Some rumors going around about hiring street captains for the Beech again. We just upgraded April 05 hires, #220 or so on senority list.

Yes, yes, and probably not. JST is supposed to go over to Regions Air (but Regions hasn't been able to get it together yet).