How is Colgan?

[Justino]

What are your thoughts on Colgan as a point to start a regional career?

Pros/Cons welcome

Thanks
~J

 

[Capn Lucky]

OMG.. please do a search

You'd get lots of actual time in turbine aircraft and lousy schedules. The former looks good on a resume. If you are in the saab and don't commute, it could be a good situation. There is one distinct advantage and that is Colgan being a small company where you can actually call someone named Colgan (or their maiden name was Colgan) and you may get a favor.

 

[Justino]

Sounds great! Thank u for your advice!


~j

 

[tittyjet]

Try doing a search, sport. You'll get enough advice to keep you busy for the rest of the day.

 

[chperplt]

As Titty said, do a search. Once you do, you'll likely change your title to either How is a colon cleanse, or how is an enema...because that's what it feels like to work there... or how's this one... How is FAA enforcement action or Does Colgan offer loss of license insurance ... or what's it like to pound my head into a wall time and time again, because that's what it's like asking one of those Colgans, or people formerly known as a Colgan for a favor.

How's sim going Lucky?

 

[FN FAL]

Justino, don't listent to these guys. At one time, both of these guys jumped up on the Colgan's desk, put some sand down, put on their tap dancing shoes and pulled out their banjos.

During their interview, they were the smilingest, toe tappingest, banjo playingest negro's in the pool. That's how they got hired...and now they be bad mouthing their old master.

 

[climbhappy]

while your at it, do a search for the debate last year regarding whether or not all ex colgan pilots are pond scum. that was a hearty debate and one of which I belong to. For the record I don't think we are pond scum, but when you're sitting in a worn out ,faded ,texas looking paint job, miscellaneous cowl parts, oil film covered "C" model and the passengers are snickering as they board, you really want to change places with the ramper and wave
Ba' Bye, at the piece of crap with its leaky windshield taxi's off.

Bottom line, when you're sitting in it with your airline pilot uniform on,
you feel like pond scum and you'd rather be driving a taxi in San Juan looking forward to" Beer thirty"

 

[Justino]

Thank you all for your comments. I am confident that not everyones experiences are the same and some have had bad and some have had great times at any job. I look forward to joining and applying to companies like Colgan and to have the opportunity to work my way up to Captain. My moto is your never happy with what you are doing or flying until you are no longer able to do it. Remember guys, I am looking in on your job experience with great awe and envy while you sit and type a reply knowing that you will be flying in just a few hours. I guess in simple, take the time to look at yourselves and see what you have accomplished whether your flying a B1900 or a B-777 you are a professional pilot and have it better then most aspiring proffesional pilots could ever imagine.


Keep flying safe and V1 ---rotate.

Best
~Justino

 

[Jetmech41]

See attached photo.

Listen to the guys that worked there. I never have but, do have close ties to sombody, Actually a few ppl. that did work there. Im sure the maint. has gotten better or at least I hope it did. Good luck with what ever you decide.

 

[frjmx328]

Justino, don't listent to these guys. At one time, both of these guys jumped up on the Colgan's desk, put some sand down, put on their tap dancing shoes and pulled out their banjos.

During their interview, they were the smilingest, toe tappingest, banjo playingest negro's in the pool. That's how they got hired...and now they be bad mouthing their old master.

That was hysterical!

 

[Capn Lucky]

I just finished!! IOE Starts soon. Life is good so far over here.

For the record, Colgan called me and asked me to work for them and I never played the banjo. I don't think the assistant chief appreciates the genre.

 

[BRA]

deleted

 

[druglord]

Congrats Lucky,
Justino...it would be easier not to badmouth the company if our friends hadn't died while working there.

*waitint in anticipation for cherplts response*

 

[tittyjet]

No banjo playing here. As a matter of fact I had never even heard of the place until they called me, asking me to come interview. They must've gotten my resume off of the web (AEPS), as I was flying checks at that point in order to build time. When I interviewed with MK (those from back in the day will remember him), two questions were asked, "When can you start?" and "Do you have any questions for me?"


Speaking of back in the day, what ever happened to Jose?

 

[chperplt]

Simple fact.. The Colgans care more about keeping the buffet full than keeping their airplanes maintained.

what ever happened to Jose?

After he left Colgan, he went to work for ACA.. That lasted all of a month or so and then he took a job with the FAA. He's in charge of dispatch oversight for the SEA FSDO. At least that's where he was about a year ago.



What's up Drugdude?

Have a blast on IOE Lucky!! Give me a call next time you and the wife make it out to Vegas!

What's up BRA... No quotes??

 

[Justino]

Ok now what?

So who would you guys recommend me to apply to? Like I said I have about 1300 TT 400 MEL and around 200 (none ftd) IFR time.

I will be current again in about two weeks but have to wait until december to finish graduate school before I can apply for the jobs. So at about 10-12 hours a month of flying to build upon my total time, will most regionals blow me off or do you guys think I have a chance. Should I go back and instruct --again?

Thanks
~J

 

[FN FAL]

So who would you guys recommend me to apply to? Like I said I have about 1300 TT 400 MEL and around 200 (none ftd) IFR time.

I will be current again in about two weeks but have to wait until december to finish graduate school before I can apply for the jobs. So at about 10-12 hours a month of flying to build upon my total time, will most regionals blow me off or do you guys think I have a chance. Should I go back and instruct --again?

Thanks
~J

I would say based on the logic presented here against the Colgans and Colgan airlines, that you put your list of potential application airlines into two columns.

One column will be the airlines where maintenance was a causal factor in accidents and incidents, the other column will be the airlines where pilots were a causal factor in accidents and incidents.

In the event that an airline has both, use a ratio to determine which column the airline should belong in.

Take the column where maintenance was an issue and strike those airlines off your list of potential resume recipients.

Then take your remaining candidate airlines, cypher through the ones that have minimums you don't meet...then apply away!

 

[Justino]

Thank u

Thats a good idea! ~Thanks

 

[flyboy]

Really though, how many pilots do you hear on here screaming about how much they love their regional? I think it's safe to say that there is no perfect place. I've seen pilots on this board talk about how much they hate their job at: MESA, COLGAN, PSA, PIEDMONT, ASA, EAGLE, just to name a few. I'm certain that all of these places have definite downs, but unless you are planning on making a career at one of these regionals, I would say put your resume in and be as choosy as you can be. In the end, get your time in as fast as you can and move on.

 

[chperplt]

No, there are no perfect airlines. I don't know of any other however, that values safety as little as Colgan does.

I'm not saying that they don't care about safety, as I'm sure they do. They just value the cost benefit of not keeping the airplanes as safe as they should be a little more.

I just read an article in the NY Post about EAS service. It said that the Colgan LEB-LGA service is valued at 2.1 million per year in subsidies. For a company that has many of these routes, it is rediculous to think that they cannot or would not maintain their aircraft in a satisfactory condition.

You make your own decision about sending in a resume. Keep in mind that if you do work for them, you'll be asked to do a lot of shady things. You'll also be asked to do many things you can read about at www.ntsb.gov.

Fly safe and good luck!