Interview @ Colgan

[SeanAucoin]

hey everyone!

Just got a call...Have an interview at LGA next monday February 11th. anyone else get invited?

Anyone care to PM me their personal experiences with me? (yes ive been reading airlineinterviews.com)

My times were 420/30

wish me luck!

 

[OnTheRocks]

Dont go....run....

 

[flyf15]

This airline was just picketed by a whole slew of airlines, both regional and mainline. Its non-union and is probably going to be involved in a whipsaw game in the future.

Its a trainwreck in the making. If you have any other options (aside from say, GoJet), I'd go elsewhere.

 

[OnTheRocks]

trainwreck in the making? obviously you need a bit of trainwreck 101.......its been a trainwreck for a long time!

 

[SeanAucoin]

wow, seems everyone just hates colgan now adays?

 

[OnTheRocks]

wow, seems everyone just hates colgan now adays?

todays word is Republic... can you all say republic....gooood i knew ya could do it

 

[www.]

hey everyone!

Just got a call...Have an interview at LGA next monday February 11th. anyone else get invited?

Anyone care to PM me their personal experiences with me? (yes ive been reading airlineinterviews.com)

My times were 420/30

wish me luck!

I went last week and they offered me a CPT position on the Q. I'm not sure if I'll take it.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

With your times I would take the job if it is offered. Move on after gaining the 121 experience.

 

[OnTheRocks]

id hang out and instruct until someone with a contract called

 

[OnTheRocks]

at least that way, you could skip all the hassle of "do they really have downs?"

 

[SeanAucoin]

I'll play it by ear. if they offer me a job I'll take it, gain some experience and then part ways....

 

[johnsonrod]

I'll play it by ear. if they offer me a job I'll take it, gain some experience and then part ways....

I'd request the Dash 8 Q400. Why fly a Beech or Slaab when you could also fly the Q400? It would be EWR based vs. LGA based. Did they mention the Q400 when they offered the interview?

Keep in mind that Trans States (sure, not the best regional out there by a long shot) is also hiring at something like 400/50 onto the E145. I wouldn't exclude jet opportunities to get onto Colgan unless Colgan offered you something like the Q400 (great glass experience).

Good luck.

 

[dal757]

Q

I'd request the Dash 8 Q400. Why fly a Beech or Slaab when you could also fly the Q400? It would be EWR based vs. LGA based. Did they mention the Q400 when they offered the interview?

Keep in mind that Trans States (sure, not the best regional out there by a long shot) is also hiring at something like 400/50 onto the E145. I wouldn't exclude jet opportunities to get onto Colgan unless Colgan offered you something like the Q400 (great glass experience).

Good luck.

Check what they are paying you to fly the Q! It's ridiculous that guys are flying it for this rate.... Go elsewhere!!!

 

[WSurf]

Yepper, those are some sad rates. Along with no contract or workrules!

 

[dal757]

Yepper, those are some sad rates. Along with no contract or workrules!

Excactly!! I truly don't understand why guys agree to fly it at those rates. Oh well....

 

[yasir1212]

I went last week and they offered me a CPT position on the Q. I'm not sure if I'll take it.

Sure, they been begging people to take the left seat of the Q. The smart ones ran. It's pathetic anyone in the right state of mind would even consider flying the Q at Colgan's pay rate.

 

[DoinTime]

I'll play it by ear. if they offer me a job I'll take it, gain some experience and then part ways....

Working for the crap wages and benefits at Colgan destroys the foundation of this profession. Regardless of the short term intent of your employment you are killing professional pilots everywhere and undercutting the rest of your career.

 

[Striptyler]

Or you can go to the interview, and form your own opinions... Either way it's not a bad experience. You'll find most of the people on here that complain about Colgan, have never infact been involved with colgan.

Honestly, some hate it, some love it. Depends how the company fits you. With your flight times, it will be at least 2 years before you upgrade, even at colgan... so i wouldn't pick a place for fast upgrade. The Q will not be a fast upgrade at all. FO rates are pretty decent in the beech, ok in the saab, and crappy in the Q, but you get the same no matter which airplane you end up in. If you go to the beech, you'll end up in the saab or Q within a year, and it's not gonna be an easy few months.

The Flying at colgan is excellent experience. Down low in the wx gets you up to speed fast. Typical legs range from 30 min to 1:30, so you get to do it lots of times a day.

Before Pinnacle bought colgan, Colgan pretty much went under the radar, and did as regional was supposed to... Short feed routes to our code shares. the Q has changed things. Colgan, for now, is still partialy outstation based. Makes commuting hard some times, but, Everybody at a base gets to know eachother well, and you will develope into a small "family" Seems colganites always stick together, and are always willing to walk resume's in etc...

If you want a real feeling for the airline, go on the interview, and then afterwords, sit in the terminal and introduce yourself to colgan pilots... ask them how they like it, pro/cons etc.

 

[www.]

Sure, they been begging people to take the left seat of the Q. The smart ones ran. It's pathetic anyone in the right state of mind would even consider flying the Q at Colgan's pay rate.

It's all about me. I don't care about other pilots. If I can get the time and money what's it to you. Sure I'll have good schedules for awhile until the low timers can upgrade but it's all about me.

Isn't that what this job is all about? Forget everyone else and look out for #1?

 

[On Your Six]

Colgan is a 2nd or 3rd tier regional. That's the point. There are better jobs out there and you need to keep that in mind when interviewing. Your overall time is low but, guess what, regionals are hiring at those times. If you add another 100 hours worth of instruction you will have more offers because all of the regionals are desparate. Maximize your instruction time for now so that more doors will open up for you.

You have the leverage in this case. You don't have to go to Colgan - it is one of many options. If you want to fly the Q400 and get better glass experience - you should request it. Tell them you want to fly the Q400. This could be your view from the FO seat:

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=1323978&size=L&width=1200&height=812&sok=&photo_nr=18


Sure the rates suck (they are a complete insult to the flying profession), but you won't be staying. You can always get a year's worth of experience on that and then go elsewhere. The point: your departure after a year or so won't change the low rates - that's unfortunately the reality of the situation in the industry. You would get the experience and then get out. They obviously will need to improve the rates if they want to hold on to their pilots (not likely).

With that said, I would probably hold out for other regionals unless location was an absolute requirement (i.e., LGA or EWR). If I were you I would look for a place providing jet time - Mesaba, Air Whisky, Republic (if you have the hours), Skywest and even Trans States. Get some seniority now vs. waiting for a year or two and then getting on. Why go prop when you qualify for jet? If you can go to an operator where your upgrade time won't be too long (i.e., not American Eagle) and it flies jets, that's where you want to be. Colgan is one of many choices (and not a great one) - you need to remember that you have the leverage in this situation and they need to "sell it" to you.