Question for Colgan guys possibly the Godfather?

[homer6242]

Hi All,
I was just offered a job with Colgan and had a few questions. Yes I have read past posts but wondered if someone could provide a little bit about this subject.... You probably won't get your first choice of bases, I really would like Houston. My question is how long for IAH do you think for a newbie and also if you are assigned somewhere like Prescile (SP) or Beckley, what do you guys at colgan do if you don't live there or don't want to move there. How are the housing possibilities and are there many crashpads? Thanks in advance. A lot to consider, I also have a 135 BE1900 job offer at home for the same $$ but its not 121 time. Thanks to all.

 

[mwmav8r01]

Have they told you if you get the beech or the Saab? Im guessing saab. i hear they have a base lock now for alittle while. I do nt hink ull get Presque Isle. It was senior when i left. Crash pads are hard to come by. PM me with any questions.

See ya

Matt

 

[halfmoon]

If you were offered a ground school date for the saab the chances are you will be going to housten, if your on the beech who knows where you'll end up. If you end up in Presque Isle, you'll find nothing but cheap accomodation and there's at least one crashpad at every base. Last I heard Beckly was a beech base! All lines are commutable and very from base to base, saab lines are typically better then beech lines. You probably won't sit reserve, and you'll most likey have 12-15 days off right away. Again depending on the base usually 4 on 4 off.

 

[BSkin]

My 2 cents, for the thread starter;


It is Presque Isle, and I spent six months based there ( Jan-Jul ) two years ago. One of the best bases in my view, though I was driving there from 4 hours away when I had a block of days to work. A little harder to commute to if flying. Colgan will give you what you want, depending on your experience. SAAB or Beech, you will most likely need to be flexible. But, if you're starting g. school, maybe some of the growing pains will be over by the time you get finished with IOE.

I spent 4 yrs. w/ them -- mostly good times, some bad. No longer there, however this Houston/CO thing sounds exciting. I wish you well in your new endeavour (SP) and to my friends that are still w/ them, the same.

PS (big PS) -- be nice to Dot! It'll be hard at times but, trust me you don't want to be on her bad side!

 

[TheBigH]

I really would like Houston.

Dude the last thing I'd be worried about if I was you is NOT getting Houston. Most new hires are for the Houston ops so if you want it just ask for it.

 

[Godfather]

More than likely, you will probably end up in IAH with the expansion and it will grow fast in the next year. Even if you don't get it, there are still plenty of bases in the Northeast. You better take the offer now before you get on the bottom of the list.

 

[Hobit]

How hard is ORF to get for newb's?

 

[TheBigH]

How hard is ORF to get for newb's?

From what I've heard it's a pretty senior Captain base, also heard there's a bunch of FOs upgrading from there but I know a number of guys who want ORF so who knows. All you can do is keep requesting it, you'll get it eventually more likely than not.

 

[getout]

Always be nice to Dot!!!

My 2 cents, for the thread starter;


It is Presque Isle, and I spent six months based there ( Jan-Jul ) two years ago. One of the best bases in my view, though I was driving there from 4 hours away when I had a block of days to work. A little harder to commute to if flying. Colgan will give you what you want, depending on your experience. SAAB or Beech, you will most likely need to be flexible. But, if you're starting g. school, maybe some of the growing pains will be over by the time you get finished with IOE.

I spent 4 yrs. w/ them -- mostly good times, some bad. No longer there, however this Houston/CO thing sounds exciting. I wish you well in your new endeavour (SP) and to my friends that are still w/ them, the same.

PS (big PS) -- be nice to Dot! It'll be hard at times but, trust me you don't want to be on her bad side!

NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS ALWAYS BE NICE TO DOT!! PISS THE CHIEF PILOT OFF, SCREW WITH DAVE ROSE, CANCELL A FLIGHT TO GET A BEER. YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO BE NICE TO DOT. SHE IS THE SCHEDULE GODESS. I KNOW A GUY WHO PISSED HER OFF BY SCREAMING AT HER AND, HIS SCHEDULE SUCKED FOR LIKE THREE YEARS

 

[shamrock]

Why on earth would Presque Isle be senior? Schedule? Types of trips? Man, I had some overnights there and that place was depressing! What was I missing?

I had an offer to fly a caravan out of there but thought twice about it after I drove 5+ hours to interview in Waterville and was told that Presque Isle was another 4 hours north. Wasn't worth it for me.

 

[getout]

Foe some reason there are alot of freaks that go to that frozen hell and never come back. That would include guys that moved on to Jet Blue and Air Tran. Like Skin I agree it is cheap and the beer flows BUT, the snow mobiles starting at 5 in the morning is a bit much

 

[chperplt]

Presque Isle was a great base!!

The flying was easy and the ops guys were a blast. You stay at a local hotel for cheap and the beer does flow up there!!

The bone chilling cold does suck and the snow mobiles are out early...but it's all just part of the scenary.

 

[BirdCatcher]

Any speculation as to if Houston is going to be more senior or junior?

 

[dh82dvr]

houston will grow quickly, so if you want it you will probably get it.

 

[MELIT]

houston will grow quickly, so if you want it you will probably get it.

Growing quickly? 2 saabs starting in march the next airplane shows up in may. No spare. They are set up to fail. I give them 1 year until they get the boot AGAIN! Easy come easy go.

 

[Kaman]

MELIT,

I assume that you worked for Colgan at some point in your career? Or for whatever reason you have an axe to grind. Thats fine, and I'm not going to stand-up and be a Colgan "cheerleader", but I don't have any major complaints as an employee here. I think that most people would agree that Colgan just like Mesa, American Eagle, etc... aren't perfect either.
History has shown that more than one regional airline/major airline codeshare has ended for a variety of reasons. This isn't the first time that Skywest has been dropped by a major. Skywest was dropped by UAL on their west coast system. And, so was Colgan by Continental. Having said that, I don't know the circumstances of either parting of the ways. I believe that the biggest factor was cost and the contract being awarded to the lowest bidder. I'm 99% certain that this is the case with Colgan/CAL in the IAH deal. I believe that Colgan has and has always maintained a good corporate relationship with CAL.
A comment was made on Colgan's ability to get the IAH operation up and running in the specified by CAL. We have heard that Colgan plans to acquire 12 more SAAB 340Bs and hire 150 pilots in the nest year. Also, a possibility of a 50-seater coming on the property in 2006. Of what type and how many is TBD, however, the SAAB 2000 has been mentioned. Colgan has been opertaing the SAAB for a number of years and has the corporate knowledge and logistical background to support an expanding SAAB fleet. It appears to me that the company has always tried to stick with what they know and expand slowly. The CAL/IAH operation represents the largest single expansion in the company's history.
Obviously, I have a vested in interest in seeing the IAH operation be a success. Personally, I think that it will be and hopefully position the company to be turboprop "niche" carrier. The RJ bubble has been slowly dissipating and the economics point back to the 30-50 seat turboprop making a comeback into markets served by RJs. The biggest problem is public perception and acceptance of flying on an "old prop plane". It's understandable and the flying public walking out to a DASH-8-400Q only sees those big props out there.

 

[TheBigH]

Very well put brother ...