Some Colgan news

[Seggy]

Officially it was announced today that...

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071206/aqth041.html?.v=37

Not surprising at all.


Furthermore, it looks like we are going to be getting a new Flight Operations Policy and Procedure Manual within two weeks. From what I have been told, unless it was a miscommunication, it is going to be about 900 pages. Supposedly, they are going to have separate sections for all three airplanes, as they get rid of the Beeches and eventually the Slaabs, they are going to trim them up.

Yay!

[SmitteyB]

Did they move all the Beeches out of the WV and SW VA airports?

Are they all in the NE now?

[Seggy]

The Beeches are being moved to OKC because the leases are up. No more Beeches on property come October 2008.

[Van_Hoolio]

What are they going to replace the Saabs with, and on what sort of timetable?

[OldTownPilot]

I vote that this section be renamed the Colgan Pilot Corner.

Go Beech!

[SmitteyB]

This is a crazy rumor and take it for whats it worth...

Our flight attendant today told us that she heard from a Q400 CA in training that...

60 FIRM orders for Q400 and 40 FIRM for Q200's?

When she closed the cockpit door, my captain and I looked at eachother and rolled our eyes.

Anyone else here this stuff?

[Seggy]

Not really a rumor. Some truth to it.

Yes they are working on that. Nothing is firm but it makes sense. Bombardier would reopen the Dash-200 production line with a large order and fit the Dash8-200 with the -300 engines to give it more power.

The Dash 8-200/-400 are basically the same type, so crews would be interchangeable with only minor differences training. Also Colgan/Pinnnacle would get better deals on parts and service from manufacturer.

[jynxyjoe]

hehe, here we go. new plan.

pinnacle strikes and pinnacle corp agrees to staple you guys to the bottom.
THEN
pinnacle starts up negotiations on the dash -200 and -400's for the scope clause
THEN
all colgan pilots get based in MEM reserve for the next 2 years on the rj 200 while all the pinnacle guys take the new shinny t-props and all the capt upgrades on the -200's and -900's.

remember: Simply the best!

hey at least colgan will finally have a good contract and you can thank the pinnacle guys for it. ohh! colgan family takes a fat golden parachute and everyone gets one last envelope with $50 in it.

[Cruise]

Originally Posted by OldTownPilot

I vote that this section be renamed the Colgan Pilot Corner.

Go Beech!

It's like a plague....we're everywhere.

[Snuggle]

if you go on crewtrac and go check open time, for equipment you will see the following:

DH4
DH8






DH4 and DH8 ????? I don't get it. Isn't that the same thing?

[USMC-SGT]

Im in Toronto and I have not heard anything about any orders for any airplanes but who knows...it still hasnt been announced that there are new bases for the Q besides reading it on JC.

It would not be shocking since the new Q200, Q300 and Q400 all share a common type rating and the upgraded 200 and 300 have better performance than their older counterparts with the 300 doing around 280 knots.

[Snuggle]

Originally Posted by USMC-SGT

.it still hasnt been announced that there are new bases for the Q besides reading it on JC.

I got a message from company on crewtrac about the new Q bases, but let's see how long they actually last.

[USMC-SGT]

thats what I was saying...i cant log into crewtrac but there has been no mention from anyone at colgan to us about new bases or anything. I know they exist because you all saw it on crewtrac and posted it here but I would think that we would get a "hey by the way" Oh well..it was easy filling out my base assignment sheet in indoc..you could pick ewr or newark

[SmitteyB]

I love the Saab and it's really a pilot's airplane, but the Dash is much more passenger friendly airplane.

[greaper007]

Originally Posted by SmitteyB

I love the Saab and it's really a pilot's airplane, but the Dash is much more passenger friendly airplane.

You'll have to excuse me Smittey, but how so? Just because of anr in the cabin?

Seggy if all the Beeches are off property in Oct. where are you going to go?

[SmitteyB]

Originally Posted by greaper007

You'll have to excuse me Smittey, but how so? Just because of anr in the cabin?

Seggy if all the Beeches are off property in Oct. where are you going to go?

Yes, the cabin ANR is one. I think the Saab 340B+ have the ANR though.

The Cabin in wider and the ceiling is higher. More legroom and a bigger bathroom.

[Seggy]

Got some more concrete info today. Yes the 4 inch around 900 page Flight Operations Manual is coming soon.

Furthermore the next contract we sign with the Q WILL be UAL out of DEN. Look for that contract to be solidified by summer '08.

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by greaper007

Seggy if all the Beeches are off property in Oct. where are you going to go?

The Q in DEN.

[PCL_128]

Originally Posted by Seggy

The Q in DEN.

Hopefully you'll be out of there by then anyway.

[desertdog71]

Originally Posted by Seggy

Got some more concrete info today. Yes the 4 inch around 900 page Flight Operations Manual is coming soon.

Furthermore the next contract we sign with the Q WILL be UAL out of DEN. Look for that contract to be solidified by summer '08.

I have heard this as well. 15 in EWR, 10 more in IAH for CO and then 10 in DEN for UA.

As for the United news, it will be interesting to see if they open an IAD base or not. More rumor of course.

[SmitteyB]

When ALPA passes and we can negotiate a respectable contract I doubt people will hear Colgan and laugh.

Let's help out the guys behind us.

[Airdale]

Arh...there's a change in the wind says I.

[greaper007]

Originally Posted by SmitteyB

When ALPA passes and we can negotiate a respectable contract I doubt people will hear Colgan and laugh.

Let's help out the guys behind us.

I agree Smittey, once the Q is on property I think we'll be able to pass ALPA just on the Q's payrate. Colgan likes to say that they adjust the pay based on other Turbo-prop operators, however Horizon pilots are making at least 25% more to fly the Q. The industry standard argument is somewhat null in that respect. Also EWR, DEN, these are very expensive cities. We'll need more pay or a very solid commuting clause. Seggy, when do you guys plan on ramping up the drive again?

[SmitteyB]

Originally Posted by Airdale

Arh...there's a change in the wind says I.

Ok Yoda- elaborate.

[TVB]

Originally Posted by greaper007

I agree Smittey, once the Q is on property I think we'll be able to pass ALPA just on the Q's payrate.

The Q pay rate was announced before the first ALPA drive. The biggest challenge I bet this time around will be management working a little with the colgan pilot group and saying, "look, we're already giving you guys what you want through them."