Colgan Pilot Development

[greaper007]

I just recieved this email from my employer (Colgan Air). I'm not sure how other people will feel about this, but I think it looks like a pretty decent program. I wouldn't consider paying for your hotel room PFJ.


"Because of the current pilot shortage in the regional airline industry Colgan Air has been challenged with keeping our recruiting and hiring standards high while faced with a pool of lower time candidates. In response to this challenge we have developed the Pilot Development Program. Candidates that do not meet our posted minimums would be eligible for this program, at the company's discretion. All candidates will go through our regular interview process, including a full motion simulator evaluation, to determine suitability.

The week-long program will be held at Flight Safety at Hobby in Houston and will include four days of ground school and three days of simulator observation and instruction. The curriculum for the ground school was developed based on the deficiencies that we have seen with new hires in our Saab first officer training over the last year. The primary focus will be an instrument refresher course in a multi-crew environment. The ground school will also include CRM, Situational Awareness, Colgan Air Procedures and Policies, and an overview of Systems and turbine engines. The simulator portion of the training will include a total of 12 hours of observation of our new hires in the SAAB sim and 6 hours of instruction in the King Air C90 simulator. An offer of employment with Colgan Air as a First Officer training candidate will be contingent upon a successful check ride by a check airman after completion of this program. Because this is a pre-hire program, candidates that do not successfully complete the program will not be faced with a failed training on their permanent record.

Colgan Air will subsidize the cost of all expenses associated with this program however candidates will be responsible for their hotel rooms, meals and personal expenses. They will be eligible for Colgan Air's reduced rate at the Spring Hill Suites.

If you know of anyone who would be a good candidate for this program, please feel free to email me their resume at cathyangelo@colganair.com. As always, thank you so much for your support."

[v1valarob]

This has been in the works for awhile. I believe the first group will be in Feb. They where looking at a way to include the hotel in the cost.

Im still wondering what the catch is...? If I fail out or decide not to work for Colgan, do I have to pay for 18 hours of sim???

-Rob

[Toonces]

Originally Posted by greaper007

I just recieved this email from my employer (Colgan Air). I'm not sure how other people will feel about this, but I think it looks like a pretty decent program. I wouldn't consider paying for your hotel room PFJ.


"Because of the current pilot shortage in the regional airline industry Colgan Air has been challenged with keeping our recruiting and hiring standards high while faced with a pool of lower time candidates. In response to this challenge we have developed the Pilot Development Program. Candidates that do not meet our posted minimums would be eligible for this program, at the company's discretion. All candidates will go through our regular interview process, including a full motion simulator evaluation, to determine suitability.

The week-long program will be held at Flight Safety at Hobby in Houston and will include four days of ground school and three days of simulator observation and instruction. The curriculum for the ground school was developed based on the deficiencies that we have seen with new hires in our Saab first officer training over the last year. The primary focus will be an instrument refresher course in a multi-crew environment. The ground school will also include CRM, Situational Awareness, Colgan Air Procedures and Policies, and an overview of Systems and turbine engines. The simulator portion of the training will include a total of 12 hours of observation of our new hires in the SAAB sim and 6 hours of instruction in the King Air C90 simulator. An offer of employment with Colgan Air as a First Officer training candidate will be contingent upon a successful check ride by a check airman after completion of this program. Because this is a pre-hire program, candidates that do not successfully complete the program will not be faced with a failed training on their permanent record.

Colgan Air will subsidize the cost of all expenses associated with this program however candidates will be responsible for their hotel rooms, meals and personal expenses. They will be eligible for Colgan Air's reduced rate at the Spring Hill Suites.

If you know of anyone who would be a good candidate for this program, please feel free to email me their resume at cathyangelo@colganair.com. As always, thank you so much for your support."

Orrrrrrrr you could make working there more attractive to higher time applicants by I dunno ...........paying more.
It sounds kinda crazy, but it just might work.

[greaper007]

Originally Posted by Toonces

Orrrrrrrr you could make working there more attractive to higher time applicants by I dunno ...........paying more.
It sounds kinda crazy, but it just might work.

Well that's never going to happen at Colgan. I'm more focused on a commuter clause, work rules, getting per diem etc. If this was available when I was looking for a job I'd probably be into it.

[Monty]

Originally Posted by Toonces

Orrrrrrrr you could make working there more attractive to higher time applicants by I dunno ...........paying more.
It sounds kinda crazy, but it just might work.

I realized an unfortunate truth a long time ago. Airlines would rather pay twice as much in things like extra training costs, cancellation fees, etc., rather than just pay their pilots a more respectable wage.

I just don't get their reasoning behind this, but I guess that's why I'm not in airline management.

[Firebird2XC]

Seems like in recent times Colgan was willing to hire at lower total times than most other places, with a few notable exceptions. I'd say this is a continuation of that trend. By 'getting them young' they scoop up applicants who don't have the time to be considered at other outfits, thereby avoiding the need to appear competitive.


It's how they sucked me in.

[killbilly]

Originally Posted by Monty

I realized an unfortunate truth a long time ago. Airlines would rather pay twice as much in things like extra training costs, cancellation fees, etc., rather than just pay their pilots a more respectable wage.

I wonder if there is a tax advantage or some other sort of fiscal incentive to an airline to do this as opposed to raising pay. I'm no CPA, but it's got me wondering.

[Toonces]

Originally Posted by greaper007

Well that's never going to happen at Colgan. I'm more focused on a commuter clause, work rules, getting per diem etc. If this was available when I was looking for a job I'd probably be into it.

As far as them never paying more, I disagree. I bet if faced with losing their business due to lack of pilots they might reconsider. However, as long as they keep dragging starry eyed low timers in, you are right.
I interviewed there a while back. They offered me the job. I am glad I didn't go there. I ran into a fellow JC'er on the bus back to the airport in LGA. Thanks again for the pizza Seggy. You're a class act.

[USMC-SGT]

So thats how it works Seggy...

Dont think on our first flight you are getting out of the deal without buying me pizza.

[SmitteyB]

While this is rediculous....

Eagle is hiring sub 500 hour guys too!

[v1valarob]

Originally Posted by SmitteyB

While this is rediculous....

Eagle is hiring sub 500 hour guys too!

Eagle, Colgan, Piedmont, PSA, Mesa.....

-Rob

[bap327]

So how far below mins will they consider? And what will 12 hours in the sim really do for a wet Comm cert?

[greaper007]

If you're a good instrument pilot I think 12 hours in the sim will come a long way towards helping you pass your checkride. Personally, I would have washed out hard with a wet commercial certificate. I went in with 600 hours, 450 commercial about 300 MEII instructor. I had a difficult time in the sim. So if you're not a natural pilot or don't pick things up quickly I wouldn't suggest it.

[USMC-SGT]

They will hire probably close to 400 hours and I know of a girl who was just hired on the saab with a little less than 400 hours, I believe there have actually been new hires lower than that. They want 600+ TT but I want better pay and we all know you cant always get what you want.

[Gonzo]

I know someone with 480TT that just got the Q

[amorris311]

i think it will be interesting to see how this works out. i talked with mr colgan a few weeks ago and he said they were close to starting the program. i would like to see how people make it through before i submit an application.

[JBUCREW]

Originally Posted by Toonces

Orrrrrrrr you could make working there more attractive to higher time applicants by I dunno ...........paying more.
It sounds kinda crazy, but it just might work.

Ha ha ya I second that.... How about flight instruct for a couple of hundred hours and then apply. We had about 5 JetU guys in my new hire class and I think 1 or maybe 2 made it through. They all had Temp Comm Multi Certs... It was just to much for them.

[dingo222]

Originally Posted by JBUCREW

Ha ha ya I second that.... How about flight instruct for a couple of hundred hours and then apply. We had about 5 JetU guys in my new hire class and I think 1 or maybe 2 made it through. They all had Temp Comm Multi Certs... It was just to much for them.

instruct? ha! You are old school man. Mommy and daddy will pay for my jet-u so I can be a sjs stud,lol. I don't think one of my FO's in the last 2 months instructed. Sad indeed. Instructing was one of the best jobs i've ever had. A dying breed indeed!

[USMC-SGT]

Originally Posted by Gonzo

I know someone with 480TT that just got the Q

I knew the 1000TT would last for around 1 class

[v1valarob]

Originally Posted by USMC-SGT

I knew the 1000TT would last for around 1 class

One of the CFIs at my FBO, his friend was hired as a Q FO with between 400 and 500 hours. Cant remember the exact number.

-Rob

[greaper007]

Well with what Colgan pays us there's no way they can go out of business during the upcoming recession.

[SIUav8er]

This is awesome! Im glad Colgan is doing this instead of requiring the "RJ course".

if Colgan would put this money towards increasing salaries it might attract more applicants, but hey, this is a good deal for the low time guys.

[ANG135drvr]

The crazy thing is that with the first class we had a 80% wash out rate and all the guys pretty much were high timers (compared to industry mins of a commercial multi or 500 hours). Wonder how training in the future classes are going to be and if they are going to live up to that whole " we don't want to have the typical 25% wash rates like all the other regionals with low mins" haha yeah right!

[meritflyer]

Here's a novel idea...

RAISE YOUR CRAPPY PAY COLGAN rather than invest time/money into sim evals.

I know it's far out there but, worth a shot.

[SmitteyB]

Originally Posted by meritflyer

Here's a novel idea...

RAISE YOUR CRAPPY PAY COLGAN rather than invest time/money into sim evals.

I know it's far out there but, worth a shot.

Completely agree.