Colgan Air

[GaTechKid]

In BUF the average pay credit was 82 hours. In JHW it was around 78. The numbers I posted were based on min guarantee and zero per diem because most colgan pilots do not earn any significant per diem.

Mark's paycheck isn't the norm at all because he most likely was the most used and abused FO that month.

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by GaTechKid

In BUF the average pay credit was 82 hours. In JHW it was around 78. The numbers I posted were based on min guarantee and zero per diem because most colgan pilots do not earn any significant per diem.

Mark's paycheck isn't the norm at all because he most likely was the most used and abused FO that month.

Kyle there are bases that have signifigantly more hours than those posted above. Once seniority is reached, it is easy to see where one stands and transfer to the base they want IF they want to fly more. Probably the best base in the system is PQI, you are going over there and only work three days a week.

August was a busy month, however, one can easily bid other bases if they want to credit 100 hours a month.

[OldTownPilot]

Originally Posted by Seggy

Probably the best base in the system is PQI, you are going over there and only work three days a week.

Great.....more time off in a shardy po-dunk northern maine town with NOTHING to do. Me.....I'd fly an etra day than have an extra day off up there.

[amorris311]

mark how many times do you fly the beech to lga? i dont see them that much i was just curious. thanks for the reply.

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by OldTownPilot

Great.....more time off in a shardy po-dunk northern maine town with NOTHING to do. Me.....I'd fly an etra day than have an extra day off up there.

Don't worry, the lines out of BHB are VERY nice as well. In the summer they are 90-100 hours. For November the most junior line is 77 hours (which will turn into a 90 hour pay credit). The others are 86 and 96 (this means more like 96-106 pay credit)

In my experience add 10 to what the pay credit is starting at, that will be the min you will get for the month IF not more.

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by amorris311

mark how many times do you fly the beech to lga? i dont see them that much i was just curious. thanks for the reply.

Depends how many Slaabs are broken and the time of the year.

[amorris311]

so it is a mostly saab destination. where does the beech fly?

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by amorris311

so it is a mostly saab destination. where does the beech fly?

The Beech fills in for the Slaaby on ALL destinations on the USAirways Express side when the Slaaby breaks except DCA.

Its funny when you are filling in for the Slabby, the memo doesn't get to the gate, and they send you out 33 people for the last flight going to CHO.......

The Beech bases is where the Beech flies for scheduled service.

I would bet in three years the Beech Balls are retired.

[GaTechKid]

lol - Yes, if you are based in the LGA system you will credit a lot of hours. The PIT/IAD/DCA system not so much. $1800 take-home is still a lot more than the average Saab FO based in the LGA system. 141 credit hours is insane, but at least we know who's picking up the bar tab.

[riot shields]

how hard/senior is the pvd base ?

[amorris311]

Originally Posted by Seggy

The Beech fills in for the Slaaby on ALL destinations on the USAirways Express side when the Slaaby breaks except DCA.

Its funny when you are filling in for the Slabby, the memo doesn't get to the gate, and they send you out 33 people for the last flight going to CHO.......

The Beech bases is where the Beech flies for scheduled service.

I would bet in three years the Beech Balls are retired.

that sucks i would love to fly one of those. i am about two years away from applying i would love to have flown one.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Originally Posted by amorris311

that sucks i would love to fly one of those. i am about two years away from applying i would love to have flown one.

Well Great Lakes will still have em!

[Cruise]

Originally Posted by Seggy

We get a paycheck on the 5th and 20th of the month. The 5th paycheck is half of your guarantee, your 20th paycheck is the overtime+per diem check.

My pay credit was 141 hours 34 minutes for that month and per diem was $451.34 went TDY all over the place.

Why was my pay credit so high? I did a lot of stuff through LGA that month and we all know LGA=$$$$. Secondly, I deadheaded a lot through LGA. Thirdly, I was drafted 5 times that month! Fourthly, did some test flights, repos, runups, and repositions in a busy MX base during the summer.

Worked my a$$ off, flew close to 110 hours, but was happy when the pay check came.


That is a high paycheck for a Colgan FO, usually, we are in the 95-110 hour credit range, but it can happen when you get a month like my August.

You had a great post on first year pay, once I get my overtime check for last month, I think I am going to try to break it down. I think it would be good to compare.

These hours will NEVER happen if you're on the Saab. On the Beech, ABSOLUTELY. Seggy's living proof.
On a side note.....Dude, that's Sweet 141 pay credit...WOW!

Saab pilots are only allowed 100 flight hours per month....per the regs. I've never gotten 100 hours flight time in a month (I've avg. 80hrs/ month flight time). In fact, my BEST PAY credit month since I've been here was only 109 hours. That includes Holiday Pay, Deadhead time, Junior Manning, Under-Block credit, etc.... Basically every "additional credit" pay possible. So, I've gotten lucky. I've always been able to fly more than guarantee (75hrs/ month) but not by a large margin. Although, that being said, I'm not flying into LGA on a regular basis.....anyone going there typically does very well w/ the pay credits as previously discussed by the others.

[dingo222]

I'm number 3 of 4 in my base. My line this month was 86 hrs, and my pay credits will be around 110 since i was scheduled to fly with a check airman and I got bumped so he could do IOE. I made up the 4 days at ORF, and picked up a ton of per diem and hours. THis month I'll be number 2 in base as an FO, with a 96 hr line. THats 3 on and 4 off. THe number one line here is 98 hrs; the number 3 line is 75 hrs. THey all have at least 14 days off. THe 4th line is a reserve line, which we have never had in the past. IT looks like it will go to someone out of IOE mid month, and be turned into a 4th line in DEC.

Some bases just suck. We did the United flying for a while and we were getting 55 hrs a month, with little time off. THe LGA flying is better, with more time flying and more time off. My 2 cents worth

[Seggy]

Exactly if you are in a base that sucks, get out of that one and go to one that enables you to have a schedule like that.

[Bandit_Driver]

Originally Posted by Seggy

The Beech fills in for the Slaaby on ALL destinations on the USAirways Express side when the Slaaby breaks except DCA.

Its funny when you are filling in for the Slabby, the memo doesn't get to the gate, and they send you out 33 people for the last flight going to CHO.......

The Beech bases is where the Beech flies for scheduled service.

I would bet in three years the Beech Balls are retired.

33 people into 19 seats has to be pretty amusing as the gate agent decides who goes and who stays...

[sigpilot]

I'm mid way through sim and got assigned ABE. Any word on that base besides it flying to PIT and IAD?

[GaTechKid]

You're basically screwed, but it's ok. You can transfer to JST in a few months.

Don't live downtown. Talk to the lead captain because a couple captains there have some crashpad deals. Also, don't live downtown. Schedules are decent in ABE. If you want an incredibly easy Colgan experience then transfer to Buffalo. If you want some serious IFR full approach "OMG I can't even put on the autopilot on this 250' DH approach because the gosh darn glideslope keeps traversing up and down" winter experience that results in you landing on a 100' wide piece of snow covered ice at night in lake effect snow showers, then pick up some open time in Jamestown this Jan-Mar.

I had fun flying the Saab and I'm sure you will too. Oh, PM Cruise since he's based in ABE.

[Bandit_Driver]

Originally Posted by GaTechKid

If you want some serious IFR full approach "OMG I can't even put on the autopilot on this 250' DH approach because the gosh darn glideslope keeps traversing up and down"

Sounds like the ILS in Scranton, PA

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by GaTechKid

If you want some serious IFR full approach "OMG I can't even put on the autopilot on this 250' DH approach because the gosh darn glideslope keeps traversing up and down" winter experience that results in you landing on a 100' wide piece of snow covered ice at night in lake effect snow showers, then pick up some open time in Jamestown this Jan-Mar.

Ahem, Saab this, Saab that, autopilot this, autopilot that. Dude remember there are SOME at your former company that DO NOT have an luxury of an autopilot AT ALL in the airplane to fly in cruise much less than shoot approaches. During January-March we have to hand flying around all day then shoot an NDB at night into Rockland Maine with a circle to land when its gusting to 40 knots and a blizzard. I'll take that ILS anyday. After you land you have to stand outside in that wind with the blowing snow and make sure the 19 PAX don't trip on their way out!

[GaTechKid]

You are a braver man than I! Don't worry, I haven't forgotten who's actually doin' da colgan

[ChrisH]

I have some questions, that really apply to about any airline.

All airlines have a minimum guarantee ... most 75. However, most lines tend to be more than guarantee. What is the average line at most airlines? The more seniority you get, do you typically get lines with more credit?

When it comes to pay, you guys talked about getting half of guarantee one pay check, and half the next pay check. If you fly over guarantee, which most lines are over guarantee, how do you get paid the extra? Does it all go into the next months paycheck?

At Colgan, do captains also credit 100+ hours per month, typically? If so, someone upgrading to CA on the Saab, 2nd year, can pull in $50K+. While a Beech CA can pull in $40K plus. That really isn't bad at all, for turbo-props.

-Chris

[GaTechKid]

At Colgan you were paid your over guarantee/per diem on the 20th of the next month. I had two captains that will make 50K and one that will make 57-59K. 2 of them picked up open time on about half of the weekends. In 8 months on the line I made $4000 in over guarantee on 1st year pay.

[scoobs]

What kind of time do you need to upgrade? Most prop regionals its 1500 hrs which doesn't take more then a year to obtain.

[GaTechKid]

Upgrade requirements on the Saab are 2200 TT / 500 in type.