Colgan: Part 1

FlyingNole · June 1st, 2006, 11:35

So my Colgan interview was yesterday...The gouges were somewhat helpful, but overall didnt help a whole lot. I flew up to MCO (myself), changed, and was at Flight Safety about 10 min. before my interview time. No sooner did I get my visitor pass was I greeted by Chuck Colgan, Jr. and Cathy Angelo.

We sat down and got right to it. Some standard questions: Why Colgan, why should we hire you, what makes a good captain, tell me about your worst day in aviation, tell me about a difficult student you have,etc. Then some not so standard ones: Outside aviation, what is a pet peeve of yours, define integrity. I had to stop and think about those for a second. And Chuck and Cathy provide no feedback (visually/emotionally) so I had no idea if they liked what I was telling them. Then after some paperwork it was on to the 50 question written. I studied my butt off for the ATPw, so when it came time for the test, I had it done before some of the guys who were taking it before me. Mostly 121 questions, some wx questions that made me think "WTF!," and some Low Alt and App plate questions. Pretty easy overall. About 4 or 5 guys were asked to leave after the written. Then a lot of waiting. All the guys there were Florida pilots. About 3 or 4 guys were Ari-Ben instructors, one from Kissimmee, and an ex-fire bomber. So we just sat around traded stories, and kinda sized one another up. A couple guys were 1000+ hr guys but most seemed around 600-800hrs.

Finally it was my turn for the sim. That was the exciting part. There were about 4 simulators in a big room. Citation X, Citation Bravo, and Citation Excel, then our B1900D sim at the end. I was asked to sit right seat while the other dude interviewing flew first. Since we were running low on time he got kinda rushed through the breifing which I thought was a lil unfair. But in any event the guy totally blew it. Ill just give a quick summary of his flight...

Sim guy: Hold on the 360 radial, left turns...what way are we gonna hold?

Dude: Uhhh....Uhhhh.....Teardrop?....Uhh, C'mon Co-pilot!

Me: This is your interview not mine, I got your throttles, flaps and Ill make altitude calls, but the rest is on you.

Sim guy: Ok, so much for that...Lets shoot the approach.

(The sim): GLIDE SLOPE! GLIDE SLOPE! PULL UP! PULL UP!.........BANG!

That was the end of that for his ride, then they tell me we're out of time, so I begged just for a landing. The guy agreed, and let me fly an approach from about 5 miles out. It was a blast since I knew I wasnt being graded on it, but when I greased the sucker, I wanted Mr. Colgan to know I had done so

So anyway, finishing this all up, Mr. Colgan greeted us after the sim and told me that he heard I "landed well" but wanted me to do the rest of it. So I was invited up to NYC for my sim session on my birthday on Monday. I hope thats a sign.

I figure the HR/Tech and written went well otherwise he wouldnt have asked me to come up to NYC.

So thats that....I'll let you know how it all finishes up on Monday night.

JEP · June 1st, 2006, 11:48

Congrats on getting through so far. Quick question though regarding your PNF duties and this:

Quote:

Me: This is your interview not mine, I got your throttles, flaps and Ill make altitude calls, but the rest is on you.

Sim guy: Ok, so much for that...Lets shoot the approach.

(The sim): GLIDE SLOPE! GLIDE SLOPE! PULL UP! PULL UP!.........BANG!

Without really knowing what the specific duties are, if you are controlling his throttles and he starts to go below GS are you responsible for adding power or does the PF have to request it?

And the last question, is regarding CRM. I understand this is an interview and you have probably never flown with the person, but taking it at face value it appears there was a breakdown.

Please don't take this as pointing the finger. I am asking because I don't know how the process works in an interview. I know in the real world the PNF would definetly speakup if the normal parameters are exceeded. Do they tell you what you can and cannot help a person with?

Congrats on getting to where you have in the process. Be sure to keep us updated.

FlyingNole · June 1st, 2006, 11:57

Oh ya, I knew you guys would question that part. And I even said multiple times "tell me whatever you need me to do"

Basically what we were told is, the PNF duties were adjusting the throttles after PF sets them, setting heading/HSI bugs/course, flaps, and that was basically it. The guy didnt call for me to do anything. Only yelled at me when he couldnt call the hold right. As for as the throttles, he was jockeying them the whole time so I didnt have the option of adjusting them

All he called for was for Flaps, and so I did them...I gave him alt. callouts to mins even though he didnt request them.

I wasnt trying to diss the guy, just kinda setting up the whole scenario.

Kingairer · June 1st, 2006, 13:15

Here ya go with throttle Jockying. Way to help a brother out there too. You have all the makings of a great right seat captain.

Adam2006 · June 1st, 2006, 14:16

Congrads, and good luck on your B-day.

mrivc211 · June 1st, 2006, 18:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingairer

Here ya go with throttle Jockying. Way to help a brother out there too. You have all the makings of a great right seat captain.

They will learn someday. The hard way.

CaptainChris87 · June 1st, 2006, 19:02

shouldve helped him out a bit there, pimp you are both a crew he has his job and you have yours but if need be give him some aid to soem extent.

E_Dawg · June 1st, 2006, 19:08

Chris re: guy in your avatar. Who cares....

Kingairer · June 1st, 2006, 20:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrivc211

They will learn someday. The hard way.

I dont follow Ya.

FlyingNole · June 1st, 2006, 21:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingairer

Here ya go with throttle Jockying. Way to help a brother out there too. You have all the makings of a great right seat captain.

Where did I mention throttle jockeying??? I think someone needs a lil more booty. Lighten up there tough guy...

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainChris87

shouldve helped him out a bit there, pimp you are both a crew he has his job and you have yours but if need be give him some aid to soem extent.

I told him, whatever help he needed I would give him...He never said a word except for setting the flaps.

JEP · June 1st, 2006, 22:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingNole

Where did I mention throttle jockeying??? I think someone needs a lil more booty. Lighten up there tough guy...

I told him, whatever help he needed I would give him...He never said a word except for setting the flaps.

It might have been mentioned right here:

Quote:

As for as the throttles, he was jockeying them the whole time so I didnt have the option of adjusting them

FlyingNole · June 1st, 2006, 22:39

Oh, whoops..lol...My foot is in my mouth.

I guess I meant what I said, but more along the lines of that he had his hands on them the whole time so I didnt have the option of helping him out with them. Even though he never asked for it.

Kingairer · June 1st, 2006, 23:29

-This is your interview not mine, I got your throttles, flaps and Ill make altitude calls, but the rest is on you--

Sounds like you threw him under the bus, thats all. Good luck. Youll be in a similar situation when you go to inital sim and for upgrade, PC checks etc. Maybe your perfect, but its nice if someone is being a team player, for example pull out the check list and laying it on the lap. Maybe youve forgotten since your airplane is on fire that you need to the XXXXX checklist. Dont throw your fellow aviator under the bus.

FlyingNole · June 2nd, 2006, 00:02

Dude, you werent there, quit busting my balls....and what I said is what Colgan wanted.

Seggy · June 2nd, 2006, 10:03

Nole, you did the right thing NOT calling out this guys hold (you could ask the NFP if he agrees, etc.) Talking to a sim evaluator a few weeks ago, they want to see the PF figure that stuff out and basic instrument skills, don't worry TO much on landing, the sim is a joke to land. By that time the evaluator has made his descision.

Good luck Monday!

moxiepilot · June 2nd, 2006, 10:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingNole

Dude, you werent there, quit busting my balls....and what I said is what Colgan wanted.

good job on the interview.

i disike ball busting too.

CFIse · June 4th, 2006, 22:30

Colgan needs pilots, they need you, they need him. You're not in competition for the job, if they hire him it's not like they won't hire you.

Next time - help a brother out, because the next one helped out might be you.

Seggy · June 4th, 2006, 22:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFIse

Colgan needs pilots, they need you, they need him. You're not in competition for the job, if they hire him it's not like they won't hire you.

Next time - help a brother out, because the next one helped out might be you.

Nah he did the right thing. In the sim ride the pilot flying HAS to call the hold in a decisive manner. He can ask the NFP to confirm it!

Kingairer · June 5th, 2006, 00:51

Bypass the lecture about this being "HIS" interview.

GaTechKid · June 5th, 2006, 11:23

I drew the hold out for the FP during my sim ride, but the sim instructor conducting the interview was liberal with what he allowed.

desertdog71 · June 5th, 2006, 12:06

Happy Birthday by the way. Let us know how this turns out.

kellwolf · June 5th, 2006, 12:44

I gotta agree with the guys above. Welcome to 121, it's a crew environment. If the sim evaluator didn't want you to help him out, he should have told you "don't help." Even on my checkride, the check airman encouraged me to help out my sim partner if he got stuck. It wasn't a "Sorry, dude. It's YOUR checkride" deal. I understand that the airline is looking for guys to be decisive in the interview, but some of this sounds counter productive to tranferring someone used to single pilot ops to a crew environment. As far as advancing the throttles with someone else's hands on them, that can easily be done. Adjust them using pressure on the bottom of the levers.

E_Dawg · June 5th, 2006, 13:41

Couldn't agree more. The job applied for is assisting the PIC in the safe operation of the flight. I'd say swallow your pride and help the guy out; it may actually make you look better.

desertdog71 · June 5th, 2006, 13:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by E_Dawg

Couldn't agree more. The job applied for is assisting the PIC in the safe operation of the flight. I'd say swallow your pride and help the guy out; it may actually make you look better.

I kind of agree with this also, but its not my day for being correct.