Colgan!

Dawg · August 10th, 2006, 14:35

Just got an email from Mr. Chuck Colgan Jr. to give him a call. Had sent my resume about 3 days ago. I was not expecting a reply so soon and it caught me off guard. Can anybody tell me if Colgan is a good company to work for. I am new to the industry and just starting out, I currently work at Scenic Airlines flying twotters. Succintly, my post is for somebody to tell me what I should be expecting when I call Mr. Colgan. Thanks.

sorrygottarunway · August 10th, 2006, 16:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dawg

Just got an email from Mr. Chuck Colgan Jr. to give him a call. Had sent my resume about 3 days ago. I was not expecting a reply so soon and it caught me off guard. Can anybody tell me if Colgan is a good company to work for. I am new to the industry and just starting out, I currently work at Scenic Airlines flying twotters. Succintly, my post is for somebody to tell me what I should be expecting when I call Mr. Colgan. Thanks.

shoot me a PM. I like it here, and so do all the other colganites I gather... Some may bitch and moan, but being home every night def is nice...

Seggy · August 10th, 2006, 17:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by sorrygottarunway

shoot me a PM. I like it here, and so do all the other colganites I gather... Some may bitch and moan, but being home every night def is nice...

I'm to lazy to type the info on Colgan but would be willing to talk about it on the phone. Give me a ring at 732-306-7795 and I'll help you out.

I like it here.

GaTechKid · August 11th, 2006, 11:12

If you don't live in base and don't live in the Northeast or Texas, commuting will be very difficult. It's 3-4 legs for me right now. It sucks. I'm trying to move to another base which could give me a 1 leg option. Upgrade is 16 months in the Saab and increasing. I plan on it settling around 24-30 months but that's just my guess. Houston is the senior base by far so plan on getting a NE base. Almost all day trips in the NE so if you commute it sucks. You're back at a crashpad every night and you get zero per diem. That's a potential loss of $5000 untaxed dollars per year. However, if you live in base and have a family I can see how being home every night would be great. I also don't like flying the same route to the same two airports over and over and over. It's hard to fight complacency when you already know the frequencies, filed route, assigned route, assigned altitudes, sector changes, taxiway routes, etc... Don't go to a MX base like Albany or Manassas. You'll get used, abused, battered, and beaten.

If you don't commute this job is 10x better. To cover some FO time in my base they sent a check airman so I know we are hard up for FOs.

Cruise · August 11th, 2006, 18:41

Colgan is a good place to be. The previous guys got it right.....commuting is tough. Much better to live in base....but that's gonna be the same for any airline you work for. Yep, we're hurting for FO's right now. Lot's of open time and the hiring is continuing. Most of the FO's that are leaving right now are going to Republic.....that 170 has a strong pull on the SJS'ers out there. That being said, when you talk to Mr. Colgan, be straight forward and honest. Tell him why you want to work for Colgan. Just a hint.......whatever you do, don't say "'cause you'll hire me!" Heard about someone saying that during the HR portion of their interview.....well, let's say the door didn't even hit him in the a$$ on the way out.....can you say thanks, but no thanks....lol

I used to commute and got to my home base after 3 months w/ the company. Right now vertical movement is good. Upgrades holding right around 15 -18 months in Saab...think it might be a bit less in the Beech. Obviously, that's based on many factors and could change at a moments notice......can not be counted as fact. Hope to be able to hold my base once I upgrade but at the moment, it isn't looking good. Gonna need a bunch of guys to get jobs w/ other companies and free up some space. So, think I'll be back to the commuting lifestyle. Oh well, roll w/ the punches or get a black eye....haha

Bottom line: Many worse places to be than Colgan.

Seggy · August 11th, 2006, 19:23

Nice talking with you tonight Dawg! The only thing I ask is you let us know how it goes!

Kyle, we WILL be in CASS in 30-60 days according to the conference call yesterday!

Also Kyle, where are the wedding pictures?

Timbuff10 · August 11th, 2006, 19:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaTechKid

Don't go to a MX base like Albany or Manassas. You'll get used, abused, battered, and beaten.

Any specifics on why HEF sucks? More of a test pilot than airline pilot or something?

GaTechKid · August 11th, 2006, 20:04

I really HOPE that we do get CASS by the end of September! Every United and even some Airways gate agents are starting to complain about us not being in CASS. It's not too hard to get the United agents to let me go directly to the captain for the jumpseat, but if we're up against any other CASS jumpseater there's no chance of getting it.

New Colgan Rumot I heard. Buddy from training was flying with a check airman down in Houston who said the CAL flying is up for re-bid in November.

Some unofficial wedding pictures are up on that blasted facebook thing. I'll PM the location.

Seggy · August 11th, 2006, 20:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaTechKid

I really HOPE that we do get CASS by the end of September! Every United and even some Airways gate agents are starting to complain about us not being in CASS. It's not too hard to get the United agents to let me go directly to the captain for the jumpseat, but if we're up against any other CASS jumpseater there's no chance of getting it.

New Colgan Rumot I heard. Buddy from training was flying with a check airman down in Houston who said the CAL flying is up for re-bid in November.

Some unofficial wedding pictures are up on that blasted facebook thing. I'll PM the location.

Look forward to the pics!

Why is it up for rebid?

Seggy · August 11th, 2006, 20:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timbuff10

Any specifics on why HEF sucks? More of a test pilot than airline pilot or something?

Nah I am based in a MX base, you MIGHT do a test flight about once a month, which are actually pretty cool. Doing stalls in the real airplane

I enjoy being based in a MX base as when we have an airplane we swamp out to bring for MX, we have to read about the MEL in the book. Makes you sharper and allows you to understand the system better.

GaTechKid · August 11th, 2006, 20:38

Quote:

Any specifics on why HEF sucks?

Tim, HEF is to Colgan as JAX is to ATP. It's the head of the dragon, the den of the lion, the heart of the beast. The administrative HQ is right there at the hangar in Manassas, and as a junior FO you WILL be sitting hot reserve on the couch there in the front foyer. You'll be living with 16 other Colgan pilots/FAs because Manasty is soooo expensive. You'll be used and abused because stuff breaks all the time all over the Colgan system and guess who scheduling will get to go deadhead to wherever. You'll have more than your fair share of abnormals, aborted T/Os, etc.. because you'll be doing operational checks on all the planes coming out of maintenance. Even when you have a line out of HEF you'll probably spend half the time sitting at the airport for the whole day because the aircraft you were supposed to return to the PIT/LGA system never makes it out of the barn. I'm sure there's some other reasons I'm not thinking of right now.

GaTechKid · August 11th, 2006, 20:41

Quote:

Why is it up for rebid?

Not sure if it's even true. Why would Colgan agree to just a 2 year contract? Regions Air has dropped the ball and it looks like Colgan will be in JHW for at least another month.

wheelsup · August 11th, 2006, 23:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seggy

I enjoy being based in a MX base as when we have an airplane we swamp out to bring for MX, we have to read about the MEL in the book. Makes you sharper and allows you to understand the system better.

you forgot to add early shows and late finishes generally at mx bases. not much fun IMO (yes I'm at a mx base...unfortunately)

Maximillian_Jenius · August 12th, 2006, 05:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seggy

I'm to lazy to type the info on Colgan but would be willing to talk about it on the phone. Give me a ring at 732-306-7795 and I'll help you out.

I like it here.

Damn...JH or FlyingNole was right when they said you'd talk to anyone!!!

Cruise · August 12th, 2006, 07:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seggy

Nice talking with you tonight Dawg! The only thing I ask is you let us know how it goes!

Kyle, we WILL be in CASS in 30-60 days according to the conference call yesterday!

Also Kyle, where are the wedding pictures?

Yep, that's true. Heard the same deal at recurrent ground the other day. CASS should be operational w/in 2 months.....or less!!! Nice.

Wedding??? Holy Crap, Congrats Kyle!

Seggy · August 12th, 2006, 08:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximillian_Jenius

Damn...JH or FlyingNole was right when they said you'd talk to anyone!!!

Karma, help as many people as you can because you WILL need someone to help you one day!

Plus this website has been so good to me. I want to return what this website has given me to others.

WestIndian425 · August 12th, 2006, 08:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaTechKid

Tim, HEF is to Colgan as JAX is to ATP.

That's a scary, scary thought, Kyle.

Oh, and I'd love to see the pics as well.

Neil

surreal1221 · August 12th, 2006, 10:28

Colgan? And CASS?

Colgan being in CASS would be one hell of a great reason for me to apply there when the time comes. Commuting is going to suck, but I'm not going to have too many options when the time comes. The wife will be rather entrenched in a career in the Atlanta area. If ASA doesn't take me, I'll be shootting apps everyone that has CASS so commuting will be a bit, if only a little bit, easier.

Adam2006 · August 12th, 2006, 16:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seggy

Karma, help as many people as you can because you WILL need someone to help you one day!

Plus this website has been so good to me. I want to return what this website has given me to others.

Bravo! This is great. Pay it forward.

Seggy · August 16th, 2006, 01:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dawg

Just got an email from Mr. Chuck Colgan Jr. to give him a call. Had sent my resume about 3 days ago. I was not expecting a reply so soon and it caught me off guard. Can anybody tell me if Colgan is a good company to work for. I am new to the industry and just starting out, I currently work at Scenic Airlines flying twotters. Succintly, my post is for somebody to tell me what I should be expecting when I call Mr. Colgan. Thanks.

What happened?

LoadMasterC141 · August 16th, 2006, 13:24

Question for you Colganites:

I have considered applying to Colgan in a few years when I have the quals, mainly because they operate in both the area I live now (Temple-Killeen) and the area I am from and want to get back to (NE - They have a base in my hometown of Ithaca).

The really big drawback though is the money. I mean it just is not comparable to the "jet" regionals past the first year pay. And Captain pay at others seems even higher.

The mins seem a bit lower than others, and it probably is nice to be home nightly, but I have to imagine there is alot of attrition to other airlines because of the pay?

Please do not think this is a flame, because it is not. Colgan seems to be a great airline; from what I have read, most pilots there seem to like it. I have heard great things about the president as well. I am just curious why someone would elect to make less money when other regionals are hiring and paying more at the second year.

Maybe I am missing something.

Seggy · August 16th, 2006, 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoadMasterC141

Question for you Colganites:

I have considered applying to Colgan in a few years when I have the quals, mainly because they operate in both the area I live now (Temple-Killeen) and the area I am from and want to get back to (NE - They have a base in my hometown of Ithaca).

The really big drawback though is the money. I mean it just is not comparable to the "jet" regionals past the first year pay. And Captain pay at others seems even higher.

The mins seem a bit lower than others, and it probably is nice to be home nightly, but I have to imagine there is alot of attrition to other airlines because of the pay?

Please do not think this is a flame, because it is not. Colgan seems to be a great airline; from what I have read, most pilots there seem to like it. I have heard great things about the president as well. I am just curious why someone would elect to make less money when other regionals are hiring and paying more at the second year.

Maybe I am missing something.

First off let me say Colgan is NOT for everyone. However, the grass isn't that much greener at other places. I love my job here and in all honesty the company hasn't treated me unfairly or badly. A guy that was in the crashpad with me left Colgan after a year to go to Chickentaco. He is trying to get back to Colgan as a street captain. All regionals are the same in one form or another.

Colgan is not a place that a lot of people stay at for long periods of time. They come here a few years, get their time and move on. Before these RJs came onto the scene, thats what pilots would do, go to a turbo-prop commuter outfit, upgrade in a year to two years, then move onto a major. Colgans payscale is to reflect that tradition. I will be making second year FO pay in a month and a half. Will it be below other FOs flying an RJ. Yes. However, I will upgrade in 4 months. I would MUCH rather be making 2nd year Captains pay flying a Beech 1900 than making 2nd years FO pay flying an RJ. I hope to be at a major within 4 years from this time, rather than waiting to upgrade on an RJ.

Hope this provides some insight. Traditionally, you upgrade your second year at Colgan. So if you look at second years Captain's pay that has been traditionally been a better indication of what you will be making.

Timbuff10 · August 16th, 2006, 16:16

How much time do they require you to have to upgrade at Colgan? I know what the FAA requires and what the insurance requires are two totally different things.

Are there alot of guys who have the seniority to be captain stuck waiting around to meet the insurance mins to be captain?

Seggy · August 16th, 2006, 17:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timbuff10

How much time do they require you to have to upgrade at Colgan? I know what the FAA requires and what the insurance requires are two totally different things.

Are there alot of guys who have the seniority to be captain stuck waiting around to meet the insurance mins to be captain?

Insurance is 1000 hours in the airplane. If you don't have 1000 it is around 2200/500 for the Beech, 2500/500 in the Saab. I won't have 2200 hours when I upgrade, but will have more than enough time in the plane.

Usually, when your number is called for upgrade, you meet the requirements. We do have some guys that have had to wait longer because they were not 23.

GaTechKid · August 18th, 2006, 16:42

I hope it's just 1000 in the Slaab, but I saw MC from the training department in PIT the other day and he said 2100-2200TT was a pretty hard number for upgrade in the Saab.