COLGAN Interview

Shamrok · September 11th, 2007, 13:03

This is my experience from Sept 5th @ LGA. Hope it helps......

Arrived at LGA from PVD around 7:30am and took the bus to the Marine Air Terminal and walked over to Flight Safety. Was greeted by Chuck Colgan and two pilots, a FO and a Capt. I was the first one there and Chuck walked me to the break room for a cup of coffee. We had small talk on the way and I am sure he is already paying attention to your attitude and character. Chuck said they were expecting 25 applicants that day and asked if I would like to get started with the interview first. Of course I said yes and went back to the classroom for the HR/ Tech interview. Chuck asked some HR questions like why Colgan? Why you over higher time applicants? Why do you want to be an airline pilot? And a few other basic HR questions. Then he gave me a rapid fire quiz from a sheet he was holding, you have 2 seconds to answer each random question, if you dont answer within the 2 seconds he automatically askes the next one and so on and so fourth. They are mostly single or two word answers. Some sample questions: Who is vice president of US? Who was Captain of Enola Gay? Who is secretary of state? Name Lindberg's plane? Where did it land? Last years best picture winner? Who won the Super Bowl? Name a grammy winner last year? First person to step foot on the moon? Baseballs MVP last year? Thats all I can remember at this time but he asked about 20 all together. He wants to see how well rounded your knowledge is and your ability to retrieve it quickly. I answered about 75% correct and 25% were answers off the top of my head that might of been rediculous, just do your best and don't get bent out of shape if you dont know the answer. Then the pilots asked a few Q's about the Duchess as far as what type of engines, landing gear, define VMC, what makes up a critical engine, briefed an approach with a Jepp plate and asked a few engine out questions. All in all a good interview and they are very nice and want you to be relaxed for the interview. Next was the wriiten test, 50 Q's heavy on weather, IFR procedures, some 121 regs, and refer to ifr enroute chart and Jepp plate Q's. Not to bad, I used the Gleim ATP and worked out well for me. Finally the sim, full motion B1900. I have never been in one and it was awesome. Dont be intimidated because if you can fly an airplane you can fly the sim, period. We were briefed on the sim ride and given a profile which consisted of a Whitestone 1 departure from runway 16 @ HPN. Takeoff and fly runway heading to 800ft then climbing right turn to 320 and level of at 3000. Given vectors to VOR(forgot the name) with hold instructions, brief the hold with your entry type and heading upon crossing the VOR and you won't fly the hold, then given vector's to go direct HESTER LOM, after crossing HESTER was given vectors for ILS 16 HPN. Intercept localizer and fly down to mins then sim freezes. Use your FO for power settings, gear, flaps and altitude awareness. They are also watching how you and your sim partner react in a two pilot operation (CRM). I had a great FO and made it fun, just relax. After the sim there was pizza waiting for us in the classroom. The HR people and pilots all have lunch with you and make sure to mingle and ask any questions you might have because they are evaluating you continuously even though your just eating pizza(which was very good I might add). I was then fingerprinted and sent for drug test. My sim partner and I went together and then back to the airport to await our flights home. Met some very nice people and everyone was professional and curtious. Was called the next day and offered the job. Start training Sept 24th and hope to see some of the others that I met! Seems like a good place to work.

JEP · September 11th, 2007, 13:07

good to see it went well. (i just read the last line).

but just one word of advice:

Paragraphs !

Shamrok · September 11th, 2007, 13:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEP

good to see it went well. (i just read the last line).

but just one word of advice:

Paragraphs !

Thanks for the advice, but all's I did was copy and paste from aviation interview's to save time from rewriting it all over again. I do have some grammar skills.....Just trying to expedite the info for people to read, I have seen much worse on these forum's!

SmitteyB · September 11th, 2007, 14:19

Wow, I think we have like 8 or 9 (less sigpilot) that post on JC now. If you have any questions let us know!

DesertDog and I just back from groundschool in Manassas on Friday, I'm sure we'd be happy to answer anything you might have.

Good luck in groundschool- STAY AWAY FROM THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS.

desertdog71 · September 11th, 2007, 14:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmitteyB

STAY AWAY FROM THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS.

Brett KNOWS!!!!

amorris311 · September 11th, 2007, 14:48

dont #### where you eat?

Shamrok · September 11th, 2007, 15:08

LOL, ok, will do, I'm married anyway. But flirting is healthy

.So heres a question, what would you have done to prepare for ground school now that you can reflect upon it? Some say to do nothing and enjoy the calm before the storm and some say read the sf340 manuals available online. Anything importatnt to bring ( lap top)? Are there excercise facilities? Jogging routes? And is there a dress code for class like collar shirts or anything of that nature? Anything helps.....Thanks

bap327 · September 11th, 2007, 15:09

Since no else asked yet....times? and congrats!!!

Shamrok · September 11th, 2007, 15:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by bap327

Since no else asked yet....times? and congrats!!!

Thanks. And are you ready? 410TT/45Multi. I'm 36 and a CFII/MEI. I know I'm a low timer but I was born to do this and also a very quick learner. Because my clock is ticking I wasn't about to wait any longer than required to try and get onboard with a carrier of my choice. Thanks again.

Airdale · September 11th, 2007, 15:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shamrok

Thanks. And are you ready? 410TT/45Multi. I'm 36 and a CFII/MEI. I know I'm a low timer but I was born to do this and also a very quick learner. Because my clock is ticking I wasn't about to wait any longer than required to try and get onboard with a carrier of my choice. Thanks again.

Congrats on getting hired. As far as preparation, there really isn't anything you can do. Definitely enjoy the calm before the storm.

As far as exercise facilities etc., depending on where you do your training, you'll be lucky if your room doesn't have rats and naked drunk truckers sleeping on their beds with the doors and curtains open. The Best Western in HEF is the pits. Literally. Pray you get Houston for training. If they're still using the Springhill Suites, you'll be set. With an exercise room too. If you do get Manassas for systems, then you'll get plenty of exercise just walking to get food and back and forth to the classroom. We didn't have any transportation provided. Good luck, welcome to Colgan.

desertdog71 · September 11th, 2007, 15:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airdale

depending on where you do your training, you'll be lucky if your room doesn't have rats and naked drunk truckers sleeping on their beds with the doors and curtains open.

I knew it kind of felt like home for some reason.

Yeah the Worst Bestern is not the nicest place. They did give us transportation for my class, I guess it just depends.

desertdog71 · September 11th, 2007, 15:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by amorris311

dont #### where you eat?

It wasn't Brett but he knows what I am talking about. Yeah stay away and stick to the books.

Shamrok · September 11th, 2007, 15:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airdale

Congrats on getting hired. As far as preparation, there really isn't anything you can do. Definitely enjoy the calm before the storm.

As far as exercise facilities etc., depending on where you do your training, you'll be lucky if your room doesn't have rats and naked drunk truckers sleeping on their beds with the doors and curtains open. The Best Western in HEF is the pits. Literally. Pray you get Houston for training. If they're still using the Springhill Suites, you'll be set. With an exercise room too. If you do get Manassas for systems, then you'll get plenty of exercise just walking to get food and back and forth to the classroom. We didn't have any transportation provided. Good luck, welcome to Colgan.

Thanks. Wow, naked trucker's and rats? Dang. I assume I will be going to HEF only because someone from HR called to get my departing airport info and said I would be flying into DCA. If they were naked cheerleaders and rats that would be a little more tolerable. Is it best western battlfield run or just BW Manassas?

SmitteyB · September 11th, 2007, 16:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shamrok

Thanks. Wow, naked trucker's and rats? Dang. I assume I will be going to HEF only because someone from HR called to get my departing airport info and said I would be flying into DCA. If they were naked cheerleaders and rats that would be a little more tolerable. Is it best western battlfield run or just BW Manassas?

No naked truckers or rats for us in HEF, however we did have bed bugs, which IS NOT PLEASANT AT ALL.

AT ALL!!!!!

The company is now well aware of this.

Shamrok · September 11th, 2007, 17:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmitteyB

No naked truckers or rats for us in HEF, however we did have bed bugs, which IS NOT PLEASANT AT ALL.

AT ALL!!!!!

The company is now well aware of this.

Hey Smittey, Bed bugs! I never had an experience with them. What the hell are they? So Colgan is aware of this issue? I am going to google bed bugs to get afix on this. Boy, this gets better by the minute. I will put myself up somewhere else and pay the difference of their cost for me to be there. Or bring my tent and camp out near the facility. Jeeze

Shamrok · September 11th, 2007, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmitteyB

No naked truckers or rats for us in HEF, however we did have bed bugs, which IS NOT PLEASANT AT ALL.

AT ALL!!!!!

The company is now well aware of this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedbug

They are nasty. I will have to sanitize the bed and make sure house keeping vacums thoroughly. The rats act as host's to the bedbugs ,thats why they are there.

desertdog71 · September 11th, 2007, 17:35

I didn't see any rats, and I wasn't eaten by Bedbugs. However there were a couple people that had bites on them.

SmitteyB · September 11th, 2007, 17:39

I have noticed that rooms 150-159 and 250-259 are the key rooms for them.

If you get to HEF and you get one of those rooms- ask for another! Nobody in the other wings had problem.s

Shamrok · September 11th, 2007, 19:01

Smittey, nice avatar.

SmitteyB · September 11th, 2007, 19:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shamrok

Smittey, nice avatar.

I don't know...I LIKE THIS ONE!

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Seggy · September 15th, 2007, 10:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmitteyB

The company is now well aware of this.

They have been aware of it when I was in new hire training two years ago.

The Best Western SUCKS!

DonAlejandro · September 20th, 2007, 11:11

Congrats on everything going well..Were you assigned a base yet? Any ideas where new hires are getting assigned?

Shamrok · September 20th, 2007, 14:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonAlejandro

Congrats on everything going well..Were you assigned a base yet? Any ideas where new hires are getting assigned?

Thanks, and I start training on Sept 24th. As far as where they are basing new hires, I would say where ever they need you at first and eventually at a base of your preference if there is room at that particular base. According to some of the Colgan pilots they seem to concur that you'll get the base you want with time and just excercise patience.

Xak · September 20th, 2007, 16:14

Hey Shamrok,

Congrats again! See you there

-Xak

The Juice · September 25th, 2007, 17:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shamrok

LOL, ok, will do, I'm married anyway. But flirting is healthy

.So heres a question, what would you have done to prepare for ground school now that you can reflect upon it? Some say to do nothing and enjoy the calm before the storm and some say read the sf340 manuals available online. Anything importatnt to bring ( lap top)? Are there excercise facilities? Jogging routes? And is there a dress code for class like collar shirts or anything of that nature? Anything helps.....Thanks

Business Casual dress is fine. Bring a laptop not to class, but for your room. Make sure you have a flight case or a big book bag because you will get alot of manuels for class and you can not carry them in your arms, I bought a flight case and started filling it up. Houston is much better than Manassas and Manassas is better than Miami (in the hood.)

If you get Vic for your instructor count how many times he says "umm, yeah, ok."