Originally Posted by Short Bus Drive
I USED to work there. Was there 2 years. Got in, upgraded, PIC, got out. Not a bad place to work IF:
You don't commute, WANT to work your butt off (ie BUILD TIME!), and make a LITTLE money.
I enjoyed it A LOT! Fun group of guys (back then, don't know about now). CRAZY flying in the NE, no auto pilot on 1900.
When I started there, there were only 6 AC on property. All1900s. Then they started getting Saabs in 2000. NOW I see they have 58 total!!!
That's even AFTER 9/11, and Untied, and USAirways bankruptcy, now they have a CAL contract again.
I'd say they are doing well. And guys/girls do leave for Majors/Nationals. AirTran, jetBlue, CAL, oh yeah, Spirit...
Anyone working there now have any good/bad? Of course there are always two sides.
It's still a great place to work. Commuting is always tough, Colgan maybe a little worse because of out-station basing. But you do fly a lot! I've averaged 82 hours/month the last 12 in the Saab. The "cowboy" era has mostly passed. The airline has become a lot more professional in recent years. CAL is reportedly very satisfied with Colgan's IAH operation. They have publicly said they were impressed with how quickly Colgan got up and running at IAH. Pay is average, but Colgan isn't a "destination" for most. And because of the quick upgrade, if you average the pay over four years, you will earn more at Colgan than most regionals. There very few 2nd year FO's at Colgan. Most are Captains.
Don't know where APC got the 58 aircraft from. Currently we have 37 Saab's and 11 Beech 1900's - 48 total.