No doubt they are looking to slum at that place now. I went to the interview and was sent home too....2100 TT and 160 ME. Unfortunately I had a couple busted 141 checkrides back in the day way before 3407...I never thought the day would come where people would scrutinize my training until today. Chuck pulled me aside himself and said that they couldn't proceed because of the Capt of 3407 and the microscope is on them.
I don't know what they are looking for over there...I went when the standards were 1000 TT, 100 ME, ATP, more than one failed checkride needed to be explained. But I think people with half a brain were not going to work for that kind of crap QOL and pay. When I went a few weeks ago, there were people with over 1500 hrs, ATP writtens, 121/135 backgrounds. I think I had the most TT in there, but I am only a busy CFI.
I hope most of those people in there with me had the balls to stand up and say no to that culture of poor work standards. They were pitching us poor pay (but you already knew that), Reserve somewhere on the east coast with 5 days on 2 off, and the SAAB (might have been a deal breaker for some). I won't say I am a diva, but that just sounds lovely for $21/hr. EWR is lovely this time of year from what I understand. They mentioned that the Dash wasn't going to be likely for new hires because they were going to upgrade current SAAB pilots to that.
I went for the interview experience and I think I got more than what I came for. I might have made the idea of an airline interview a little more glamorous than what it actually is, but it did seem very off the hip...very informal. The check pilots they introduced us to were younger....I am 29, but I asked how long they had been there, both captains confirmed my suspicions that they were wet commercial hires back at the beginning of the great hiring spree of the mid 2000's.
The HR lady was very nice, Chuck looked like he just rolled out of bed in his suit and didn't have an opportunity to dust off his dandruff just yet. The log book review was very long and drawn out process. The test was a joke. All and all I would give the Colgan presentation a D effort. It is exactly what I thought it would be after watching the "Flying Cheep" episode on TV.
Of course I can just see people now saying, "well maybe you shouldn't have sucked on your checkrides and maybe you could have continued with the interview". True statement. But after instructing for over 2 years, I can say that it builds character when I see a student of mine, or another student struggle and make it through the tough times. Some people actually do learn from their mistakes and grow. Too bad Colgan doesn't have the wiggle room to make that exception. But, I have been told its a blessing in disguise...I think they are right. Good luck to those who feel that this is their only option to get into the biz...try and be patient, hold out for a job that will treat you with some degree of respect, and will pay you a little more. Wait...am I still talking about the airlines?
Colgan is just another company with management who is in a race to the bottom. Period Dot.
Flame on I guess.