CommutAir is getting 5 Q300's starting next month, upgrade time is in the process of going from about 3 years down to 1 - 1.5 years with attrition and the new airframes.

Not sure how much longer CommutAir will be hiring for, but there is some definite potential to upgrade, get your time, and move on if that is your ultimate goal... and if you can stand living with near poverty wages for a few years. Attrition of about 3 per month. Upgrades of about 6 per month. Newhire classes of about 10 per month until who knows when. Negotiations are still going on, but one would hope that someday we will get a contract comparable to companies with similar equipment.

Honestly, if you are going to base your decision purely on money, your decision should be to find a new career.

That being said, I don't really have anything bad to say about Colgan/Mesaba. Got a couple friends who just got hired there - no complaints so far. Their new contract is a pretty sweet deal, I hope we are able to get something similar in the not too distant future...

Yea its definatly not about the money, just trying to find a place with a decent QOL and potential for a decent upgrade time with a company that i can hopefully stand that long. I like the thought of the small company where everyone pretty much knows everyone and im not just a number on a pilot list, but also like the advantages of a big company with some options and opportunities.

That's why I picked Comair back in 2003. Didn't work so well.

At this point I'd go for the fast upgrade.

According to APC, there are 150 pilots at CommutAir. From day one you're only 75 guys from upgrade.

PinnaColSaba - 3000 pilots. Lots of 50-seaters that may get parked with fuel prices. Upgrade time? Only Magic 8-ball knows for sure.

If it were me and I didn't have a wife and two kids to feed? I would pick CommutAir in a heartbeat.

This may have interesting implications for Colgan's Saab operation. I'd bet Commutair is going to grab up as many -300's as they can get their hands on, and start working with United on IAD and IAH operations.

I doubt it. The Dash 300 has 50+ seats which is too many for the flying Colgan does with the Saab in IAH and IAD, especially EAS routes in IAD. The fact that the Saab is the right size for the routes is the main reason why CAL/UAL keeeps us around.

Now the Dash 200 is a whole other story, that could replace the Saabs but they would need about 22 or so to cover the IAD and IAH flying.

Can anyone from colgan or mesaba give some insight into how integration is gonna change everything in terms of upgrades and reserve/lineholding or what your expecting it to look like after the dust settles. Is it a good idea to enter into a company at a time that big changes are going on as compared to a company thats just seems kinda there but holding steady?

As a new hire, you would be at the bottom of the list, so how the SLI shakes out would not make any difference to you...... unless one group gets screwed so badly it causes a huge rift.

True but won't upgrade times and such change with the new bigger pilot group?

You would be 1200 or so from upgrade. Nobody can predict that far out.