Commutair vs. Colgan
 

Hey everyone just got offers from both for April 11 class. Q200 EWR for commutair, Q400 EWR for Colgan. Been looking at all the info on here trying to make an informed decision and wanted to know what yall have to say.... Thanks!

Probably a good amount of movement at Colgan, not to mention the new contract. Don't know the deal with commutair, but I would guess based what I know, Colegan would be a better deal.

Pay alone is worth looking at:
Colgan/Mesaba $25/31/37
Commutair $21/22/23

A few months ago... It would be a toss-up. Now, definitely go to Colgan. Assuming you'd be able to easily commute to EWR or IAH.

Thanks for the post could you elaborate on that a little more as in why?

Any idea what is the upgrade time in Commutair? I know it's a small company and the move to the left seat might be quicker than any other regional there is out there....

How about making 31K second year instead of 22K... who cares about the airplane Q200 300 400 500 etc etc...

I personally dont even know why people apply at Commute Air right now with pay like that. Even if you live in CLE thats a hard sell at their pay rates.

My opinion...Colgan/Mesaba. May as well call it Mesaba....the Colgan name will be gone in a few months.

-W

i think upgrade at commutair is around 2yrs where colgan was around 3 but thats all pre merger talk after integration there will be around 3000 pilots in the entire pinnacle group and only 150 in the commutair group.

Just think of which one you would rather be stuck at as an FO. Plan for worst case and hope for the best. I say go to Mesaba/Colgan dont help a bottom feeder out

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.

If upgrade is solely based on growth, there aren't that many more Qs on the horizon. Certainly not enough for a new hire to move up 1200-1500 slots. You could be an FO for a long time (which is why everyone should include long term FO QOL in their "who do I sign with" decision)

If upgrade is based on attrition, and the much hoped for 65 retirees, who knows. Maybe 3 years, maybe 4 to 6 years depending on how many actually retire.

+1... which was the point I tried to make before. "get your time and get out" is much easier said then done.

Don't be surprised if the next PNCL acquisition after this merger is complete is Commutair...

I agree, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it in the next 2 years. Although, I really think that Pinnacle Corp. needs to sit back for awhile and consolidate their operations, refine their operational processes and reduce costs. Things ARE not improving just because the airline is getting bigger, we have a new contract, etc...

where would you guys go if you had an offer from Commutair and Republic?

That will never happen. Companies don't sit back, they are always interested in making the next move and finding ways to make more money and improve their market share and revenue. Acquiring a new company is the easiest way to do this. Especially if it involves a company that has some growth that will come along with it like commutair does.

With all the work Corp had to do with merging the certificates, training employees, retraining pilots, HQ consolidation, training consolidation, and 1000 FAA hoops to jump through, I doubt they would even be able to make it happen right now.

Even with that said, there is nothing that would surprise me if they announced tomorrow they were acquiring someone, commutair or otherwise...

Qql
 

If you are looking for quality of life do not, I repeat, do not go to Commutair under any circumstances.

As for Republic vs Commutair I would go with Republic. Basically Commutair vs anyone except Lakes, go to anyone.

C5 is not a fun place to be, it is a place to be endured.

I agree C5 is not what is was 3 years ago never mind 15 years ago.

Steel,

I understand you work for Commutair....can you tell me what is the average upgrade time there?

It's only been mentioned in like 50 other threads, but right now is around 3-4 years, but going down. Wayyy down. Quickly.

I would say if you get in now it will be under the 2yr mark.