PS362

Colgan fact search. Can you pick your base? Airframe? What is estimated upgrade time? Will the supposedly new arriving Q400's all be based out of NWK? Where can I find a detailed benefit package online. For only those of you that have or are currently flying there what are the pro's and con's about the company? Aircraft? Scheduling? etc. Please no BS backstabbing, just facts. Thanks in advance.

Ellen

Don't worry about upgrading. You need to learn the 121 environment WAY BEFORE you can even think about talking about upgrade.

Fly IFR

I suggest talking to SAABaroowski. I'm sure he'd love to tell you the good, the bad but mostly the bad about Colgan, hahaha!

flyguyniner11

you cant pick your base although its pretty easy as an FO to move around the system to where you want to be, you cant pick the equipment although i think you'll prob get the SAAB, current upgrade is approx 18-24 months although its expected to go down with the addition of the Q400's which will be based out of Newark (EWR). pros for me are the quick upgrade time the QOL is ok especially for someone who is single. scheduling can screw you sometimes but they'll usually try and work with ya. experiances vary here but everyone you work with is awesome so thats a plus any other questions just PM me

АЕРОФЛОТ 214

Anthem BCBS PPO Eligibility 30 Day after continous service)I was 8 Year Saab Captain 50.50 / HR there was a 1.50 per year longevity raise so do the math. 401 k no company match at all as for bennys that is about it. Holiday Pay 3.75 on top of what you worked that holiday. Only got this if you worked the holiday. You would bid your bases like another place depending on openings at the time and awarded accordingly. disadvantages all out station basing so if you are a commuter there are no overnights and your crash pad is your home while you work. Per diem 1.35 hr only for overnights(RONS) If you choose to go to say an airline with hub basing . When you get senior enough you could probably just been overknights to avoiding to have a crash pad. As far as captains pay I have recently talk to some people at masaba and I guess for the 8 years of service captains pay on the saab was 60.00. But I would do some research on that. From what I can tell Colgans pay is on the low end of industry average. I would not look at the fast upgrade as much as what would like to fly and get paid 10 years in the future. Good Luck

Blackbird

Everything flyguyniner11 said is true, I fly the Saab out of IAH and its a great aircraft and everyday you go to work, you lose weight since its so damn hot. If you fly the Saab for Eagle like some of my friends do there still 5+ years in upgrade here less then two. I chose my base and plane and got it so my QOL is better then most people in the airlines since I don't have to travel for work. The only down side is some days you might have two legs and others 8 or more just to get in your hours. But if you want to leave and go someplace for a while you can TDY pretty easy.

Blackbird

If someone is looking at staying a regional for 10 years they need to get to Republic as quick as they can. That's the only regional worth staying that long for.

BaronVnLawndart

Can you pick your base? - No, but it typically only takes a couple of months to bid into the base you want. Remember, it's a seniority based system & some bases are more popular than others so plan accordingly. That being said, I've never heard of an FO waiting more than a few months to get the base he or she wanted.

Can you pick your Airframe? - Not that I know of. It all depends on what the company needs.

What is estimated upgrade time? - It typically takes about 12-18 months to upgrade in the Beech and 18-24 months in the Saab. That's estimated like the question asked. With all of the changes that'll go on towards the end of the year with staffing of the Q-400's I wouldn't be surprised to see upgrade times come back down a bit.

Will the supposedly new arriving Q400's all be based out of NWK? -


Where can I find a detailed benefit package online? - I couldn't find anything online. http://www.colganair.com/ Use the website to contact them through E-Mail or over the phone if you want.

For only those of you that have or are currently flying there what are the pro's and con's about the company? Aircraft? Scheduling? etc. - It's a lot different than most of the other regionals with its outstation basing, trips are all out-and-backs, small, etc... If you're hometown is near one of the bases it can end up like any other 9-5 job. You'd work either mornings or nights about 4 days per week & be home every night with zero commute and zero crashpad. That's the biggest Pro I can think of.
Pay is decent, not the industry's highest but not the lowest either, they pay $50/day in training, 75 hrs/month guaranteed pay, average 70-90 flight hrs per month depending on your base, CASS certified, little to no reserve, growing company adding more aircraft & more cities, populated by pilots without 'Big Shiny Jet Syndrome'.
Cons would be commuting to an outstation if you don't live there. The trips are all out & backs so if you're planning on just getting a crashpad it's more like getting another apartment since you'll be staying there 4+ nights per week and keep in mind some of the bases really are OUTstations (Presque Isle, Tyler, Beckley).
Per Diem is $1.35/hr but you're only going to get it if you're away from base for more than 16 hrs (I believe that's the number). Makes sense because that's what per diem is supposed to be for.

Aircraft are great. Both are fairly complex, reliable, and fun to fly. They make for perfect transition airplanes between piston planes/light twins and jets. They also really hone your skills if you wanna get good on the stick. The flying can be tough but it's more than manageable & the aircraft are perfectly capable. You're learning curve will skyrocket driving a turboprop around the northeast (especially in the winter).

Scheduling is scheduling. They do what they need to do to get the job done. That's just how airlines function. I will say they can be very accomodating when needed & if at all possible.
Monthly schedules vary. There are 4 Ithaca lines: 80 hrs with 17 days off, 91 hrs with 16 days off, 88 hrs with 16 days off, or 92 hrs with 14 days off. There's a handfull of other bases with lines as good as these & then the average monthly shedule elsewhere is around the 70-85 hr & 12-13 days off range.
PIT just opened this month and its best line is 47 hrs with 12 days off. Not good. It's a brand new base though so the lines may evolve over the next couple of months.

Hope this answers your questions. Shout if there's anything else.