Colgan
 

Anyone know the current minimums for colgan? Anyone know if they pay you while you are in training? Anyone know what the current junior bases are? i assume the hire only into the beech and i know upgrade times are around a year or so? But does anyone know how long it takes to get to the saab? Thanks for your help

600TT and 100 ME.
Paid in training of $50/day and double occupancy hotels.
Every base is Junior for an FO. Well the Northeast might be more junior than IAH but with 10 pilots leaving a month, you can hold almost any base you want soon.

They hire into the BEECH and the SAAB. More SAAB I think. They hire BEECH captains if you have previous BEECH time.

"Upgrade time a year? " NOT for the FO's that I have been flying with on the SAAB. Many over the year mark, some under a year. No seniority here. There is always a turn over, so can't image it being over 2 years, but under a year is not real common if you got hired today with low time. Who-knows, it could go to 3 months or it could go to 10 years.


By the way if your hired on the BEECH you must upgrade to BEECH capt. No transitions. Hired on the SAAB, you stay on the SAAB.

Pick a company based on where you want to live and fly, and what you want to fly. You might be there for a LONG LONG time. Choosing for PIC time, is very risky, and you might not be as happy as you think. GOOD LUCK!

thanks alot for the info

Hey Riddle,

One of my best friends is an FO on the Saab for CA. Upgrade time (depending on your age - ATP 23yrs) is at least 1 yr. - which equates to 800-1000 in type - and 2200 TT. Now, they do wave the 2200 TT requirement typically, he said. Check out their website (as I am sure you have) for Domicile locations. The info above about the Beech 1900 upgrades is correct to my knowledge. They are also hiring like mad now, so if you have at least 500 and 100 (my friend even said 75 ME would work) they will look at you. Just sell yourself at the interview if you get it. Anything else you need to know, ask, and I will check with my friend. My target date for putting in apps. will be July - so maybe I will see you on the line? Later

D

Colgan Interviews
 

I have my app in for Colgan on the AirlinesApps website. Should I also email the contact person that's posted on the Colgan website? How do you stand out in this huge pool of pilots clammoring for an insanely poor paying job, yet dying to get out of the CFI rut?!:confused:

Hey, I put in my app a week ago and got a call yesturday to be in LGA on fri 18th for an interview. I have 800-900 hrs 110-120hrs multi. I think they like to look at low time pilots. Likewise, I can't wait to get out of the CFI rut esspecially with winter coming.

Why not apply to XpressJet or Air Wisconsin? You will be with a better company, fly better aircraft, and make a heck of a lot more money.

But do Xjet or Air Whiskey have a flow-thru progam with Continental Airlines like Colgan does???...NOPE! Sorry guys, I am not knocking on Xjet or AW, both are excellent companies...but ur riding shotgun for 3 or more years before upgrade. Colgan is 12 months or less. (ATP mins + 800 to 1000 TT in type - for the Saab)...

D

Very true, but I refuse to work for $14k per year at Colgan. Hell, I make more than that flying a King Air only 200 hours per year. It is well know that regional airline pay is low, but $14k per year.. come on! Also check their per diem, it is a mere $1.00 per hour; the lowest in the industry. I dont even what to think of the hotels I be sleeping in either.

Would SWA (for example) really want to hire someone who has been flying PIC of a 19 seater and throw them in a 737 with 130+ passengers??? I dont know, but I think what you fly has more merit than some people believe.

I'd much rather sit right seat for 2-3 more years, live a much better life, fly a brand new (and safer) aircraft, and the list goes on. In the big picture, which is more important, enjoying life or making it to your desired airline a year or two earlier. I've spent almost 4 years in college now and I have no desire to continue my Ramen noodle soup diet as a "professional" pilot. I think I deserve better.

Corrections from a former Colgan Pilot....

Pay is not 14K...that is pay for Great Lakes. Colgan pays 20 an hour for Beech, with 120 hours per month allowed, and 21 an hour for Saab (all first year FO rates) with 100 hours per month allowed. Per diem is 1.35 and hour, not 1.00 (again, you are thinking of those poor great lakes guys). However, do not expect per diem at Colgan, as 95% of the flying in the northeast is day trips (4 in a row is normal). You are home every night, but per diem is not paid unless you stay somewhere overnight so do not look at per diem as a form of income the way you might at other companies. Beech upgrades can happen real quick, and you will often see minimums dropped to suit demand for Beech captains (heck, they are hiring off the street captains now). Expect a minimum of 500 in type for Beech upgrade, and 1000 in type in Saab for upgrade. That is roughly a year and a half in the Saab.
You upgrade in type only, however you can then transition from Beech CA to Saab CA down the road (takes about 2.5-3years to see a SAAB left seat if you start as a Beech FO). Most major carriers want you to have ME PIC in a transport category aircraft, or an aircraft of MGW greater than 20,000 pounds. The Beech does not qualify for this time, but the Saab does. Look at your goal airline's hiring minimums closely to see if this weight requirement is in there. Might make a difference in your choice to go to Colgan. However, I knew quite a few Beech captains turned Saab captains who now fly for Continental, Gemini, etc., so don't think of Colgan as a dead end job. Great company in my opinion, and the experience you get of flying low in the northeast all winter is great, and does not go unnoticed at other airlines