Yes, I interviewed with Colgan last Wed and was offered the job on Thur. My hopes are to get based in PVD one day as I know it's pretty senior right now. That's why I was thinking maybe HYA or MHT until I can attain PVD. I just bought a house in N. Attleboro, MA so anywhere in new england will suffice for now. I guess I'll worry about bases later, training starts Sept 24th. I have a 3 year old that always ask's to go to the tramps. My in-laws live in Falmouth in which we visit pretty much all the time, especially in the summer.

 

I was just hired last week and start training on Sept 24th, so I guess you could say I like it so far. I posted a gouge on airline interviews about the interview. It was good, written test was no prob, sim was fun. I had never been in a full motion sim before and from my experience I think if you can fly a plane you can fly the sim, period. It was cake, just buckle in and fly. My times were 410/45. They said because of my low times they would pay close attention to my sim ride. Guess I did good enough. It was a good experience overall. It was just a long friggin day, flew out of PVD @ 6:25am to LGA and flew home @ 7:30pm back to PVD. Everyone there was very nice and professional. Do you fly for Cape, hence the C402?

 

Sorry to tell you MHT and PVD are both senior. Out of training they will put you where they need you, not where you want to go. But that is ok, hang for some months...maybe 3-5 for MHT or PVD and you will get it. Untill then, pray to whatever god you pray to you do not get PIT.

 

Ok, so now I am forced to ask, whats wrong with PIT? And since PVD and MHT are very senior what bases in the region are most prefered such as ALB, HYA, SYR just to name a few. Any input would be great. I dont mind the wait for PVD as long as the base I get out of sim is tolerable. Wouldn't the emergence of the Q400 this Dec or Jan create some movement at these bases mentioned?

 

SYR is a pretty good base. Good lines and good guys when I was there. Only took me about 2 months to get MHT but I was kind of lucky. MHT also opened up for two other local guys this summer. Right now there are 4 lines and I can't imagine them adding anymore, so someone will have to upgrade for there to be an opening. Hang in there though and you'll get the base you want. In the meantime go somewhere with good lines so you can commute and still have QOL. I had 3 on/4 off in SYR so commuting was easy. Albany would be easy to commute to but it's a MX base so you'd probably be hating life.

As for the Q400, I think most of the FOs are going to be off the street. The FO pay is the same so why would anyone who has the saab base they want and is going to upgrade soon want to commute to Newark for the same pay and not get to upgrade?

 

The lines I saw out of PIT were crap with lots of twittling your thumbs. I will let the more senior guys comment beyond that.

 

I dont know a ton about Colgan but I do know they have a HPN base and that may be doable, you can certainly drive it from N. Attleboro in about 2.5 hours and no traffic. Not saying you do it on the days you work but drive down on the day of your first trip and home right after your last.

 

Good point there, I wouldn't mind the drive considering it would be temporary until something became available at PCD or MHT. Although winter is around the corner and the drive brings me through the snow belt.

 

You are missing my point. They will put you where they need you not where you want to go. I had buddies with PIT and HEF at the bottom and they got it out of sim. You are just as likely to get Disneyland as a base as you are one you wanted out of sim. As I said before, do not count on getting your choice out of sim. However, be patient and wait and you should get it in 3-5 months.

Think of getting sent to Manassas as you welcome to the family present.

Most Q400 pilots are Cpts right now and most FO's at senior bases will not transition, why if you are close to Saab upgrade.

Just tough it for a few months like most of us had to.

 

So age/ seniority out of training means nothing at all? I'm 36 and thought that might increase my chance of getting something tolerable. I get that they put you where the company needs you but whats with the smoke and mirrors about picking bases and seniority out of training getting first pic? It's all Bull****? Thats bogus. And I can tough it out, believe me, that much I can do. Just like to be around to see my little girl (3) sooner than later. If I were single and younger I couldn't give acrap where I went.