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Old 03-17-2008 | 09:50 PM
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Default Colgan Ad for Direct Entry Q400 Captains

I'm curious if any Colgan Pilots can shed some light on why Colgan is already advertising for Direct Entry Captains on the Q400. Not enough people willing to move, not enough experience, organized company protest, or management trying to further screw the pilots?

It just seems that with a reported pilot group of over 400 finding the 75-100 odd Captain's they'd need for the 15 Q's wouldn't be that hard.

And yes, I know about the pay and all that jazz so Please, Please, Please, just Colgan guys who may actually know something about this issue.
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Old 03-17-2008 | 10:18 PM
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I think it is part of the 12 month lock that just got changed to 10 months for equipment. They did this so people could go to the q quicker. If you have a guy who just upgraded on the saab, they would have to wait 10 months now instead of 12 to go to the q. This is mainly so the company doesn't loose money doing 2 upgrades in a short period of time. It may seem unfair that a guy off the street is going to be a q captain before a guy who is already with the company who has to wait the 10 months. Also, if they pushed all the eligable saab and beech guys through, who would fly the saabs? MORE STREET CAPTAINS!!! What is really is coming down to is the money! Hope this helps.
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Old 03-18-2008 | 05:03 AM
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Originally Posted by AShortDash
I'm curious if any Colgan Pilots can shed some light on why Colgan is already advertising for Direct Entry Captains on the Q400. Not enough people willing to move, not enough experience, organized company protest, or management trying to further screw the pilots?

It just seems that with a reported pilot group of over 400 finding the 75-100 odd Captain's they'd need for the 15 Q's wouldn't be that hard.

And yes, I know about the pay and all that jazz so Please, Please, Please, just Colgan guys who may actually know something about this issue.

They increased the amount of pilots needed because CAL gave us more block hours then what they expected. Id addition, out of the few that bid the Q, some have already left and some have changed their minds about flying in EWR. So now they need more and have less. They lowered the seat lock and will lower it again if they have to.
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Old 03-18-2008 | 08:17 AM
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i'd love to fly the Q but ewr, thats the only thing really holding me back, plus the payrate sucks
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Old 03-18-2008 | 08:45 AM
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Originally Posted by flyguyniner11
i'd love to fly the Q but ewr, thats the only thing really holding me back, plus the payrate sucks
bro come on.....................we can get beers together in downtown Newark
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Old 03-18-2008 | 08:49 AM
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Honestly, the pay is the kicker. I know it has been the topic of discussion...but that is what it really comes down to. Plus, with every new operation, it takes some time to get the kinks knocked out. Right now, the biggy is the schedules. I don't know exactly what is going on there, but everyone that I have talked with that hasn't complained about the money, bring up how screwed up the schedules are. They said the transition is not worth the hastle. (Saab-to-Q400 transition that is) A lot of them want to come back to the SAAB, but they are seat locked, and the company won't let them "down grade" to smaller equipment.

All of my buddies are like..."dude, stick around, you can be a Q captain..." Blah blah blah...NO THANK YOU! I like my days off, thank you very much!
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Old 03-18-2008 | 08:57 AM
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Wouldn't a "street captain" be on reserve for a long long time?

He or she would be hired into the seat, although would still be junior in the company. As training freezes expire for those flying the Saab, won't those pilots (who are more senior) bid the Q and keep the Jr. pilot at the bottom of the relative list?

No dog in this fight, just want to understand the details. Thanks
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Old 03-18-2008 | 09:05 AM
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Originally Posted by HSLD
Wouldn't a "street captain" be on reserve for a long long time?

He or she would be hired into the seat, although would still be junior in the company. As training freezes expire for those flying the Saab, won't those pilots (who are more senior) bid the Q and keep the Jr. pilot at the bottom of the relative list?

No dog in this fight, just want to understand the details. Thanks
That's just it, the curse of the street captain. They will always be junior and get he worse lines/reserve.

I always compare a new aircraft coming online to a new electronic toy out on the market. You never want to buy the 1st or 2nd generation of anything, too many problems needed to be worked out in the market. Same with the Q, let it be up and running for a year and those schedule and pay issues will all be worked out.

till then I sit back in the Saab with my 100+ hours credit every month.
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Old 03-18-2008 | 09:45 AM
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Originally Posted by SAABaroowski
bro come on.....................we can get beers together in downtown Newark
I'm down!!
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Old 03-18-2008 | 09:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Laxrox43
Honestly, the pay is the kicker. I know it has been the topic of discussion...but that is what it really comes down to. Plus, with every new operation, it takes some time to get the kinks knocked out. Right now, the biggy is the schedules. I don't know exactly what is going on there, but everyone that I have talked with that hasn't complained about the money, bring up how screwed up the schedules are. They said the transition is not worth the hastle. (Saab-to-Q400 transition that is) A lot of them want to come back to the SAAB, but they are seat locked, and the company won't let them "down grade" to smaller equipment.

All of my buddies are like..."dude, stick around, you can be a Q captain..." Blah blah blah...NO THANK YOU! I like my days off, thank you very much!
your right after a couple hundred hrs its just another airplane. I guess I have a little case of SPS (shiny prop syndrome) LOL
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