I apologize if it sounded like I was trying to discourage you from the industry, that wasn't my intention. I could never remain on the ground for the rest of my life! I would always end up looking at an airline flying overhead and wish I was flying! No, flying is my absolute PASSION and I encourage you to do the same! I was just saying I wish I had a law degree to use for suplimental income and to fall back on when the industry is cruddy. Plus I've always really enjoyed going to jury duty and studying law. I even skipped my Associates degree graduation before moving on to my Bachelors to be on a jury ! By the way which Law School are you attending and what year are you? Keep up the great work, don't give up on either of the goals and I hope to see you in the skies soon sippin' on that coffee at 350.....with a Law Degree!

 

Well my earnings last year were pretty decent too. it looks like i am just a little junior to you, and I grossed almost 36k. and that is not including more than 3k in per diem. might sound good, but I dont think its relevant to bring up last year's pay to a "prospective" colganite, because it just isn't the same anymore. last year we had it good because there were tons of extra flying to go around. that is not going to happen this year or the next. i dont expect to see more than 25k this year. even if i start off with an 85-hr line i always fall below guarantee now because of maintenance cancellations that only garner 2 hrs credit. nowadays we're looking at (relatively) longer upgrades, no open time, and making bare guarantee at $27/hr while we wait for upgrade. and that's what the prospective guys need to know. you're right, i agree things will get better, with the union... but i think it will be a whiiiile before we see a contract.

and i agree, i've met some awesome guys here, there are some captains who would be on top of my list for "people i'll share with when i win the lotto." but, i'm certain that every other airline has great people as well.

 

who is this person? it's not MH, is it? on the saab side the lines have excellent days off now (hopefully it's not a one month fluke) and i heard it was because MH was trying to make the lines better for us.. or something like that.

 

QOL is not so horrible at EWR. I usually hold 15 days off (this month will be 16-17 but that may be a fluke, we will see if we ever get these lines again.) I usually bid overnights near my home which will help and this month even more with the addition of BOS overnights so most trips I spend at least 1 night or so at home. I do not typically credit much more than 75-80 at the most but bidding commutable trips is my number 1 priority. I flew just barely under 1000 hours last year and didnt feel like I worked terribly hard.

Could be better...much better but I suppose it could be worse.

 

Isn't that the situation at any regional??? Never met a Mesa, Trans States, Comair or Eagle who made captain and said "I'm going to stay here forever"

 

Well I hope that I count in that lotto winnings We haven't flow together, but still, I don't think I've ticked you off since I've been here, haha. I agree with you though ... there's NO open time at all. No people on the street, and ZERO open time. It sucks ... the zero open time, not the no people on the street part

I really hope you see upgrade that soon brother! I think a lot of guys aren't going to see it until next summer. Talked with a few upper people recently who've said they've pretty much frozen upgrades and base transfers unless they are accommodating for attrition. But I hope for the best for you!

Well that's good that you're able to do that, but just how senior are you? I have a feeling you're rather senior. There are about 20 or so 7000s and above on the Q ... the rest are all 8000.

 

I heard the same thing ... but we'll see where it goes from here ... the line in CHO seem to be getting better and better with respect to days off

 

they are better in the sense of organization, but its like the economy there's a big gap...the super senior have a great lines (17 days off) and the junior have crap reserve (10 days off, 5 on 2 off) keeping in mind 90ish percent of the base commutes to from the worst airport ever EWR. Not to mention they have "special lines" that dont get published in normal bid sheets for the top guys I hear.

 

Colgan should have never sold to 9E.

 

Well new aircraft are coming late summer next year. The company is going to have to upgrade a bunch of Saab FO's for Saab CA slots to take the spots of current Saab CA's who will transition to the Q. The Saab upgrades have to come first.

Now the company needs to schedule class and sim time way in advance because you can not upgrade 60 guys at once. The whole process will take close to a year to upgrade one group and transition another group. Summer time is way too late to even start on Q captains, no less the Saab upgrades who will take their place.



Colgan may not be around today if not bought by Pinnacle. We would have never received the Q's if not for the fact of PNCL Corp being profitable (thanks to the Pncl pilots). Also Colgan would have had big problems with the high fuel of last year and those crap EAS and ProRate flying we were doing.