It appears my thread is wrought with some confusion. Prior to picking up the $150k gavel I was an airline pilot for 4 years. 2 driving RJs and 2 DC-10s for a supp 121 carrier which was cut short by a mishap on my part. I look back on my short flying career fondly, as I feel I never worked a day of those 4 years.
So- thank you, I realize Colgan doesn't fly jets and therefore no FL350... I thought the m[FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']etaphor would be understood by all...[/FONT]

My query grew from the fact that - yes I am a law student. I am attending a school in NYC and I'm considering getting back into flying (while attending school) but only if I can hold a base in the area. So- among many of the complaints that riddle this forum I realize this may offer a small lesson for some-

My previous and your current jobs offer a very flexible schedule that comports with attending school full time. I think a lot of pilots may feel much better given the state of the economy if they had a fall back plan. (I know would and maybe will...) For those of you curious - please feel free to PM me!

Lastly, thanks to those who offered some REAL info as to life at Colgan. I am always refreshed to see postings like "well its not that bad - I have 15 days off a month"

A few more questions to follow-

..........

as for future upgrades/movement at Colgan or any other regional for that matter minus maybe expressjet and Eagle... I was at a job fair less than 2 years ago in ATL and a few regionals (the names escape me) were offering classes to 500hr guys upon interviewing them in the hotel! I even interviewed for 2 street captain positions around the same time - Now no movement... I suspect in a year or two things may be different despite the economy.

The flood gates will reopen... and regionals like Colgan who have a ton of young capts with PIC turbine time will rush to the majors and upgrades will sky rocket again... I've lived to see 2 cycles so far...

"when your up its never as good as it seems and when your down you never think you'll be up again"

In the mean time just enjoy what your doing! Like I said- my 4 years as a pilot I never "worked" a day. (omitting recurrent of course)

I heard Colgan was giving up US Air pro rate flying, any truth?

hey J, any captain who helps his fellow pilots with commuting is an awesome man! :)

AMEN....there will always be things about this industry I dont like, but flying for a living beats sitting in an office illuminated by pasty white flourescent lights....

im a 7000 guy

Well I hope you're right. I've just heard nothing but "no upgrades until at least spring" constantly around the crewrooms. I agree that they'll have to start training early on. I hope to be able to transfer to the Q sometime late next year, but we'll see.


I hope that your theory holds up my friend. I know the regionals will be hiring again soon enough ... how many regionals and how many pilots I have no clue, but it will happen.

I haven't heard a thing about this, so I couldn't begin to speculate where you heard this from

Haha, well I'm a commuter myself, I'm not about to strand someone unless I get screwed over by the ground crew after we've already discussed final numbers. I have actually gone back into the terminal at IAD a few times just to make sure there was no one else trying to get on. Once or twice I remember finding a pilot pleading with the gate agent to speak with the CA to see if he/she could board. Of course the gate agent wasn't allowing it and when I walked up and gave them the OK the gate agent looked like they were going to shoot me ... I personally found it hilarious.

Thought so. I can't wait to fly that thing ... The saab is a friggin tank, but man it'd be nice to have some technology, haha :)

Be careful what you wish for, it is not the greatest airplane. I passed the 1000 hour mark in it last month and it is not the most enjoyable airplane to fly.

Certainly not bad by any stretch and the pilot workload is very low but as far as a hands on flying machine the saab would be the way to go any day.

I take it from your statement that you've flown both the Saab and the Q?

I love hand flying the Saab unless I get one that is a pain in the a$$ to roll in either direction. The cable and pulley system just doesn't work too well sometimes, lol. The Q has hydraulic controls correct? I don't know much about it except the technology dwarfs that of the Saab :D