Colgan Hiring
 

Here's the latest...

Classes in July and August. Dates for both are still tentative and not published, although the July class participants should all be notified by next week. The reason dates have not settled down is due to simulator availability and scheduling. That should be settled shortly. Foresee hiring and classes monthly through the fall. Right now hiring 6 - 8 FO's each month. Hiring for July is complete (hopefully). Hiring for August is underway.

Continuing to lose an average of four captains a month to majors - this month two to SWA, one each to CAL and UPS.

May be hiring Beech street captains in the near future. We have a large group of Beech FO's right now that don't meet ATP mins. If you have Beech 1900 PIC and/or significant SIC time and something in the range of 2000 hours TT, you might want to apply.

Saab upgrade now averaging 15 - 18 months depending on total time and time in type. Beech upgrade, if you have ATP mins and meet insurance requirements for time in type, can be as little as eight months.

If you have been contacted by Recruiting and you continue to be interested, I suggest you contact them every couple of weeks either by phone or email to show your continued interest. Keep your online app updated.

Hiring times are getting low. Some participants in June's new hire class had as little as 600/100. Multi time is still favored. If you have 100 hours multi, less total time will be required. If you have less than 100 multi, total time will have to be closer to 800 or 1000 hours. Both pilots hired with 600/100 were FBO trained and are CFI's.

I recently submitted my app.; fingers are crossed ;)

[ignore. . . I spent a few moments on their website] Thanks for the outlook weaclrs!

Looks like hiring is continuing for a July 17th class.

Do you think people will be give a chioce between the July 17 and Aug 17 classes?

I really think you should look toward the August class. I think hiring is done for July, it's just they may have had someone drop out or they may be adding another person or two. If they offer the July class, and you can, take it of course. Senority is everything.

Do you think all the July people have been notified yet? I was in the June 23rd iview class and havent heard anything yet - not even mail

I don't know for sure. Call Cathy and politely ask. It will show continued interest at least.

Hey how are Colgan's flight pass benefit's compared to other regionals like ASA,and XJT (buddy passes and family member pass privileges)? thanks

Mr. Colgan said he will be looking for 3-5 applicants for the July 17 Saab class, others will be assigned Aug 17.

I interested but...
 

I'm going to bail on engineering to start flying. I'm considering either Express Jet or Colgan (mostly because these are the ony two regionals with a domicile out of houston). I'd prefer colgan for the routes and the short time to left seat. Can anyone answer the questions that I have about Colgan:

1. Do they have any deals with other airlines so that I can commute from Houston to the northeast bases incase I need to commute for a while?
2. What does a typical new guy line schedule look like, and can I fly all my hours together (like 4 on 4 off without 4 years senority)?
3. If I get the 1900 out of the interview, how long would it take to upgrade to the 340 and/or move to Houston (I think they only have the 340 there).
4. What are the medical benefits like (EPO, PPO, etc.. deductibles, 90 or 100% coverage, family member coverage, max out of pocket)?

I've got the email address for someone in HR, but I don't want to bother them unless I have to.

Houston is senior. It's about the only base where there are true reserve lines (about 3 lines plus another 5 or so standup lines). As a result, to build time quickly most FO's bid a NE base where they hold a line out of training (or within a month) and wait until their seniority builds to the point they can hold a decent line in IAH if they want to go there (about six or seven from the bottom out of 37 FO's). You can get it out of training, usually one does each class, but you will sit reserve for a few months and then fly stand-ups for a few more.

1. Yes
2. In the NE 4 on 3 off, with occasionally 3 on 4 off or 5 on 2 off. You'll fly either a morning shift ending midday or early afternoon, or an afternoon to evening shift. Usually 4 or 6 legs a day, occasionally 8, and in base each night. Seniority doesn't affect this too much. At IAH lines are a mixture of day trips (4 lines this month), day trips and stand-ups (4 lines), overnights (2, 3, and 4 day trips), and pure stand-ups (4 lines). Typically the highest paying and/or most easily commuted lines go senior. Some of the stand-up lines do go senior because they don't have to keep a crash pad in IAH.
3. If you get the 1900 and you have say 1000 hours coming in, you will probably upgrade to 1900 captain in 8 - 12 months. You'll then spend 12 months as a 1900 captain before you can transition to the Saab. No 1900's in IAH.
4. Standard Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO. We contribute. Three levels of plan. Your costs will vary depending on which plan you choose and which ala cart options you take. Pretty standard stuff.

Do 1900 captains transition directly to Saab captain, or do they start in the Saab as a FO?

To date directly to the left seat of the Saab. Here's the progression currently:

1900 FO (8 - 12 months) - 1900 Captain (1 yr) - Saab Captain OR

Saab FO (15 - 18 months) - Saab Captain

Of course upgrade times are subject to change. They are currently the longest they have been for the Saab and about the same for the 1900. They also assume you'll meet the insurance requirements for upgrade when your seniority number comes up. Guys with less than 1000 hours when hired can expect to sit as FO in either aircraft a few months longer. By starting in the 1900 you lose about 4 - 6 months to "1000 hours PIC in an aircraft over 20000 lbs", but you gain two type ratings and the Beech is a wonderful aircraft to fly (the Saab is great too, but more of a "tank" compared to the Beech).

2 guys from my class got IAH right out of training and have been sitting reserve since February. Plan on not getting back to Houston for 6-8 months if you join Colgan.

Anyone invited to the 6 July interview session?

Heard that there are currently F/O's TDY in IAH. If this is true, you should be able to get IAH out of training.

Have spoken to several guys who had ATP mins when they applied last year and got no call while we saw peeps with 600-1000 getting on board left right and centre. Nothing against those guys with lower time, but why do you now want people with higher time when many of us were ignored even after some of us had capt's walk in resume's?
What gives Colgan!!!

Generally speaking, regionals/commuters like people who don't have a huge amount of time because they want to get their training dollars worth out of them. High timers are likely to come in, get what they want quickly and leave.

However when attrition or expansion creates a potential need for lots of captains, these companies start to look for people who will be eligible for a fast upgrade...usually 2000+ with 121 and/or turbine time.

Rick's right. Also...it's a year later. Things have changed. Last year we could get all the 1200 - 1500 hour candidates we wanted. And you do want a mix of high and low time guys to stretch training dollars. However, now, we're scrapping the bottom of the barrel. With AE and XJT hiring every 500 hr guy in sight, very few candidates are left...we're putting people in the right seat we would have never considered a year ago.

Higher time is not necessarily better. At any level. Too much time can be just as bad as not enough. And it's more than just times. Attitude, life experience, background, demeanor, presentation, recommendations all mean just as much, if not more. SWA is a case in point. Their mean hire has just 1800 hours turbine PIC.

Well depending on which AC you get and which airline you are paired with will determine your pass privilages. If you are selected for the Beech you will fly US Airways and receive their term pass privilages. The SAAB could be US Airways/Continental/United. ut

Colgan Air is not yet a member of CASS (Officially) It is being said they are going to. But until a pilot's name is in the computer. Don't believe it. I know they have been trying for months.

I will make one recommendation if you are not living at the base and are planning on commuting. Be ware of this company. They do not like to help pilots with commuting problems in an industry that has cutback to obtain 85-94% load factors. You could easily lose your job for being late 30 minutes. SEEN IT.

Not to bash on them at all but it is something you should look at. You also should be concerned about living somewhere else. Being based somewhere other than home and being at your base every night (NO OVERNIGHTS AND NO PER DIEM) it is tough to do a 10 person crash pad per se.

Ladie's and Gentlemen, in the interest of your saftey I must have your complete attention! Ready

"Bad choice of words if you actually care about the place and think that the candidates you are hiring can do the job.
Actually it's less than a year ago WEACLRS. Is it company policy to hire somebody half as useful who will put up with almost anything? This is not related to hours but experience. There are peeps out there with 1000 hrs with good quality time, not just instructing at ATP for 200 hours. I had ATP time when I applied and got nothin'.
Kilo Alpha, you sound like the perfect candidate, sitting back in front of your keyboard a year ago and telling us all how stupid we were for working for such pathetic wages while you flew so little and earnt so much!!! Good on you. Thank the sweet jumpin' Jesus I did not end up there.
WEACLRS, yes, I understand your reply, doe's not make me agree though and there is not much you can learn from us unless we actually get interviewed. Very snobby Colgan.

Hi Jug47 - welcome to the forum. I'm not quite sure I understand your reply. If you are saying there are a ton of 1000 hour guys out there, respectively, you're wrong. We are not seeing them, nor are the other regionals. The majority of FO hiring at regionals is now in the sub 800 hour area.

If you're saying there are a ton of 1000 hour guys out there, but they aren't willing to work for $21/hour flying six legs a day four days straight, you might be right. And (here's reality) when regionals, including Colgan, get done hiring all the 250 - 500 hour pilots out there who will, maybe, just maybe they'll raise first year salaries and hire all the 1000 hour guys who are holding out.

When I said we are "scraping the bottom of the barrel" what I meant was it's not that the pilots aren't qualified - they won't be on the line unless they can pass training and their 121.441 ride - it's just the hiring times have dropped from 1000 hours down into the 500 and 600 hour range. For us that's a problem. We are currently upgrading pilots to captain that were hired as late as March of 2005. If your seniority number comes up after 16 months and you were hired with only 500 hours, you won't meet insurance mins for upgrade. Hence we are short captains. With our still relatively short upgrade times we must have some 1000 hours guys in the hiring mix.

thats funny they wouldnt give me the time a day a few months ago when i went to the open house with 600+ hours

Howdy WEACLRS,
The guys out there with 1000 or a little more are willing to work for Colgan wages as they most are making less than a Colgan wage as a CFI unless they are lucky enough to be doing a corporate gig. I was willing. The fact is that you guys were not calling alot of these candidates which maybe why they are not applying in the numbers they used too. I wanted to come to Colgan for the upgrade and also the pilot group which is a pretty good one.
I am puzzled why I was not called if I had the time to make me eligable for a reasonbly quick upgrade. Now thats history, was just courious as to how Chuck picks and chooses.
Thanks for the reply.
JUG

Congrats on the job! I wish I had the magic answer so that everyone could understand why or why not they are or are not being selected. Total times aren't everything. In fact, once in the interview, we never rank candidates by their time. We decide based on how they come across (attitude), do they show good knowledge, do we think they will be good people to work with (do we want to spend 12 hours a day in a hot cramped flight deck with them?), can we see them as captains (can they lead? are they honest?), and do we think they will make it through training (are they current and knowledgeable?).

From an app standpoint the apps that have a tendency to be passed over are ones from pilots who aren't currently flying. They may be working elsewhere, have few hours or very little multi in the past six to twelve months, are not active aviators, or appear to be bouncing from pilot job to pilot job without advancement. More than that, I couldn't tell you.

I really don't see a 14-18 month upgrade for anyone hired into the Saab right now. Counting on 4 upgrades per month and 40 FO's leaving for other regionals I would say upgrade will run 24-30 months. Just a guess...

100% agree with you, I dont know were Weaclrs get's his info from but there are plenty of guys with enough time and seniority to hold captain. Their just not needed. After reading all your post weaclrs and how you state what WE look for in an interview, I believe your just spreading colgan propaganda.......Actually you sound a lot like BRINK! But I really dont care anymore, I'm so use to getting bent over left and right by this company that I'm starting to like it. I do like it here, but dont try to come off as Mr. Rogers because nobody who is really flying the line here at colgan is that FUking happy! Sweating my balls off waiting for a push in LGA, and arguing with Screw scheduling about rest requirements. Almost all the colgan pilots i fly with are cool and great guys, we dont ***** 24/7 but almost everyone *****'s a little and the coolaid your selling on APC is getting stale! Bottom line Colgan is not worth coming to at this point because the pay sucks for second year and the upgrades are not 1yr anymore! That is why we can't hire people.

How easy is it to get based in BUF out of training?

At least one new-hire got BUF out of training. I think the base will be tied up for at least the next 6 months since many crewmembers from JHW want to transfer to BUF.

Hey guys another question, a while back i found some great resources on Colgan's operation. One was actually a list of all the lines out of each base. Any idea where I could find some other information relating to this?

Also, i was sitting next to an NTSB investigator on a flight not too long back. Is it true you guys can MEL the nosewheel steering? He says that was the case and that they spend a lot of time dealing with issues at Colgan, is there any validity to that statement?

I disagree. There's not. They are holding back Beech captains from transition because there is not enough Beech FO's that have the time. We are currently upgrading FO's over a range of 40 seniority numbers (15% of the seniority list) searching for guys with the time and good PC's as FO's. And I'm getting called constantly to fly, along with a couple of other captains I know (I live in base, so as we know, that means you are reserve when scheduling is looking for a pilot).

:D No, not Brink. And not management. I look nothing like a Colgan! But I admit it freely. I like this company. And call me crazy, but I like the flying...a lot. And yes I'm sitting in LGA on hot days too. Thinking about heading for IAH. It's cooler. Seriously, Colgan has its issues. I'm in my own current tiff with crew scheduling (I think it's funny pilots at other airlines call their crew scheduling "screw scheduling" too). But overall it's one of the better companies I've worked for, both in and out of aviation. It is what it is. I'm sorry if bringing a positive note about flying for Colgan or any regional airline bends you. There are a lot of us here happy to be flying the line at Colgan.

It's not by chance. It's because we (I'm asked to be involved in interviewing on a regular basis) try hard to hire pilots with great attitudes. The interview process is designed to produce this result. Once the candidate is in the interview, we are focused on determining if they have a great attitude and would be a good person to work with. As long as they have the basic skills, we can train them. But we can't train attitude.

I disagree. I think Colgan is very much worth coming to. We are currently upgrading guys from March of '05. That's still just 16 months. And I read the opinion above about 2 - 3 year upgrades. Is that possible? Yes. But not likely. Now that the Colgan siblings have the company from their Dad, they will continue to grow. They have demonstrated desire and ability to expand. There have been several opportunities in the past nine months and of course a big one is still out there to be decided. I wouldn't count them out at all. And that will mean more upgrade opportunities than just attrition. Second year FO pay is definitely an issue. I've been told directly by MF that they are aware of it. Whether they do anything about it or not, I don't know. Like I said, Colgan has its issues too.

The reason for the lack of candidates is there aren't many left. Most of the flight schools are tapped out. I've talked with recruiters at other regionals, from XJT to AE to SkyWest. All are very concerned and seeing exactly the same trend. And the FAA has reported that new student starts are down sharply over the past 18 months (more than 40%).

The crew website wasn't secure and some enterprising folks found a way in. That's been fixed. What you are asking for is the bid and that's not public info.

Yes. We can MEL the nose wheel steering. There are significant number of procedures that have to be complied with, including mx procedures. I've never been asked to fly an aircraft with the steering inop. Maybe other captains have. But I don't believe it's common.

You are a breath of fresh air. I like to hear someone who likes their job. Makes me wish once again that I had been hired there. I get tired of hearing negatives (which I'm sure the airlines are full of). It's great to hear that someone takes the good with the bad and just rolls with it. Congrats to you for liking your job. Maybe someday I'll get another shot!

You can do that on any number of airliners, not really an issue for TO & LDG, but you have to plan the taxi well.

I've had the nosewheel MEL'd once in 2.5 years.

yeah the nosewheel steering, or lack there of i should say, seems like it wouldnt really be much of a problem on say a saab 340. on a crj though that seems like a much bigger pain in the @ss. cant wait til the days when i finally learn all the stuff that doesnt need to be working on board these things to fly them.

...until the TCAS is MEL'ed and you have to go back to your uncontrolled field with all the yahoos flying around making zero radio calls. Do da Colgan!

Colgan Truth
 

Okay I have read and read and read the threads for this orginial post. I have to agree sounds a lot like Brink, but in some statements it is obvious it is not.

The truth about Colgan is...You are the only one looking out for yourself. You need to know the Policies and Procedures better than anyone. You have to or everyday you will find yourself in a situation where you could be violated.

I am sure every airline has its issues but I am in my last few days with Colgan and I am moving on. I used this company for exactly what I wanted and I was used by them for what they wanted. I wanted to move on with 121 experience and they wanted an ass in the seat. So the feelings are mutual.

The only guys that I have seen that are happy at Colgan are those that have a family and their home is near where they are based. It makes it nice with being home everynight and still flying. You might see a few brand new pilots that are excited with 700 hours to be flying in 121.

It doesn't take long for you to realize just what is being thrown at you. Looking back in a 24 hour period to see you have the proper rest for your flight time means just that...24 hours (3pm today until 3pm yesterday) So when dispatch is trying to make you violate that you have yourself and the chief-pilot to help. So what do you think is said when you call him to back you up. "If the computer says you are legal you are legal." So I call and ask what time my rest started and it was marked as a time when I was still in the air flying. So hell yeah the computer will say I am okay. Computers can be wrong especially when it is human entering the determining factors. So the second call I get told that looking back in a 24 hour period means looking back to midnight. Come on...Next day resumes went out.

The quick upgrades are gone. There isn't enough pilots. My base alone three guys are leaving this month. Last month we were short pilots and only 4 guys for my AC came on line to bases that had multiple lines open. They haven't found out to get ahead of attrition. Maybe it is because the truth about the company is getting out there. The reserves at my base are doing TDY elsewhere. So at a MX Base there ins't a reserve around. Your reserve crew is your AM crew and when they get done around 12 they go out and cover what needs to be done...16 hours people.

Another one if you come here you have to watch for everyeing here is what was thrown at me on Day 1 after IOE. When you are on reserve your duty time starts at the time you are on reserve not when you are called to the airport. They will try swing that one by you. I was guilty day one...I learned my lesson. 4am to 4am reserve means your duty time started at 4am. I flew until 1am. Which is 21 hours I was told I was legal because I didn't come to the airport until 11am. Whew.

Part 91 is just that...unless it is in the middle of your flight schedule then it is a domestic fligh. Part 91 cannot go over 16 hours. Trust me. There are so many guys here that say you can fly part 91 over 16 hours. You can do 91 over your 8 hour flight time but not duty time. I can pull it where it says it both for Part 135 and Part 121. I tell people here all the time that if you were able and legal to do...then why do they offer you another day off or something else for helping them out...Because you aren't legal for it...If you were...this is the company that would say ****in do it.

I might be a bitter employee but I try to tell people what lies ahead because one thing is for sure. We all spent a lot of time and money to get where we are and this isn't a place I want to throw it all away. I came here for experience and maybe an upgrade. I can't endure anymore. I fullfilled my contract and I am moving on. I got what I wanted out of them and vice versa so both are happy. Especially now that they don't have to give me a raise of $1.

See- we need more posts like that one.

Just like a buddy of mine who was violated for bust'n duty time at AE. These places call you up and threaten you to work and when the Feds come knock'n your trusting employer points the finger at you.

What the 700hr airline pilot needs to know is- A violation at this level will result in jetstting in a cessna 210 loaded with fake dog$hit in the middle of the night- if your lucky.

When you think about it- Why are the regionals/commuters primarily hiring low timers that are programed to say "YES SIR!" "COMING SIR!"