Colgan Hiring
 

well just as I was about to post a question the last mess of a thread was closed.

What kind of time have the latest interviewees been getting from time of invite to the actual interview?

Interview in LGA as before?

Positive spaced out there?

Thanks!

Times were 1000 up to 2500+

Interviews are still at LGA (Flight Safety)

Yes its positive space

For those thinking about working at Colgan, you should know your first year you will make $18,000 and probably $25,000 for your second year. This is for flying a 70 seat airplane.

Horizon pays near $30,000 for the first year and over $40,000 for the second year. Horizon pilots also have a total compensation package $5,000-10,000 more per year than Colgan pilots, this is on top of the Horizon pay I mentioned above. This is for flying the same aircraft.

The Colgan pilots are in contract negotiations right now and you will be doing them a huge favor, in obtaining a good contract, by not accepting a job there, so management has nothing else to do than raise their pay.

Ignore those that tell you to ignore what I am saying. They either think that there is nothing we can do to change this industry, that $18,000 a year isn't wrong to pay a pilot to fly a 70-seater in EWR, or have some weird feeling to defend a company that pays poverty pay to their FO's. Why some pilots are on here praising you for choosing to work for Colgan for those wages is beyond me.

A pilot should never be compensated so poorly, that he/she is eligible for food stamps and multiple other government assistant programs.

This man speaks the truth. You will be treated horrible and paid even worse.

You will hate this job.

how bout we just keep this thread on topic and just offer up relevant info... the last thread was closed because we got into these shennanigans before... same old story repeated 500 times.

ask a question get an answer..

I understand where winglets is coming from though. lets just leave it at that to save this one.

WINGLETS!!!! Stop changing the thread! Stay on topic, you have people who are on here trying to find out actual info based on the thread topic.

As a simple mod note:

Try to keep this one on topic. The last one was closed and this one is headed in that direction.

What winglets has mentioned is factual and for those that check out this thread his post will be one of the first ones seen. There is no reason to beat a dead horse.

Whether or not anyone likes it or hates it people will be applying and we are all here to help out. If a question is asked and you know the answer then help out and give up the info.

Lets keep this one alive and keep APC on task with providing information to those who seek it.

Winglets, you have said your piece in an accurate and concise manner, there is no reason to repeat it in this thread.

Questions you need to get answered before you work for any airline:
1- Can you work for this particular airline for 5 + years and be happy?
2- What is guarantee during and after reserve?
3- Where are you going to be based?
4- Do you have to commute and spend $300 for a crash pad?
5- How much is per diem pay?
6- What are the reserve rules if any?
7- Does the company have cancellation pay?
8- Does the company pay block or better?
9- What are the health benefits?
10- Are the work rules at par with the rest of the industry?
11- Does the company have an excellent training program?
12- How safe is the operation?
13- What is the financial strength of the company?
14- Is your certificate and safety will ever be compromised?
15- What is the sick or Fatigue policy?
16- Vacation time?
17- Company 401K match?

Do not chase a quick upgrade; it will never happen in this time and age. Upgrade time changes so quickly. Look at Mesa, upgrade time used to be less than 10 month.

Good Luck

OK OK, most of us agree with you, but I think you've made your point....

what did Colgan do (that most regionals haven't done) to get you all worked up?? and before you write a speech, think of Mesa, Trans states, Chautauqua, Commut Air, etc

This is very wise advice and these points are very valid. I do not work at Colgan and have no opinion on Colgan. But not all airline jobs are equal. Not even close.

All this information is out there and anyone would be wise to run a comparison chart on this stuff.

These are not, and should not be, the only factors when choosing a job. But they are not unimportant by a long shot. Compound interest is HUGE and small things early in your career may have a giant impact later on.

Just run the numbers. Maybe Colgan is the best place for someone based on their own situation - geographic location, contacts, etc. Who knows? But do your homework.

I agree with you BUT

Do you really think a kid looking for some turbine time is going to ask himself all those questions???

We've all been there before.... You instruct or fly checks, take the first regional job that is offered to you. Then you apply at the majors and the good corporate flight departments, and you take the first job that is offered to you....when you're 25 years old, you're not thinking safe operation, benefits, QOL, 401K and all that stuff, you're thinking G550 or 777.

I see where you're coming from, and that's the way it should be, but it isn't, and we know that...

Can't really do that right now! It's not like it was 2 years ago when you could nit pick things you like and dislike. Get the job! Get experience in a 121 enviornment and if it's that horrible move on when the industry picks up! I don't understand why people get so upset about other people decisions! Worry about yourself and let them be big boys or girls. I've been at colgan for almost two years and honestly it's not bad. Anyone have questions about colgan that don't want to get harrassed pm me and I'll be more then happy to help you to the best of my knowledge. Good luck to those who interview. :)

1- NO
3- EWR, IAH Q400
4- EWR Crashpad avg.$250
5- 1.40
7- yes
8- yes
9- $280.00 / mo. Family includes Heath Dental and Eyes
10- maybe, getting there
11- don't know its been 2.5 years. I would say post 3407, Yes
12- Very
13- Owned by Pinnacle, Strong like BULL (if an airline could ever be "strong")
14- Always no matter where you go. If your a good standardized pilot, you have nothing to worry about.
15- Both are always improving due to ALPA
16- 1 week after year, 2 weeks after 2 so on so on
17- NO, weak

These are my answers after 2.5 years at CJC but mostly part time. My opinion is that at a time when there is no movement, Colgan has some. Bash it as you may, but all Regionals suck. If your Regional is awesome, then your probably losing flying to one that isn't. Its the Facts and if you don't like them, Leave. Try to find one thats an easy commute and will get you out the other end ASAP. Good Luck to those looking for a job!

Some of you people must have sore fingers trying to save the world one discouraged applicant at at time!

Winglets...are you an an Intervention Counselor! I understand what you are trying to do but your efforts are futile! It's like using a cup to save the titanic!

Wow! There is a major disconnect here. People truly only care about themselves now a days. It's pretty sad to see the ignorance. No offense but one day when mommy and daddy stop paying your bills and flying has to become a job to support your family and not just some image to carry so you can tell girls your a "regional aviator" and sing songs to them at the bar, you will see it. It will all make sense. Some people on here think they can change the world. Don't we all wish. The problem is much deeper than APC.

Sure the pay is livable. QOL at any airline is better than being a peasant. But you know that management makes all of it's financial decisions on "how low will they go". They are pumped right now because of people like the ones we see right here in this thread. Heck the don't even have to ask you. They know how low you will go just by looking here. Just so some share holders can make a few bucks. Just so they can work the numbers to make it look like they have a lot more cash than there really is and work on their magical bonuses.

Call it cynical but you'll see one day. Then again, maybe not.

I totally agree, but who should these guys care about? You, Me? Yeah okay. Right now with jobs at an all time low, Everyone is trying to make ends meet. Unfortunately that requires guys to take jobs that pay lower than they want so they can afford to pay for wifey and daycare for the kids. It's unfortunate but its the way things are. Being a realist helps, because dreams only get you so far. Everything in this life worth having requires hard work and sacrifice (unless your mommy and daddy are rich).

I would hope that noone looking at flying for a Regional Carrier or Major carrier or any Publicly Traded Company actually thinks the MGMT gives two craps about them or their families, because the cold hard truth is that Money Talks. They only care about you if it affects the BOTTOM LINE. It's cynical, but its life. Soooo, if its not your cup of tea, do something else like join the Red Cross or go Military.

Excellent post! I have started to stay quiet about this colgan fiasco for lack of will power. These people think it is great that they have a job and are flying an airplane gaining experience FOR WHAT? so they can have a career? THIS IS A CAREER!!!! You might as well forget that the majors exsist. BEing hired at a regional is no longer a stepping stone that can be counted on. There are THOUSANDS of pilots waiting for jobs at a major right now. Many of those pilots have thousands upon thousands of hours more then any newhire at colgan will have.

You are justifying a job making 20 thou a year when you are a professional? Go work at Home Depot! You will make more money, be home more, spend less commuting, and you will get weekends off a whole lot quicker. The people accepting the job, willing to work for 20 grand a year and almost zero work rules... is as close to a mockery of this profession as one can begin to describe. Thats why people are upset at Colgan and even more bewildered by the ignorant, self entitled attitude of "we will make it better" that is seen on these forums. It is not OK and it will never be ok. Your about as much a professional as the guy flipping fries at mcdonalds for the SAME pay. Wake UP!

If someone is going to take the first job offered, at the very least find out about their indentured servitude program, aka 'training bond'. These can be enforced and can put unhappy F/Os out thousands of dollars.

Again, no opinion on Colgan. But be sure you have all the facts before you sign on the dotted line.

Hear hear!

Last time I checked, most of us did NOT take the first regional job offered to us. If that were the case most of us would have been Colgan or Mesa pilots first.

The fact is, MOST of us waited for a regional with a decent contract and pay. That is the fact.

One day maybe?? Oh wait I didn't serve in the military for 5 years and pay for my own training and live on my own since then and be successful. Mommy and Daddy paid and give me an allowence so I can be a big boy pilot... So hopefully I'll understand the way it's supposed to be. Sounds like it's the other way around your mommy and.... Wait that's not right, I have no idea of your background. Good day to you sir

When you work for an airline get back to us.

There is a reason why he refuses to say who he works for because he is afraid people will call his bluff from the airline he claims to work for

This is perfect example of a person you should ignore. Juice is so worried about who I work for, that he won't address the poor pay Colgan FO's receive.

Who I work for makes no difference about the FACT Colgan pays their FO's poverty pay.

The fact is you need to stop worrying who I work for and start fixing the problem at your company. Most on here will agree with me on this issue.

He doesn't work for an airline. He's unemployed.

Post history tells truth.

No he's employed by all th legacies on Microsfot Flight Sim... :D

FO Interview 1
 

I had my interview the other day. It went great.. I'm really hoping I get this job. This will be my first time in the airline industry and it's going to great working with a company that is very family oriented! Good luck to the other guys who interview with me!

You're a broken record. Give it up!

Last time I checked, CJC is in contract negotiations.

Out of curiosity, why don't you tell us what YOU'VE done to better the profession? That is, besides being a keyboard hero???

Unemployment pays more than Colgan FO's, even on their max FO pay at year 8.

Pretty sad huh?

Unemployment even pays more than a year 2 FO flying the CRJ-900 at your company, Mesa. While Delta pays their year 2 FO's, $63,000 to fly the same size aircraft. That is before the additional money they get with all the other benefits you don't have.

Keep trying to discredit the truth. This is actually getting pretty funny.

Last time I checked, Colgan FO's are only paid $18,000 for their first year and $25,000 for their second year to fly a 70 seat airplane.

The pay is still terrible at Colgan until its fixed. Just because you are in negotiations doesn't mean it is still a good thing to work for those wages.

As for what I've done to better the profession? For starters, how about I don't accept jobs at places that pay their pilots food stamp wages, such as Colgan.

You mean to say Colgan is very family oriented because it pays you $18,000/year so you can raise and support your family?

I didn't realize $18,000/year was more than enough to raise a family in EWR.

Your post backs up my suspicions about you and your blithering posts. Unlike you, most on this forum are not okay with sitting back and allowing the Regionals to be their, "Career". Maybe guys who have no competitive edge or advantage are okay sitting back and accepting the fact they will be flying for said Regional for eternity and til 65. For the rest of us who actually have LONG TERM GOALS, we are working to be ready when the doors open and the Boomers finally retire and the Major Carriers are looking for workers. If someone was sitting at Home Depot they would cap out sub six figures and never be doing what they aspired/wanted to do with their life, but if they are working at a Regional/Corporate/Military/Instructing or any of the flying jobs, they are working to have the advantage and requirements to walk through that door as soon as it opens.

If you are so broken, why don't you quit and let someone with self motivation and aspiration take your job and try to make his way. At least in the mean time his passengers will have someone at the controls who has aspirations of bettering themselves/life status.

O and one more thing, things NEVER get better if people succumb to your defeatists attitude. Things get better when people stand up and MAKE them better. I am sure happy my Union is comprised of hard working souls that WANT and WORK to make Colgan better.

Wow, get back to me when you've actually DONE something about improving the profession.

Until then......Yawwwnnnnn! Just another internet blowhard that doesn't know when to quit. :rolleyes:

I was there too, good luck and let us know if you hear anything.

Amen Brother:)

I take everything back. Your level of professionalism shows that $18,000/year may be the appropriate compensation you should receive.

Hahaha. How old are you? There wasn't anything unprofessional about calling you a blowhard, and commenting on how easy it is to throw rocks from the cheap seats.

Winglet - we get it. Unfortunately, you need to let it go. Your argument (the basis of which is coherent) is falling on deaf ears.

Screaming at people from the sidelines doesn't do any good in any arena. When you can get into the game, I suggest you bury your heels in union work, and fight for something you are clearly very passionate about.

Until then, you shouldn't comment further. It's only making you look less mature, annoying, and quite frankly, crazy.

Just to be clear there is only one winglet. Joined APC in JUN 2008!

New rule: You can't just add an s to the the end of another member's screen name. Moderator?

Thanks...

winglet

400

This thread is fast heading in the direction of being shut down.

Good luck to those who interviewed, hopefully we'll all get good news soon.

Unfortunately people seem to get upset when we state the facts about Colgan's pay. I am at a loss why some people get angry when we mention a 1st year FO makes $18,000/year and $25,000/year during their 2nd year flying a 70-seat jet.

My question to you is, do you feel getting a full time job that only pays $18,000/year is good news?

LOL

cant believe colgan is still selling this...
back in the 90s and up to several years ago maaybe.