Colgan Q 400's for US Airways
 

I have a friend that works for Colgan and he said that they are hearing rumors about Colgan flying Q 400's for US Airways. I wouldn't be surprised, but has anyone else heard this?

Dont even bother.

It is certainly a likely possibility but since mid 07' there have been rumors surrounding every carrier and base combination in the U.S. None of them have been true yet.

If it were true only a small handful of folks at Corp know and I doubt they will leak the info.

What is true is that we have another 30 Qs that should be on property in the next 3 years.

15 options for late this year/early next year, and 15 more for 2013. Who they're going to/ where they'll be going is anyone's guess.

I guarantee no one besides maybe a select few in upper management know the details

Fixed it for you. Continental/United has first right of refusal on the second set of 15.

Last time I was in Memphis I was told straight up "if we want them tomorrow, we can have them tomorrow." Have to have someone that wants them first.

We can barely staff our current fleet, can't imagine how bringing 15 more on right now would work.

Thread closed, you guys weren't supposed to find out this way.

USAirways scope does not currently permit Q400s to be operated at the regional level. They could adjust their scope pending negotiations with USAPA, and those negotiations are currently pending an integrated seniority list.. which is right around the corner...

In my opinion, given the weak financial position of USAirways, it is far more likely that Colgan/Mesaba gets a Q400 contract than Piedmont. The simple fact is that Airways doesn't have the capital to invest in the renewal of their mainline fleet, and that clearly would take priority to any airline over investing in regional aircraft. So, I expect to see Airways getting out of the "wholly boned" regional business in the next few years.

Yeah what he said.... The SCOPE would allow Q400's BUT the number of 70 seat aircraft flying by regionals is already exceeded. So unless USAPA (please dont) allows them to have more large regional jets added to the current number, they would have to park some CRJ700/900, EMB170/175s to make room for Q400s...... The soonest leases on any of those planes does not come up until well after 2016.....

Yeah, we at PDT are aware of all that. We are scoped out of planes certificated for more than 70 seats. I've heard Bombardier told PDT that if we order a large number of airframes, they will certificate a "PDT" version for 69 seats. They are putting first class in larger regional jets, so adding first class seats to a 400 can bring it down to 69 seats. Mainline is replacing much of their fleet over the next few years. The main reason for this thread was just to find out what other people know. We've been bypassed for everything. Unless mainline gives all the PDT pilots a class date for mainline, the 400's are our last hope for a future here. A contract carrier flying 400's will be a major slap in the face to PDT.