my question is: for the Colgan guys and other 121 guys alike, can you get fired for continuously not answering your phone on your days off?

Hello no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

its your time off, you aren't required to answer squat.

It'd be nice if it were that simple. However, allow me to paint you a picture. You're scheduled for five on, three off. You have a new house you've just purchased and have contractors scheduled to do some work on your house after your third day off. You have some work that you have to do on your days off before the contractors can start. On your last day of work, you're flying in to land your last leg and ops tells you that scheduling has called and said for you to give them a call when you get on the ground. You have to call because you're still on duty. Scheduling informs you that your day is being extended and you have to deadhead to another base spend the night, and fly all day at the other base. You'll get 2 hours of deadhead, 1 hour of pay, 3 hours of flight time, and 3.75 hours of "draft" pay. You're not asked, you're told, and saying no isn't an option. Now you have to hire someone at the last minute to do the work to your house that you can't do so the other contractors can start afterwards, to the tune of $450, all for $180 pay before taxes.

That's typical Colgan.

Don't get me wrong, I don't regret working here, but scheduling abuses you like no company I know. Right now I'm in the middle of 8 days in a row. But, it's legal because I get off at 11am one day and don't have to report until 1pm the next. Scheduling doesn't grasp that just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

They're loosing a lot of F/O's and CA's right now, not because of the low pay, we all knew the pay rates when we came here, but because of the poor work rules and subsequent QOL, or lack thereof.

That being said, I like most of the CA's I fly with, have gotten great 121 experience, enjoy flying the Saab, and feel that I'm a better pilot for having worked here. But, I don't think I'm gonna stay on and wait for upgrade. I'm gonna take my experience and use it to move up to a better regional. The increase in pay and QOL is worth starting at the bottom of seniority again, especially with upgrades slowing to 2 years or more here.

or you say, sorry tommorow is my day off, cant do it

hahahah Good luck with that one.....................I have done it once or twice and boy were they not happy, that was the day My CA with 700hrs PIC Turbine told them to go ****themselves and he left for CHQ

Nobody cares is scheduling is not happy. Tell them the way it is and stand up for yourself. It's that easy. And once you are off, don't answer the phone. I agree, this calling stuff at the end of a 3 or 4 day run is starting to happen more often. It's not at all bases, but a usual few. It all comes from scheduling's lack of scheduling. I did the mx repo/stand up on day four a few times, and finally started telling scheduling to get bent. They don't hit me with that trash anymore. It always helps if you have a captain with a spine that is willing to say the same. I feel your pain bro

No can do, refusal to fly when you've been "drafted" is a missed trip, and subject to termination.

Oh to have a union...

What is the benefits pkg including medical and share costs. Thanks