Colgan guys that didnt get paid this morning

Airdale said:
Can you get a job with your Colgan TPIC at a legacy? Sure you can...but I'm willing to bet a lot of folks that come from well reputable carriers with nothing more than Jet SIC will go before you. Colgan is a black mark on the airline industry. It is a shady operation and quite frankly its scary. That is no shot towards you Colgan pilots, but I saw some things at Colgan that made me consider a job as a parking valet at a hotel. You have no idea what life is like in the airline industry outside of Colgan.
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Or just go USAF/USN/USMC, track fighters, and the day you pin your wings you're logging TPIC. No worry about upgrades, etc. Although QOL and that crazy 10 yr committment thingy leave a little bit to be desired.......

:sarcasm:
 
Maurus said:
Also unless there are fences put up I can see new Colgan pilots having a really long upgrade as there are many senior guys sitting in Pinnacle and Mesaba that wouldn't mind hopping into the left seat of a Q400 not to mention the furloughs from Mesaba.
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It wont really matter. With the attrition going on here, by the time an SLI is worked out and put into place, the only people left to upgrade will be 2010 hires. All of them are cool guys, but I have no real sympathy if their upgrade time gets dragged out for a few more years.

We just had another vacancy award, and from the most junior CA to a 2010 hire, there will be maybe 10 guys? All the other FOs who are mixed into the 08 hires are guys like me who just dont meet the TT and with 20 or so CAs below me on our list in a few months, we will be fine.
 
Airdale said:
I wasn't responding to you bro, I quoted that Hernandez guy. And look I have nothing against the guys at Colgan, to each his own. Me, personally, there was no way I could stay at that place any longer. In my opinion it was absolutely not worth the price. In fact, my move to Republic has me stuck in the right seat for who knows how long, but I'll take this any day over being a Captain at Colgan. Again, to each his own and I respect that. But I definitely wonder whether or not Colgan's reputation severly limits options for Colgan pilots who wish to move up. I actually feel like I work for a real airline now.
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I know what you are saying. Republic was a better fit for you, and a lot of others. One of our prop only, Colgan only guys just finished his 190 training at Jblue. There were likely Republic guys, Exjet guys etc in his class next to him. At a time where that airline could get anyone they want, they still hire a Colgan guy or two! Just sayin, major airlines and Legacy carriers hire Colgan pilots. Just as many (percentage wise) as any other regional, and we have some of the most professional and capable pilots of any airline out there.

Additionally, our training and culture have changed substantially in the passed two years. Heck, we have a FOQA program that is on par with any other airline. From your time here, could you have ever imagined the day Colgan would have a fully functional FOQA program?

Not mad at you, just want the truth to get out about the quality of pilots, and to get some acknowledgement for the work that Segs, Cruise, smit et al have all done to make this place a whole lot better. It has a way's to go to OPERATE like a real airline, but the pilots, they are as real as the pilots anywhere, and the majors recognize that.
 
Airdale said:
Such a typical response from someone at Colgan (no offense to Smittey, Rocketman or Seggs of course). You try to justify your sacrifice of such "horrible" working conditions because you're padding up your logbook with TPIC. Meanwhile, those of us who chose a bit better path aren't on the edge of blowing a coronary everyday...or waiting for our paychecks. ;)

Where are all these horrible working conditions you are referring to and why am I not experiencing them working for Colgan? I did get payed a day late for the first time. Sometimes we get paid a day early too.

If you think Colgan is bad you should have seen the 135 outfit I worked for.

We all have friends at other airlines and have an good idea of what it is like to work at most places. What is good for you is not good for the next guy! My response was just as typical as the next guy!
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MikeD said:
Or just go USAF/USN/USMC, track fighters, and the day you pin your wings you're logging TPIC. No worry about upgrades, etc. Although QOL and that crazy 10 yr committment thingy leave a little bit to be desired.......

:sarcasm:
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[Off topic]

You know.... I used to think ten years was a long time to commit. And here I am working on year five at my company. It doesn't seem long at all!

Freight dawgs rule and regional pilots drool! (Just thought I'd throw that in there)

[End of off topic]
 
What I don't qualify as a colgan pilot?!?

I was far from freaking out about missing a pay check... It was just a pita for me and others. I have no issues what so ever telling any recruiter where I came from, what I learned, and the mistakes I've made in my days. It's laughable to think that some airline would dequal a pilot because he came from Colgan. So far as I can tell, Colgan pilots that have moved on have a perfect safety record, and Pilot Rec's will always count for more than your employment history.

Training has totally changed, and ramped up. IOE requirements go beyond FAA requirements, we have moved to a comprehensive training event and a PC yearly, Check Airmen are out on the line, and observing, standardization is way up. The pilots at Colgan have done tons to turn this place around. Remember when SWA had their "FAA MX" issue pop up? Rumors were flying around about them getting shut down until they "fixed" it as well. Does that make SWA a bad place to work? As far as I can tell, I have never seen a letter from the FAA that details "shutting" Colgan down, so all you have to go on is rumor.

Funny thing, I know some training dept/ recruiting guys that like the TP only guys because they haven't "learned jets" yet, so they are easier to train... Should that make jet pilots worry? (no)
 
Hernandezcfi said:
Bam! Right there see?!...and you made more money then them in the long run even if they chose to work for Righteous Airlines! I bet they were laughing and pointing at you during your first year at Colgan too. Who's laughing now?

Que those who love to pound sand with the usual rhetoric about what's good for the industry and what not. They will call you a blasphemous thief for walking away from the Regionals in such a short time with a logbook fat full of Turbine PIC!
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Made more money? Over a 5 year period if you upgraded in the Saab at 3 years I doubt you made much, if any more Pay/benefits than a 5 year Eagle FO with those absolutely pathetic captain pay rates I just saw on airline pilot central. Hell, I make more per hour as a regional FO than new SF3 captains over there.. I was shocked to see that.. plus a far, far better quality of life, better benefits, 401k match, more per-diem, better schedules, less abuse, more days off, more paid vacation...

And from what I've seen lately you can get the same jobs without the turbine PIC. I've seen probably just as many Fo's leave here for bigger and better without any turbine PIC and without having to take that kind of abuse.

I hate my company too but I could never justify working for that scumbag operation from what I've been told by friends there .
 
MikeD said:
Or just go USAF/USN/USMC, track fighters, and the day you pin your wings you're logging TPIC. No worry about upgrades, etc. Although QOL and that crazy 10 yr committment thingy leave a little bit to be desired.......

:sarcasm:
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predator-7.jpg

Unless you get this, that is.

See, you aren't the only one who can post pictures of UAVs in unrelated threads! :p
 
RPM said:
Made more money? Over a 5 year period if you upgraded in the Saab at 3 years I doubt you made much, if any more Pay/benefits than a 5 year Eagle FO with those absolutely pathetic captain pay rates I just saw on airline pilot central. Hell, I make more per hour as a regional FO than new SF3 captains over there.. I was shocked to see that.. plus a far, far better quality of life, better benefits, 401k match, more per-diem, better schedules, less abuse, more days off, more paid vacation...

And from what I've seen lately you can get the same jobs without the turbine PIC. I've seen probably just as many Fo's leave here for bigger and better without any turbine PIC and without having to take that kind of abuse.

I hate my company too but I could never justify working for that scumbag operation from what I've been told by friends there .
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Are you really comparing your pay to a first year Captain at Colgan?

I'm sure your friends can give you an ear full but keep in mind we love to complain! You should see the kind of abuse we get too. They dont even let us wear shoes. There is always guys with big muscles standing around making sure we are on the flight deck 30 minutes prior. Oh man I can't even speak of it here for fear of retribution.
 
We actually got paid this time, but a reminder to all Colgan folks to check your paycheck. Mine had several erroneous charges and incorrect numbers on it (not that this is anything new to most of us.) HM even sent out a crewtrac message saying that everyone's benefit deductions were double dipped and he was "frustrated" just like we were that we had been charged double the normal rate for insurance and other benefits. I'm sure he's frustrated (sarcasm:rolleyes:) although I'm willing to bet his paycheck was correct.

I recently changed bases and they decided that meant I moved and stopped charging me state income tax based on my residence but by where I'm based. They also decided to add an erroneous uniform charge as well as a generic "Registration" charge for what I'm not certain. Ever since switching to Lawson my paystub has been completely inaccurate. Several phone calls and emails to payroll requesting changes go without response and when I do get to talk to someone the promises of a fix never come through. I spent quite some time on the phone tonight with payroll trying to get these issues taken care of and the person sounded helpful... let's just see if they pull through next paycheck. I'm not holding my breath.

Double check your stub for accuracy. Crew site >> Accounting and Payroll >> Lawson Online Paystub.
 
I'm with Pinnacle, but I guess it's all pretty much the same thing now. My Feb 16th pay check had a NEGATIVE $340 contribution to my 401K. That then showed up as taxable income, and yup, was taxed appropriately. Thank you Pinnacle.

(And yes I have been in contact with both the union and the company. I have been assured by both that the money will never leave my 401K.)
 
SrFnFly227 said:
I'm with Pinnacle, but I guess it's all pretty much the same thing now. My Feb 16th pay check had a NEGATIVE $340 contribution to my 401K. That then showed up as taxable income, and yup, was taxed appropriately. Thank you Pinnacle.

(And yes I have been in contact with both the union and the company. I have been assured by both that the money will never leave my 401K.)
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I dont think legally the money can leave your 401k. Its kind of like at the beginning of the year when they signed up the FAs automatically for a 401k deduction. The crew room was going nuts with FAs wanting their measly $20 back. If they wanted that money back, they would have had to pay some serious fees for pulling out of the 401k before retirement. Kind of funny really.
 
I don't want to bust out one of our "Coastie" (aka green water Navy) guys here, but I think your opinions on Colgan are based on a very short period of time in the 1900 right-seat, a view that I have also had and consider myself fortunate enough to have moved over to the left-seat and teach what I knew about the 1900 to many other pilots that have gone on to do great things in the company and beyond.
Let's face it, there isn't an airline out there that hasn't had it's share of "stupid pilot/mechanic/flight attendant/insert appropriate employee group here tricks" I think RAH has had a couple of it's own, and a runway overrun "clusterfoxtrot" comes to mind. I am not trying to play tit-for-tat with you, but it is really annoying to listen to someone pontificate about the value of TPIC vs. relatively worthless TSIC time. I personally wouldn't trade my 1900 or King Air PIC time for right-seat time in ANY regional airliner. After observing many different carriers in the jumpseat and based on my military flightcrew experience. I see VERY little if any glaring errors, omissions, mistakes, lack of standardization or poor formulated procedures. We have GOOD people, GOOD pilots and people that work hard here EVERYDAY, EVERY LEG to ensure we operate as safely as possible.
Good luck when the banner year of 2012 supposedly opens up a flood of legacy hiring and hopefully your experience with RAH will land you in the right-seat of Boeing. As for me, I am going to be waving from the right-seat of the Q-400 for a while and enjoying some decent schedules for a change and flyto places I might actually might want to visit on my time off!

Regards,

ex-Navy Rotorhead
 
Tri star-
im glad you mentioned that. I found 50 dollars taken out for uniform with a YTD of $150! I never noticed it. I called them on it and told them I want my $150 back.
 
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