AND COLGAN Q400s IT IS!!!!

ColganFO

ColganFO

New Member
Looks like we will definetly be ordering the Q400s.
Checkairman I was flying with the other day out of Albany showed me the Q400 flight manual that was issued to him already.
I guess the company wanted to get some feedback on the aircraft from the pilots who would be the first to start flying them. Moreorless all the check pilots seem to have given the thumbs up, now the only obstacle left is to putting pen to paper.
The guy i was flying with told me that no definitive timeline was set in place as of yet, but it is a 96% chance that the Q400 will be the aircraft of choice, despite the Colgan's push for the 2000.
The aircraft looks sweet as pie, much more basic system than the Saab.
I'm actually leaning towards the Q4 myself now.
 
Careful about check airman rumors.

Wait until the aircraft shows up and you actually see one in the livery because if I had a dollar for every check airman that said we're about to announce an order for 50 747's over the last 10 years, I'd be face down in my vomit on a yacht in the Adriatic sea.

Every 8 to 12 months, Airbus sends a bunch of flight manuals to "Mecca". 318/319/320 manuals, 330 manuals and 340 manuals. I wouldn't be suprised if there's a huge box full of 380 manuals sitting in the simulator bay right this moment.

The only way you're not going to get whipsawed against Pinnacle is if you vote in a union. Otherwise, the CEO revamps your policies and procedures manual and says, "this is what you're flying, these are your new work rules and this is what I'm willing to pay. Read it and weep or quit if you're not happy."

I don't want to be a killjoy but a little perspective is handy in this situation.
 
ColganFO said:
Looks like we will definetly be ordering the Q400s.
Checkairman I was flying with the other day out of Albany showed me the Q400 flight manual that was issued to him already.
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Checkairman out of ALB? What where their initials?

I want to take a look at the book myself!
 
Q400's are a sweet bird. That same rumor has been circulating around SkyW for a long time. Always backed with phrases like: "I had Jerry in the jumpseat and he said that . . . . ."

I hope you get them and I hope we do to. That thing is nearly as fast as a jet.
 
Doug Taylor said:
Careful about check airman rumors.
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Wise man speak truth. I've heard from several check airmen that we were getting 70-seaters. Guess where they went? Mesaba. Don't believe it until you see the airplane on the ramp with "Operated by Colgan Airlines" on the side.

The only way you're not going to get whipsawed against Pinnacle is if you vote in a union. Otherwise, the CEO revamps your policies and procedures manual and says, "this is what you're flying, these are your new work rules and this is what I'm willing to pay. Read it and weep or quit if you're not happy."

I don't want to be a killjoy but a little perspective is handy in this situation.
Click to expand...

Once again, Doug speaks truth. The plan PCL has to buy those planes is by using the $200-some-odd million they got from selling a claim from NWA they got from the new ASA with Pinnacle Airlines, Inc (re: the pilots flying the CRJs). Now, in order to get that money for Colgan, it would have to be with Pinnacle Airlines Corp (re: the holding company that owns Pinnalce and Colgan). Moving that money from us to them would essentially be the SAME thing MAIR did with Mesaba to show they were bankrupt. The money gets up streamed, we lose the leverage for a pilot contract (we're only $50 million apart on the contract over the LENGTH of the contract, meaning they could give us exactly what we want and STILL have over $200 million in the bank) and you guys get shiny new airplanes.

I'm not against growth at Colgan. Hell, I'm for it since I've got good friends over there. But you should NEVER be put in a position to grow at the expense of another pilot group, ESPECIALLY one that is owned by the same company you are. Just look at TSA and GoJets, and you'll see exactly what the future may hold. Look a little further back and check out Mesa and Freedom back in the day. Wanna know why Mesa's contract sucks right now? There ya go. They were given the option of signing a crappy contract or losing their flying to the shiny, new non-union carrier their own company started. Now, all of those pilots are on the same seniority list, and Mesa management has an uphill battle to beat them down on the next contract. Personally, I'd like to see Colgan and Pinnacle working together so management doesn't use each other to beat one or both groups down.

On the subject or the pay rates, don't be surprised to get exactly what we were offered: a pathetic raise for CAs and ZERO for FOs. Yeah, you FOs would be flying those Q400s for the same rate as the Saab. More seats = more $$$ for the company, but not necessarily more $$$ for the pilots.
 
I remember hearing how pncl had manuals for the -900's, as well as -700's (comair flying still in the rumor mill), and embraers.... I will believe things when I see them on property and vacancies posted in a bid pack. I do wish you guys the best though (colgan) and I would love to see you guys with the Q400's. I just hope to see a contract on the pncl side that is in the positive direction, and more flying be handled by the majors- instead of cram packed regionals at crap pay. I have high hopes and low expectations for all under the pinnacle holdings corp- although the stock has done amazingly well for me in the last few months- up over 100%.
 
Lee D said:
Q400's are a sweet bird. That same rumor has been circulating around SkyW for a long time. Always backed with phrases like: "I had Jerry in the jumpseat and he said that . . . . ."

I hope you get them and I hope we do to. That thing is nearly as fast as a jet.
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Yeah I hope both Colgan and Skywest get the Q400s, seems like a really nice airplane.
Doug you might have a point, about jumping the gun. Seeing the manuals made me think it was more of a done-deal, but I guess it might not be anything.
 
ColganFO, what are the initials of the checkairman that was out of Albany?

The reason I ask this is we DO NOT have a checkairman on the Saab OR Beech that is based in ALB. We have one that is going through the training process, but it is not completed for him yet.

The other thing is, that IF what you are saying is true, why have none of us that are based there heard about this from him?

Once again what are the initials of the person that showed you this?
 
Seggy said:
ColganFO, what are the initials of the checkairman that was out of Albany?

The reason I ask this is we DO NOT have a checkairman on the Saab OR Beech that is based in ALB. We have one that is going through the training process, but it is not completed for him yet.

The other thing is, that IF what you are saying is true, why have none of us that are based there heard about this from him?

Once again what are the initials of the person that showed you this?
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This is gonna get good
 
To add fuel to the fire, I heard the same thing ColganFO is talking about. It came from a check airman that everyone at Colgan knows. Supposedly Pinnacle already placed an order for 26 Q400s. All are to be based in Newark.

It's all rumot until an announcement comes.
 
Seggy said:
ColganFO, what are the initials of the checkairman that was out of Albany?

The reason I ask this is we DO NOT have a checkairman on the Saab OR Beech that is based in ALB. We have one that is going through the training process, but it is not completed for him yet.

The other thing is, that IF what you are saying is true, why have none of us that are based there heard about this from him?

Once again what are the initials of the person that showed you this?
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I said that I flew with a Captain out of Albany.
I never said he was based up there. The Captain is in the same boat that I am right now, being TDY'd all over the place.

You don't have to believe anything I say, and if you personally think I'm a liar then thats fine I'm ok with that, but it's not the case.
 
Actually.

Checkairman I was flying with the other day out of Albany showed me the Q400 flight manual that was issued to him already.
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So, was it a check airman or a captain? You said a check airman (twice in that paragraph, actually), then a captain. Which is it?
 
GaTechKid said:
Supposedly Pinnacle already placed an order for 26 Q400s. All are to be based in Newark.
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How fast in a Q400 on final? Last I heard EWR banned props from coming in there. I doubt CAL would really want to slow down their operations there any more then they already are.
 
ColganFO said:
I said that I flew with a Captain out of Albany.
I never said he was based up there. The Captain is in the same boat that I am right now, being TDY'd all over the place.

You don't have to believe anything I say, and if you personally think I'm a liar then thats fine I'm ok with that, but it's not the case.
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I think the only reason people are asking is because we had a problem earlier with people claiming to be someone they weren't. When those people impart information or guidance based upon people they really aren't, it tends to bring into question EVERYONE, even those who are actually southernets DC-9 series first officers.

It's a really easy dragon to slay just by answering the question.
 
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