Colgan....thoughts?

flyTotheSky

flyTotheSky

Well-Known Member
I've got a buddy with really low time (350/20) who got a call with Chuck himself today asking if he wanted to come in for an interview. I was surprised and not surpised at the same time....

I told him the basics of the company but I wanted to get the updated skinny from some current Colganites.

He's got low time, no doubt about it so I don't think he has many more options besides to continue CFI'n and build more time to get on with another regional.

Guys there now, would you recommend the place? What is the likelihood of him getting a TX base? Are upgrades still around the ~1-2 year mark? As wrong as this sounds, I've been hearing about a trend where the majors aren't particularly hiring as much guys with turboprop time. They are looking for jet time. Could this be a hinderance to his career? To me a turbine is a turbine but I guess we are looking at a different job market these days...

Thanks
 
It's not unusual for Chuck to make the calls. In fact, it's quite normal.

It's still a decent place to work. I'm really hoping the next ALPA drive succeeds in Aug. I think it will; but, I thought it was gonna pass last year.

Could probably get TX right out of the schoolhouse or, if not, within a couple months tops. After upgrade it could be a bit longer than a few months.....but I'd say less than 6.

Yes current upgrades are very fast.....HOWEVER, with your friends low time, it may take a bit longer than seniority would hold. With the Q coming on-line in the next few months, we are EXTREMELY short staffed. Upgrades should continue on the 'quick' trend.

I haven't heard, or seen, majors shying away from TP drivers. Our guys/ gals are getting picked up by all the players....rapidly. My seniority number went down 14 no.'s last month. When you only have ~400 on the roster.....14 is huge. In fact, it's the largest single drop I've had in the 2 1/2 years I've been here.

Hope it helps.....

Cruise
 
flyTotheSky said:
As wrong as this sounds, I've been hearing about a trend where the majors aren't particularly hiring as much guys with turboprop time. They are looking for jet time. Could this be a hinderance to his career? To me a turbine is a turbine but I guess we are looking at a different job market these days...
Click to expand...

While it isnt a major, I know 4 or 5 Captains within the past year who have gone from CJC to Gemini, and they are flying around some nice MD11s now (or will be when they are done with training). I even know one of them was not even a Captain for CJC for a year and he was picked up.

-Rob
 
There aren't as many turboprop operators as there used to be. There are tons of jets out there and one big hiring pool just waiting to get on with a major. Unless the big leagues actually preferred turboprop pilots, you get a mathematical lean towards jet pilots. It has nothing to do with ability or quality of the time. It also doesn't make it less likely that you will get called up from "AAA". Like Doug said in a previous thread, it's all about your attitude, approach, and preparation for the process.
 
I am in training for CJC and so far it is a good place to be. I highly doubt that any regional is great but so far Colgan is just fine for me. Your buddies upgrade will not be within a year thats for sure just based on the fact that the absolute LOWEST hours that you can upgrade is ATP mins and if he flew 1000 hours this year he would still be 200 short so he is looking at a around 18 months minimum probably more. Colgan says 1000 in type and 2200 for the saab but they have gone lower.

I have been reading airline interviews and it is amazing the amount of extremely low time guys colgan has been interviewing, but according to the reviews not many of the low time guys are making it in. If he can get in then all the power to him but id prefer to have a little more experience in the right seat.
 
flyTotheSky said:
As wrong as this sounds, I've been hearing about a trend where the majors aren't particularly hiring as much guys with turboprop time. They are looking for jet time. Could this be a hinderance to his career? To me a turbine is a turbine but I guess we are looking at a different job market these days...
Thanks
Click to expand...

I don't believe the whole jet time is better then turbo prop time argument. I've flown with 2 captains who got hired by Continental and Southwest. All they had was PIC time in the 1900. On the Saab side I've heard of a couple guys going to Continental, Jetblue, and Airtran.
 
First jet I ever flew was right seat in a 727 at UPS. First jet I ever sat left seat in was a 757 at UPS.
 
The Saab is just an awesome airplane.

If you think about it, no one talks trash about TP drivers. Because we're in the ice and snow all day at 15,000 when the jets go above it? I don't know.

Not to mention, most TP drivers you talk to have nothing but great things to say about it and those who used to fly TPs and are now in jets say that their days flying a TP were some of their very best.
 
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