USMCFLYR

Kalyx522 -

Both people leaving in front of you and people coming on behind you increase your seniority number - and both likewise give you greater furlough protection right?

If you were #2 out of 10 - you are the 20%.
10 more people come on and you are #2 out of 20 - you are now the 10%

More people between you and the bottom number.

USMCFLYR

The Juice

Exactly, the more pilots below you helps create a thicker furlough pillow.

kalyx522

OK, I see your point. but your actual seniority number doesnt increase no matter how many people you have behind you... you'd still be #2 whether you have 10 or 100 behind you, my point was you can only increase your seniority (that is, move up to #1 guy) if #1 guy leaves.

Golden Bear

Strickty speaking, your "seniority" (as opposed to "juniority") does increase or decrease as a function of the total number on the list. What does not change is your pilot number.

Seniority is relative. If you are number 100 on a pilot list of 110, you are not senior: you are an F.O. on reserve.

Now if your company experiences incredible growth but no attrition and you are now still number 100 on a list of 500, you are senior: you've had an opportunity to upgrade and posses great power to control your schedule.

If the greatest possible pay and QOL are not signs of seniority, I don't know what is.

JoeyMeatballs

Well................. I am sure that "RJ" course will help with an all Turbo-Prop airline

As far as people making a comment about it being pathetic that Colgan does not pay for hotels during recurrent if it is in their base, neither does XJT, however we get 100% deadhead pay and a few other things...........

whtever

Hey there. Let me see if I can help out with a few of your questions. I could have waited for a guy like Winglet to answer you, but maybe it's time for a fresh perspective

1.) I'm currently in the left seat, but there are Colgan fo's that would be happy to help you out. 2nd year Captain pay after taxes is about $1200 per check. An average months per diem is around $300, which I'm sure you know is tax free. Now, this number can change as guarantee likely will not. All lines are currently under guarantee with little opportunity to change that. There is open time, but because of the inefficiency our company is run with, picking it up time may not be possible. (Ex. If there are reserves on the day you wish to pick up a trip, your request will be denied.) Back to per diem, if you are on reserve, which is all but a lock as a junior fo, you may be tdy around the system which means an increase in your monthly per diem.

2.) Reseve Days. Typical day is 12 hours of duty. @ 2 hours pay per day, which is less than the 3.75 hours you get if you call in sick, and about the same sick time you may earn per month. At Colgan you earn 2.xx hours per month of sick time, less than a day of work. You will have to work 10 months at the least before you can afford to call in sick for just one trip. And when you do call in sick, you can expect to hear from your Regional Chief pilot about our "non-punitive" sick policy. Back to reserve. There are no work rules here. No long call/short program. They are now to 1:30 minute call outs at major bases, that's it. You can expect 10 days off, normally 5 on and 2 off for reserves schedules. Commuting to reserve can be done on either the first or last part of your 5 days on, knowing you will need a crashpad or find other living accomodations.

3.) Scheduling. You bid on a line at Colgan, we do not have any system like pbs. The schedules are rigid and you will have the same days off each week, not allowing you to be home as may be needed for a Saturday one week and a Wednesday the other. Dropping trips or individual legs does not happen. All requests by scheduling are denied in that area.

I hope this helps, and know that we are trying to change these and many many other inadequacies. Having said that, I know numerous pilots, both fo and ca, that if had the chance would be working somewhere else before you finish reading this post. This alone shows you that people who "know" recognize there's a problem. It's the confidence in the company may be lacking (Know that I do have confidence in our MEC and want to thank all that have spent their time fighting the right fight.) Also, I can attest that COLGAN has changed so many pilots minds regarding a 121 career, sad, just sad that one airline with such poor labor relations can completely change someone's career aspirations. Look at the airlines that treat their employees well, they are successful as a business (JetBlue, SWA). No matter what management would like us or you to think, morale is extremely low. It's the cockpit, and that dream of improvement that keeps us going. Knowing this, you make the decision for you. It is turbine time, different experience than a CFI, and another step in your career. In a perfect world, the 24 posts by Winglet asking people to not apply so that his fellow Colgan pilots have more bargaining power is valid. But anyone who believes in this business climate there won't be hundreds if not thousands of applications for these 150 seats is not living in the reality we all are.

I will see if I can't find a post with more information that I posted during the union drive. If there's anything else I can do, please let me know. Good luck!

FlyJSH

1. Absolute lowest take home I had year one was $1140 monthly after tax, medical and dental for myself, and deduction for initial uniform purchase. Per diem not paid for day trips, on a typical stand up line it would be around $200, four day trips would be around $400 monthly. About 10% of February IAH lines were over guarantee, most were right at 75 hours.

2. IAH reserve lines are 5 on 2 off, either 5am to 5pm or 10 to 10 however, with advance warning, reserves can be assigned to trips at any time. Home reserve is 90 minute call out, 2 hours of credit. Depending on how fearful scheduling is, home reserve may be converted to hot reserve. Lately, reserves have been busy (even had Check Airmen covering FO open time).

3. Lines are published on or about the 10th of the month, due on the 15th, awards published on or about 20th. We can trade trips, but only WHOLE trips (at least the last time I tried) and only if the trades do not cost the company (both pilots under guarantee or both over).

4. 5 on, 2 off .... I wouldn't commute, but that is your call.


Sick pay is 3.75 hours/day regardless of originally scheduled credits.
Sick days accrue at 1/2 day per month after 90 day probation
Training pay 2.0 hours/day (I think $50/day for initial)
Paid for WX cancellations, and just recently got pay for MX cancellations

Swedish Blender

You put in bold they had to pay for their own rooms during recurrent. FWIW, my airline does too if I am based where the training center is. I hope you're not too disappointed if you ever get a job here. Not Colgan

doublerjay

Hey it's HIRING NEWS GUYS...!!!!...lol.....someone is actually advertising that they are HIRING?!!.........wow.......Good Luck and hopefully things will improve everywhere!

SkyStormer6

I'd really like the 121 time and possible quick upgrade but I'm starting to question whether or not it's worth all the abuse. Do I keep my job flying aerial mapping (the navajo is cool but still pt 91) and hold out for a "better regional" or is that just like having sex with a hooker and hoping for a "not so bad STD"? Just don't know what to do.