Colgan Hiring Policy

[MungoP]

Seems that Colgan are not accepting any direct entry Capt's for the foreseeable future. New hires will be in the right hand seat for at least two years as a way of bandaging the injury done to their reputation following the Buffalo crash.
So who is going to be in the left hand seat ? Has their been a major overhaul of SOPs ? Are the people being recruited now... mostly very inexperienced (who else would work for the pittance paid to F/Os ? ).. going to be the captains in two years from now ?
Seems to me that what's required is a raised level of solid experience not simply in aircraft handling but in good resource management, situational awareness, good SOPs and cockpit discipline.
By not accepting DE Capt's this is just what the company can guarantee not to have.. Hmmm :hmm:

[MarkerInbound]

DECs are rare in the US. You start at the bottom of the seniority list and when you can hold a Captain's bid and pass the upgrade training, you're a Captain. Idea being you put to use what you learned sitting in the right seat for 3-5 years.

[MungoP]

Idea being you put to use what you learned sitting in the right seat for 3-5 years.

That's my point... just who are these newbies going to be learning from ?
It's evident that the companies curent flight crew are lacking some of the qualities necessary to ensure a safe operation... what's being done to overhaul the system ? If the newbies are going to be learning from the current batch of captains who themselves are lacking in good cockpit discipline then we simply perpetuate the problem.
Perhaps what's needed is an influx of experienced people in the left hand seat who've had the benefit of good training in their earlier careers as opposed to the fast track upgrades employed by Pinnacle/Colgan type operations.
The least that the public should expect is a new Flight Ops Director in place to oversee a major improvement in cockpit procedures..
I suspect that there are a good number of left seaters in the operation who are operating under the delusion that they're adequate for the task... it must come as something of a culture shock to them when they upgrade to a major carrier and learn for the first time just how differently things are done.

[DownIn3Green]

MungoP

You sound like a disgruntled Colgan Wannabe Upgrade who either dosen't qualify or couldn't qualify...

Take that for what it's worth, but re-read your posts...You'll see where I'm coming from...

[MungoP]

On the contrary.. I had the opportunity to join them a few years back as a direct entry capt on the Q400 ... smiled and walked away when I was told what the Ts&Cs amounted to... I'm sure I'm only one of very many who turned down Colgan leaving them to relatively inexperienced crew who were willing to be screwed.

[bcflyer]

Since you don't work there I'm curious how you know the experience level of the guys currently in the left seat at Colgan?

[DownIn3Green]

Well, Mungo,

If you turned down Colgan, don't want to work for them, have another great (for your superior qualifications) DE Capt job....WHY then are you slagging Colgan???

You started this thread...Why should whatever Colgan does or doesn't do have anything to do with you???

I stand by my previous post...

[MungoP]

Well you seem determined to turn this into a slagging match so hopefully this will be the last post. As I'm now involved in training/re-training and in a position to be able to comment on the Colgan operation (though not directly involved) my concern is that of any professsional involved with aviation in that safety is an issue that all of us need to remain aware.
If those of us close to the action are not raising concerns then what will prompt the industry to improve its standards ?
Companies can be relied upon to focus on cost reductions... Newbies can be relied upon to look any other way provided that they get to play with a shiny airplane and the public will ignore any doubts as to safety provided that they can fly a $20 million airplane for the price of a bus ticket.
I believe there is reason for concern.. you may choose to believe otherwise.

[bcflyer]

I don't think any of us are against raising the level of safety in aviation. The issue is that instead of making a general post about it, you have singled out Colgan. Again I'm wondering, if you are not involved with them, how do you know the current level of experince in the left seat?

[DownIn3Green]

Right on, BC...

[N2257F]

What we need are more people off the street taking well deserved captain upgrades from qualified first officers, give me a break. I can speak for the newest class of captains upgrading this week, as I am a part of this class, we all have what it takes to be safe and competent captains.

[RWEDAREYET]

Just out of curiousity, how many years does it take from new hire FO to upgrade to Captain at Colgan these days??

[MungoP]

I can speak for the newest class of captains upgrading this week, as I am a part of this class, we all have what it takes to be safe and competent captains.

You may like to think so. The pathetically poor record of Pinnacle/Colgan would suggest otherwise. Poor judgement and a cowboy approach to operating sophisticated a/c has played the major part in the most serious of the accidents. Children need mentors.

[galaxy flyer]

Might point out Pinnacle/Colgan has been the airline responsible for EVERY ONE of the US' fatal airline accidents in the last 5 years.

GF

[DownIn3Green]

N2257F...

Good Luck to you...I'm sure you'll do fine...don't let these other guys get you down...

Keep the Blue Side up...