Zero to MEI with AllATP or USAA?
09-13-2014, 06:58 PM
#41
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2012
Posts: 299
I went to ATP and instructed there for more than a year. I also instructed at USAA for more than a year. So i'll try to give you a comparison of both of them. Neither of them are perfect so I would have a hard time recommending either of them.
Instructors- You are going to find bad and good instructors at both places. If you go to USAA you might feel more of a customer service feel and have the opportunity to change instructors if you want. Also, you can have "some" say in your schedule. ATP you pretty much have no say in your schedule.
Air Craft and M/X- ATP has this one by far! I wouldn't even touch USAA's ME airplanes. I instructed over 500 hrs in ME with ATP and flew glass cockpit with less than 10 hours total time. Yes, 10 hours! I never thought twice getting into an ATP plane but USAA planes always scared me. USAA's AC are old and their MX team is over worked.
Cost: I had some friends get screwed by ATP. But, if you are smart and work hard you should have no problem getting through.
Curriculum-141 USAA or 61 ATP. USAA is going to give you good ground school. ATP won't send you through a ground school so you are going to do a lot of self study. ATP also has an online self study course (or they did when I was there), but you can still get some good ground school with one on one instructing.
Instructing for the companies- I got paid about a 700 dollars more per month working at ATP. Although I did have to work the call center at ATP, I was flight instructing at ATP quicker than USAA from date of hire. I worked 7 days a week at ATP because it was required. You can build time at both places. USAA is pretty sketchy when it comes to pay and billing time. USAA will force/threaten to fire you to work for free. I had four different managers that were over me tell/suggest/threaten me to work for free. They don't build enough ground time into their programs so they make the instructors work for free to stay "On time On budget." But, then again ATP doesn't pay you for ground time. So just know what you are getting into before you sign up.
If you have any specific questions let me know!
Instructors- You are going to find bad and good instructors at both places. If you go to USAA you might feel more of a customer service feel and have the opportunity to change instructors if you want. Also, you can have "some" say in your schedule. ATP you pretty much have no say in your schedule.
Air Craft and M/X- ATP has this one by far! I wouldn't even touch USAA's ME airplanes. I instructed over 500 hrs in ME with ATP and flew glass cockpit with less than 10 hours total time. Yes, 10 hours! I never thought twice getting into an ATP plane but USAA planes always scared me. USAA's AC are old and their MX team is over worked.
Cost: I had some friends get screwed by ATP. But, if you are smart and work hard you should have no problem getting through.
Curriculum-141 USAA or 61 ATP. USAA is going to give you good ground school. ATP won't send you through a ground school so you are going to do a lot of self study. ATP also has an online self study course (or they did when I was there), but you can still get some good ground school with one on one instructing.
Instructing for the companies- I got paid about a 700 dollars more per month working at ATP. Although I did have to work the call center at ATP, I was flight instructing at ATP quicker than USAA from date of hire. I worked 7 days a week at ATP because it was required. You can build time at both places. USAA is pretty sketchy when it comes to pay and billing time. USAA will force/threaten to fire you to work for free. I had four different managers that were over me tell/suggest/threaten me to work for free. They don't build enough ground time into their programs so they make the instructors work for free to stay "On time On budget." But, then again ATP doesn't pay you for ground time. So just know what you are getting into before you sign up.
If you have any specific questions let me know!
09-17-2014, 09:41 PM
#42
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2012
Posts: 8
After all the information I gathered, I decided to sign up with ATP. I will start in mid Nov. I feel more comfortable going there because my pilot friend finished the fast track program with ATP and highly recommended the program to me. Also I took advantage of the free housing which I need. I will give updates as the program goes on.
09-18-2014, 06:23 AM
#44
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2011
Position: Volleyball Player
Posts: 3,982
Originally Posted by 8ballfreight
Good good, let the debt consume you. Soon you will feel the full burden of poverty. Search your feelings and such.
09-19-2014, 12:25 PM
#45
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2012
Posts: 352
Originally Posted by adspilot
I went to ATP and instructed there for more than a year. I also instructed at USAA for more than a year. So i'll try to give you a comparison of both of them. Neither of them are perfect so I would have a hard time recommending either of them.
Instructors- You are going to find bad and good instructors at both places. If you go to USAA you might feel more of a customer service feel and have the opportunity to change instructors if you want. Also, you can have "some" say in your schedule. ATP you pretty much have no say in your schedule.
Air Craft and M/X- ATP has this one by far! I wouldn't even touch USAA's ME airplanes. I instructed over 500 hrs in ME with ATP and flew glass cockpit with less than 10 hours total time. Yes, 10 hours! I never thought twice getting into an ATP plane but USAA planes always scared me. USAA's AC are old and their MX team is over worked.
Cost: I had some friends get screwed by ATP. But, if you are smart and work hard you should have no problem getting through.
Curriculum-141 USAA or 61 ATP. USAA is going to give you good ground school. ATP won't send you through a ground school so you are going to do a lot of self study. ATP also has an online self study course (or they did when I was there), but you can still get some good ground school with one on one instructing.
Instructing for the companies- I got paid about a 700 dollars more per month working at ATP. Although I did have to work the call center at ATP, I was flight instructing at ATP quicker than USAA from date of hire. I worked 7 days a week at ATP because it was required. You can build time at both places. USAA is pretty sketchy when it comes to pay and billing time. USAA will force/threaten to fire you to work for free. I had four different managers that were over me tell/suggest/threaten me to work for free. They don't build enough ground time into their programs so they make the instructors work for free to stay "On time On budget." But, then again ATP doesn't pay you for ground time. So just know what you are getting into before you sign up.
If you have any specific questions let me know!
Instructors- You are going to find bad and good instructors at both places. If you go to USAA you might feel more of a customer service feel and have the opportunity to change instructors if you want. Also, you can have "some" say in your schedule. ATP you pretty much have no say in your schedule.
Air Craft and M/X- ATP has this one by far! I wouldn't even touch USAA's ME airplanes. I instructed over 500 hrs in ME with ATP and flew glass cockpit with less than 10 hours total time. Yes, 10 hours! I never thought twice getting into an ATP plane but USAA planes always scared me. USAA's AC are old and their MX team is over worked.
Cost: I had some friends get screwed by ATP. But, if you are smart and work hard you should have no problem getting through.
Curriculum-141 USAA or 61 ATP. USAA is going to give you good ground school. ATP won't send you through a ground school so you are going to do a lot of self study. ATP also has an online self study course (or they did when I was there), but you can still get some good ground school with one on one instructing.
Instructing for the companies- I got paid about a 700 dollars more per month working at ATP. Although I did have to work the call center at ATP, I was flight instructing at ATP quicker than USAA from date of hire. I worked 7 days a week at ATP because it was required. You can build time at both places. USAA is pretty sketchy when it comes to pay and billing time. USAA will force/threaten to fire you to work for free. I had four different managers that were over me tell/suggest/threaten me to work for free. They don't build enough ground time into their programs so they make the instructors work for free to stay "On time On budget." But, then again ATP doesn't pay you for ground time. So just know what you are getting into before you sign up.
If you have any specific questions let me know!
09-19-2014, 01:49 PM
#46
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2010
Position: 747 Captain, retired
Posts: 928
Originally Posted by pkan51
After all the information I gathered, I decided to sign up with ATP. I will start in mid Nov. I feel more comfortable going there because my pilot friend finished the fast track program with ATP and highly recommended the program to me. Also I took advantage of the free housing which I need. I will give updates as the program goes on.
09-29-2014, 08:19 PM
#47
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2013
Position: Captain CL-65
Posts: 268
Originally Posted by krudawg
All right young man, keep us posted about your atp experience
10-01-2014, 08:22 PM
#48
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2010
Position: 747 Captain, retired
Posts: 928
Originally Posted by Flyboyxc91
Will Do!!! An update too, I have my class date set for the Concord, NC location starting October 25th! By the way I didn't even have to take out a loan so I am pretty much in the best situation I could be in as far as not worrying about paying/financing after training.
10-01-2014, 09:26 PM
#49
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2013
Position: Captain CL-65
Posts: 268
Originally Posted by krudawg
No Loan? Geez, if I had your money I'd burn mine
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