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ATP practical

Old 12-10-2014, 06:28 PM
  #331  
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I went through All ATP out at Williams Gateway, Phoenix, AZ in July 2013. I had a good instructor and the DE was more along the lines of what I would have expected from a military evaluator. That was a year ago and those places tend to change. Good planes also.
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Old 12-27-2014, 09:21 AM
  #332  
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ATP done through Hortman Aviation out of KPNE. Had the written done before the cut off. Good experience!
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Old 12-27-2014, 05:17 PM
  #333  
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Default Fair and Respectable ATP

I just finished the Sanders aviation ATP program in Jasper, AL. They have a great school, well maintained plane and even a bunk house you can stay at while getting this done. The instructors are professional and will provide you will the right info you need to be successful. If you are worth your weight, regardless of where you go Id assume you would prepare. Gordo's website offers all of the things you need to do to prepare for the check. It was not cheap, but I would recommend to anyone to go down there. We did the full profile for the check ride, but it was not a stress mess like some of the FAA checks that are out there. Bottom line, they will prepare you and you will be happy you went there. They even have a state of the art A/v room with a garmin trainer where you can chair fly your entire checkride. Just google sanders aviation. Good people.
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Old 01-15-2015, 01:14 PM
  #334  
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Default ATP course selection help

Looking for some help...I am trying to decide which ATP practical program is right for me and I have read through the entire thread here and on baseops and talked to several of the companies as well.

It seems that the amount of money and flying training you get varies widely between these companies. Also, this is obviously a check the box type of activity, so I really want the cheapest and fastest way to get it done without failing my checkride (which I imagine is exactly what most people want). I am not planning on using the GI Bill because I want to save it and it doesn't seem like a good use of my months of benefits.

These are the companies I have compared which would be close for someone living in the northeast:

All ATPs (nearest location for me is Trenton, NJ) - they do roughly 10 hours of flight training and it costs about $5000.

Higher Power Aviation (HPA) Training - Dallas - get a 737 type rating (personally I am not interested in a type and don't want to spend that much money)

Accessible Aviation - Columbus AFB - not interested in dealing with "crazy carl" judging from feedback on this forum.

Sanders Aviation - Alabama - approximately $3500. Good reviews but far from where I live and about the same amount of money as places in the northeast.

Downtown Aviation - Memphis - quoted 1600-1800 and you get it done in two flights and two days. Seems like the best deal for time and money.

Hortman Aviation - Philadelphia - Typically 6-12 hours of flying - they said to expect $3500ish.

Middle River Aviation - Baltimore - I am told they are about $3500 as well, and I have heard of a lot of guys going there recently.

Boston guy - the mythical guy that no one can get in touch with? Seems to be a good deal. I don't have his price or contact information though. Please PM me if you do!!

So my question to you all is this: Why would anyone spend $3500 and more time to do any of these programs other than one like Downtown Aviation? For those of you who have done Downtown or any other really abbreviated course, should I be concerned about failing my checkride due to lack of preparation? The courses that cost $3500 provide hours more in flight instruction...is this recommended? Bottom line...I want an ATP and don't want to fail my first attempt. If that costs $3500 than so be it, but I don't want to waste my time or money. Thanks for the help!
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Old 01-15-2015, 04:34 PM
  #335  
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higher power is now owned by ALL ATPS.
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Old 01-15-2015, 05:37 PM
  #336  
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Originally Posted by rbigred300 View Post
So my question to you all is this: Why would anyone spend $3500 and more time to do any of these programs other than one like Downtown Aviation? For those of you who have done Downtown or any other really abbreviated course, should I be concerned about failing my checkride due to lack of preparation? The courses that cost $3500 provide hours more in flight instruction...is this recommended? Bottom line...I want an ATP and don't want to fail my first attempt. If that costs $3500 than so be it, but I don't want to waste my time or money. Thanks for the help!

Sign up for the course, not the cost. Depends on your situation. Personally, I went to Downtown (Memphis) while deployed to Tampa-stan. Walked in and out for $1400, but also paid for a hotel, gas, dinner, etc. Total cost around $1800. YMMV. Very pleased with the program and big boy attitude.

I felt more than prepared with the stuff they gave me to look over, did a quick ground eval, and passed. I put in the work to get the ticket.

I would HIGHLY recommend Downtown to anyone....not because of the cost, but because they gave me an FAA check ride looking at my previous experience, ability and pushed aside the queep -- i.e. knowing that I'm not a Duchess Captain, nor aspire to be. It's not a diploma mill by any means.
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Old 01-15-2015, 09:32 PM
  #337  
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Thanks...good to hear. I definitely don't mind putting in the work, but also like the thought of flying the min amount necessary and saving some money.
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Old 01-16-2015, 02:29 AM
  #338  
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rbigred - I too looked at using GI bill to add ME, MEI & ATP to my ratings. If you have kids or a wife you are going to pass the benefit to, the cost in months just isn't worth it. If I remember correctly, they assume $10K equates to 12 months for vocational school (that's what they consider this). It only counts as regular school if your doing flight training at a degree earning school that offers that training. So if you spend $5K on civilian flight training, that eats up 6 months of your 26 months benefit. At the cost of college these days, you are way better off saving the GI Bill for the fam and paying for the flight training yourself.

One other thought for you with regards to the time/cost balance you are looking for. If you have little to no GA experience, you may want to avoid the two flight one. The odds are stacked against you. Not because you would be unprepared or that they aren't a good outfit, but because it takes that many flights just to feel semi-comfortable in a GA plane and get used to whatever gauges it has. Then you need to try and fly approaches within very tight standards.

I just flew a pre-ATP check with a guy after his CFI signed him off for the practical (he had a failure). He wanted to fly a mock practical with another CFI to ensure he was ready. After the flight I asked him what happened and his issue was that he was an F-18 guy with almost no GA experience and rolled into a course out in AZ with a short syllabus.

I'm not saying don't use Downtown. It sounds like they are mil-friendly based on the other post they give some leeway to military folks who are unfamiliar with GA aircraft.

I'm just saying to make sure and balance in your GA experience level into your decision. Make sure wherever you go, you have the ability to fly more flights if needed to get comfortable and don't talk yourself out of flying an extra flight or two in order to save some money.

Good Luck!
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Old 01-17-2015, 03:44 PM
  #339  
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Originally Posted by rbigred300 View Post
Thanks...good to hear. I definitely don't mind putting in the work, but also like the thought of flying the min amount necessary and saving some money.
I flew a 1.4 hr sortie with a 2 hr post flight debrief. Next day, I flew a 1.3 hr check ride with 1 hr debrief. In between flights, I chair flew the profile 2-3 times - which for me worked out. That is at Downtown Aviation. However, you have to know your own skill set as well. As a PIT instructor, I'm deep into the books on a daily basis and teach chair flying, so those key attributes needed to get in and get out are second nature to me and my peers.

Paying anymore than $2000 for an ATP in todays market is throwing away good money.
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Old 02-27-2015, 10:38 AM
  #340  
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I'm about to jump in and get my ATP along with a friend of mine. Both of us F-16 guys and have our ATP Written Exam complete. Anyone from the mil fighter community have recent (as in after August 2014) experience with somewhere in the SW US? Not necessarily looking for a 2-3 day quick/dirty place, at the least would need to have some options for a more "thorough" prep. Also would need to get rid of my "centerline thrust" restriction on my multi certificate while I'm at it.

I have actually been out of the jet for a while and would likely need some extra flight time and prep before the practical. I'd like to learn something while I'm there, but I don't want to take a month and $10K to do so, either. I'm open to a "sim only" setup as well, just don't want to spend a fortune.

Please feel free to PM me if there is some gouge that you don't want to make public. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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