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Looking for Advice RAA/ATP?

Old 02-08-2006, 05:55 PM
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Question Looking for Advice RAA/ATP?

Hello fellow pilots, I have been looking and reading forums on here for the last month but have some questions about RAA and ATP that I would like some of the students to respond if there are any out there and able. I have recently taken a tour of both schools and both I think have there pros and cons.

1. I applied for finacial aid from RAA and was only approved for half the amount needed. Has anyone else who has done this had any problems getting the rest of the money to finish?

2. Have any of the students from ATP or RAA had any problems being placed as an instructor?

3. Do any of you RAA guys know any of those students who has who got hired with 350tt and 50me?(Do they really exist)


How about you Pro-Pilots, do any of you fly with any of the guys who have finished from these schools? What are some of their failures and some of they successes.

I would be greatful for any help.
 
Old 02-08-2006, 08:02 PM
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If you go to ATP you won't have any trouble finding a CFI job.

An RAA guy with 350 total would basically have to be baby sat for his first couple hundred hours. It can be done and it's done all the time through FSA's direct entry program but entering the career in this manner is not looked upon well by the majority, though some could care less. If you don't believe me make this post at jetcareers or flightinfo and see what folks have to say.
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Old 02-08-2006, 08:14 PM
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Originally Posted by stiknruder
Hello fellow pilots, I have been looking and reading forums on here for the last month but have some questions about RAA and ATP that I would like some of the students to respond if there are any out there and able. I have recently taken a tour of both schools and both I think have there pros and cons.

1. I applied for finacial aid from RAA and was only approved for half the amount needed. Has anyone else who has done this had any problems getting the rest of the money to finish?

2. Have any of the students from ATP or RAA had any problems being placed as an instructor?

3. Do any of you RAA guys know any of those students who has who got hired with 350tt and 50me?(Do they really exist)


How about you Pro-Pilots, do any of you fly with any of the guys who have finished from these schools? What are some of their failures and some of they successes.

I would be greatful for any help.
I think ATP has an al la carte kind of menu, where you can pick out the training you really need. You are going to be confronted with folks trying to sell you some "extras", like jet or airline ops training. What you really NEED:
1) Private Pilot Lic. (If you don't have one, I recommend you get one at your local airport BEFORE you quit your job, relocate, and/or plunk down a huge chunk of change. You need to really make sure you enjoy flying before you get carried away...)
2) Instrument Rating
3) Commercial Single Engine
4) Commercial Multi-engine
5) CFI
6) CFII
7) MEI

Anything else you pay for, you need to ask WHY? It is nice to get a CFI job at the school where you did your training, because you know the procedures, airspace, and airplanes. However, if you don't there are plenty of places where you can work.

Also, it might be advantageous if your training program emphasizes multi-engine time early on, rather than at the end. The 100-300 twin hours is often what CFIs have the most trouble acquiring $$$.

Airline job opportunity "guarantees" for low-time (<1000) pilots are largely BS. There a few exceptions. You may not want to pay a bunch of extra money for an interview opportunity at 700 hours...you could apply off the street 300 hours later...Also, like de727 said, your resume will look better in the long run with the instructor ratings.

Last edited by rickair7777; 02-08-2006 at 08:17 PM.
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Old 02-09-2006, 10:25 AM
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Default Looking for advice RAA/ATP?

rickair7777:

Are you saying that some of the testimonials and pix of guys sitting in the FO seat (looking back over their shoulder ) i see on the ATP website, are students who used this a la carte method and was still hired w/o going through any type of jet transition training?
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Old 02-09-2006, 11:21 AM
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I know the question was for rickair, but I think there are a lot of guys and girls training at fbo's the a la carte method getting FO positions without the Jet transition. I know where I trained the schools interview agreement mins were only valid if you completed the crj transition class. It wasn't a type rating, but more of an intro class. As long as your instrument skills are up to par and your overall knowledge base is there, you can get by without.
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Old 02-09-2006, 11:31 AM
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Default RAA or ATP?

Thanks Willi364. That info saves me about 50K. I've decided to do the FBO thing then DCA or ATP's a la carte. Bet it up.
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Old 02-09-2006, 11:47 AM
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Originally Posted by atpwannabe
rickair7777:

Are you saying that some of the testimonials and pix of guys sitting in the FO seat (looking back over their shoulder ) i see on the ATP website, are students who used this a la carte method and was still hired w/o going through any type of jet transition training?
I'm sure the brochure uses kids who shelled out for EVERYTHING, but there's plenty of folks they don't show who just got their ratings, worked as a CFI, and got hired without all the extra stuff...

You have to ask yourself...what is the benefit to the airline of hiring someone with all the fancy transition training? Well, the FAA requires new hires to go through the company's entire training program(possible exceptions for someone hired from another airline). No reduced training requirements, so no money saved.

An airline might have a SLIGHT incentive to hire transition trainees because they might have a SLIGHTLY lower chance of failing groundschool.

But what you have to realize is that it's not always up to the airline! At most airlines, the interviews are done by line captains. Many of these guys will be suspicious of shortcut programs...if they get a bad vibe the company will likely NOT overturn their decision...that paper-trail would go over just GREAT at the post-crash trial...

If you have unlimited $$$$, sure do it, it will be entertaining. But don't think you need to buy that kind of fluff.
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Old 02-09-2006, 11:52 AM
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Default RAA or ATP?

Now that really helps!!!! Again, about 50K saved.

I didn't know that the interviews were conducted by line holders. I know that may sound strange, but I always imagined they were conducted by some or a forum of HR people.

Thanks for the info.
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Old 02-09-2006, 12:00 PM
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Originally Posted by atpwannabe
Now that really helps!!!! Again, about 50K saved.

I didn't know that the interviews were conducted by line holders. I know that may sound strange, but I always imagined they were conducted by some or a forum of HR people.

Thanks for the info.
You may have an HR person to ask you if you like to hurt small animals and things like that, but the captains do the down-and-dirty technical/operational interview.
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Old 02-09-2006, 01:01 PM
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As far as I know every student at RAA that wanted to instruct got a job there. I know of people that have left and went to instruct elsewhere with no problem. And I also know of an ATP CFI who came here and was let go because he wasn't proficent. I'm not saying it was ATP's fault he wasn't proficent, a school can only teach so much to a student. Most school are basically the same promise stuff that isn't always true. Basically go with whatever you feel comfortable with. I got to admit ATP's number sound nice and I know a lot of people that have liked there schools. I know of a few RAA graduates that were hired with 500tt 50me and something like 50me Flight sim from getting there type. American Eagle hired them conditionally only if they got the type and could pass the sim ride.
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