Originally Posted by
samc
Don't forget that you get 85 hours (45 of which is cross country after your checkride) obviously it varies based on completion time for private checkride.
not to mention that XC is simulated instrument, getting you ready for the career phase...
apples to apples
I heard that half of that XC time is Safety Pilot time, so effectively you get half of that in actual flight experience, the rest is sitting there watching out for other aircraft. Although I am not postive on that.
Either way you have to do your research, and find what will work for you. ATP works for some and not for others. FBOs may be the best bet for some. To blanketly claim that all FBOs are inferior and out to rob you is being just plain ignorant. There is no right way or wrong way, and there is no best way to do it. If there was a best way to do it, then the vast majority would be doing it that way, which is not the case.