I just finished my second week. You do get weekends off when the training department has their stuff togeather. Oddly enough this weekend we are holding class on sunday. As far as travel home goes, you have to have five consecutive days off and permission from some higher up to get a travel pass because you are not an employee until you pass your checkride. Classes are from 8:00 am to about 4:30 with an hour and a half lunch break. Since I am still in ground school I can't say as to the length of time from start to finish. However; I spoke to a guy who started on July 2 and he said his checkride was scheduled for August 26.