FlyingStormie

I'll be starting at ATP-Denver in about a week. I'm in the 40ME Track. I'm coming into the program with my PPL and about 130hrs, earned about 10yrs ago. I've met my instructor and have done my intro flight. So far, I'm pleased with what I've seen.

The Denver location doesn't have any Archers. All single engine stuff is done in G1000 equipped 172SPs. All except one of the Seminoles have the G500 panel. The "campus" consists of a few office suites in Hangar 8 @ TAC Air. APA is a maintenance base for ATP.


From what I've read, if a student progresses through the program reasonably well, the job is yours. I'm interpreting "reasonably well" to mean that you're not known for showing up for lessons ill prepared, failing checkride after checkride, etc.

You get to pick your base, but you may not get to return to your base immediately following the CFI standardization course. You may be sent elsewhere in the system until there is an opening at your chosen location. "Up to four months" is something I remember seeing.

Compensation is kinda complected. ATP CFIs are paid a minimum of $1000/month to cover ground instruction. Since the program's expectations are such that students are to complete ground largely on there own, this functions more like "min guarantee" in the airline world. The pay per flight hour is a three tier system. Lowest tier is, I think, $7.50/flight hour. I think the highest tier is $12.00/flight hour. Which tier you fall into is based on the number of hours you fly for the month.


My CFI told me that the Denver location has "several" that they use and all, in his opinion, are great to work with. To me, this means that since your checkrides and such are already scheduled, the school makes the contact and you get whomever is available. Examiner fees are not included in the program cost. Neither are the fees for the written test. I was told, though, that the Denver location is a testing site, so you can take the written tests through ATP for free. I guess I'll find out soon.