Originally Posted by
VegasChris
I am still considering whether to pay out of pocket for it or not. I am leaning towards no. If they are going to require CTP courses completed prior to hire then there are going to be a ton of furloughed guys getting hired in front of me that already have ATPs done anyways.
If your school is paying for it definitely take it.
I think panam in Vegas was down to 2500 for a ctp course. Then probably another 1-2k for the multi rental and checkride fee. So I figure it's a 4500 investment that may or may not move me up in the hiring line. It's still not a type rating or initial training which I am going to have to do yet another checkride for.
My guess is by the time I am competitive for hire (at R-ATP minimums) the "shortage" at the regionals will have to return and they will be paying for me to take the course like they were for the past few years.
I think the point is that the CTP course costs airlines money... the ATP checkride portion you will do anyway at the end of your training in the sims so that doesn't necessarily cost them more (other than the examiner's fees)... so the differentiating factor in getting hired may be that you have CTP done and the ATP written. It could also mean higher seniority because you'll go straight to indoc vs getting sent to a CTP course first and from what I'm told even a week difference in seniority can make all the difference.
It may not be a huge expense for the airlines but if you multiply it by a class of 40 people, it adds up quickly. I wouldn't say you have to get an ATP in a seneca right now, but the CTP course + written may help. It's all a personal & budgeting choice in the end. Remember, after you get your CTP certificate and take the written, the written is good for 5 years.
It may pay off well or maybe they'll go back to paying for it if they really want you hired. With the amount of applicants when these hiring windows open that may be far fetched. I personally went ahead and did the course & written over the summer so it is out of the way and the last couple of questionnaires I received from cadets programs they specifically asked if it was something I had done on my own already.