Hi everyone,
I’m new to the Airline Pilot Central Forums and have a couple of questions about the industry and some advice on next steps in my flight training journey.

I recently joined a Part 141 university program this fall with my Private Pilot Certificate. The way the program is structured, I’m doing commercial time-building this semester and will start my instrument training in the spring.

Since joining, I’ve already been through four instructors and honestly feel pretty lost in the program. My first instructor started pawning me off to two others, and one of them wasn’t great to work with. When I brought this up to the chief flight instructor, I got the typical “Did you fill out the instructor change form?” response and was basically brushed off. I ended up getting the dean and one of my professors involved, and only then did the chief assign me to someone he considered solid. My new instructor has been decent so far, but I’m worried that once I switch instructors again for instrument training, I’ll be back to square one. It all feels like a temporary band-aid.

Recently, I found a local Part 61/141 family-owned flight school across the airport. I’ve flown there twice and really like the environment and instruction. My question is: would it be much of a setback if I continued training there instead? I’d still stay enrolled in my university to finish the degree — just without the flight portion.

I understand the hour differences for the ratings, but I’m wondering: is R-ATP really worth sticking it out at a university program that’s been so frustrating and uninspiring?