Originally Posted by
AirWillie
I don't think so. ATP is one of the most overrated schools out there. They are WAY overpriced for what you get and on top of that they insult your intelligence by saying it's fixed price!
How is that an insult to your intelligence when that EXACTLY what it is? I paid the quoted price, up front, and not $1 more. Is it the cheapest school out there? No, but at 35, I valued my time more than the other choices out there, and it's significantly cheaper than Pan Am, Flight Safety, and DCA. But you could also save money by go to Ari-Ben or you local FBO, etc. I just wanted to get finished with my ratings fast and start building time as a CFI.
Originally Posted by
AirWillie
Plus ATP has a very shady way of training their students and that is why many don't like them.
What, exactly is shady. They train you to fly a seminole. Then they train you to get your instrument rating. Then they send you on cross country flights to build time. Then they train you to get your commercial rating. Then they train you to get your CFI ratings. oooooo, shady.
Originally Posted by
AirWillie
They train people, who have barely learned how to fly a 172, the airline procedures.
LOL!!!! That's the dumbest statement I've ever read. What exactly are "the airline procedures"???? And what exactly is it about these so called procedures that makes them taboo to train to a PPL? They train you to fly all aircraft as a professional, using checklists, following procedures, etc. The training I received there was heads and shoulders better than what I received at the local FBO.
However, individual experiences vary. For anyone reading this thread and wondering about flight school choice. ATP isn't perfect. It relies heavily on self-study, so you get out of it what you're willing to put into it. Further, all the instructors are, well, different people. So while I got lucky and had some fantastic instruction, you could go there and not be so impressed with the instructor you get. However, if it becomes a real problem, you can get reassigned. Overall, I thing ATP is a very good school, that doesn't falsely advertise promises of a job. They only promise you the ratings at the stated price in the stated time-frame, and on that promise they deliver.
Originally Posted by
AirWillie
When I asked them about the program, the guy on the phone actually said we already know that you can fly, our philosophy is can you fly with 2 people and have good CRM
Keep in mind when you talk on the phone to ATP's 800 number, you're talking to a student who just finished the program and has been hired, but not placed in a location yet. That can be good, in that they can tell you first hand what it's like to go through the program. And it can be bad, in that they may be an idiot!