da42pilot

I’m interested in the larger carriers, like Atlas, ATI, Kalitta, Western... some people carriers, too.

I’m at a regional where just about everything is AQP, except for upgrade. Is AQP available for recurrent, initial?

What is the quality of training? What if you need an extra sim session?

Looking for the big picture. Thanks.

Whalehunter

K4 is aqp, no different. We're not hiring at the moment, but heavy aircraft experience is king. Atlas I believe is old school.

Cujo665

Just about everybody is the old way except for K4. Honestly, having done both, for initial new hires there isn't much difference in my opinion. You've got a lot to learn in s short time and need to study, group study and study some more.
In either program if you need an extra Sim you'll typically get it in either type of training program. Both programs are fine, stop worrying over it. If your not wanting to go someplace because they don't do AQP, or basing your job decision targeting on AQP or not, then your in the wrong profession.

Globemaster2827

In all honesty I feel like I know more about Boeing equipment than my peer group at my current airline and I attribute 100% of that to the Atlas instructors and evaluators. It is old school and not AQP, but if you take it seriously you'll breeze through training on any Boeing you have for the remainder of your career.

FlyAstarJets

Cujo has the right of it here, there isn’t much of a difference during initial training for a new hire.

da42pilot, As to your reference of ATI and AQP, we’re at about a minimum of a year probably longer from bringing AQP into the training department here.

Hope this helps,
FAJ

C17B74

Good stuff right there Globe. Only thing to add with the “Old School”, the instructional areas have the opportunity to ask questions and be honest when learning a system or process. It was a very open environment to learning but you are expected to do the work as you are not spoon fed. Make the effort and the instructors go the extra mile as they want you to succeed was my take. Definitely not like an actual text I received from a friend going thru training at a non-AMCI as it read:

“Training hasn’t been pleasant. I was summoned to a meeting to ‘realign’ Me to the process. My sim partner was already aligned and knew not to do anything that could be perceived as a challenge to the instructors authority.”

This gent is a very humble good guy and yes, does ask a lot of honest questions so I doubt he was in the wrong. But, I do recognize there are times to shut up already and color and it doesn’t matter how you did it before at carrier “X”.
Axe to grind, don’t know, don’t care but it says a lot. I didn’t see anything remotely like this here except for: “Yup, got it, let’s move along now to the next item!” with a sarcastic good ribbing ending “Shall We!” Old school without the bite if you will.

AboveMins

Atlas is definitely old school, but as long as you keep putting in the effort, they will work with you. At least that's how it was when I went through initial in early 2018. While it's not AQP, I never felt unprepared or overly stressed out at any training gate or check ride. Group study is a major key to success in our program. Every one who participated in it was able to get through with little to no problems.

Elevation

If you've had no problems in regional training, you'll have no problems here (Atlas). I'm a big fan of AQP since an operator can train to address problems before they emerge, but initial new hire training is more or less the same as some others have said.

sky jet

I can hear it now, "OK Boomer", but here is the real deal about airline training. You need to know your aircraft systems. You need to know your aircrafts limitations. You need to know how to properly fly a V1 and V2 engine failure. You need to know how to execute an emergency descent, You need to know how to fly a non-precision and precision approach. You must learn to function as a crew. Nothing has changed in 50+ years. If you can do these things competently you will pass and thrive at an airline. If you have a good attitude and need a little help you will most likely get it. If you are unable to master these skills in todays environment you will most likely be let go. AQP or Old School you still need to be able to do these things and it was, has been and hopefully always will be up to the individual to prepare properly. I've done both types of training plus some overseas that doesn't fit either category and it is all about individual preparation. Short of poor instruction/checking, which is thankfully rare, most pilots do fine regardless of the program.

Elevation

I agree with this.