Davjon1409

I am looking for those of you that are willing to give those of us that were in your shoes at one point or another some advice.....I am currently a law enforcement officer that has done my homework, has made an educated choice to make this career change into this profession.

My hope is there is someone or more that are willing to share there opinions with me. At 45 years old I am considering one of the two options... 1. Go to a private school and get my hours and training there

or 2. Pay for a more comprehensive program such as ATP.

I think its important for you to know that I live on an Island and there is No flight school within reasonable distance, unless I take a ferry or pay the extra flt time and have the instructor fly over and pick me up from the mainland. There is a close ATP program where I would if able, go home on the weekends.

So my questions are: 1. When all said and done, is it all that more expensive to go through a ATP program?
2. With the training from ATP, is that a credible program within the industry?
3. Is there anyone that I can speak to that has gone through ATP that is willing to talk with me about their experience and give me tips, etc....

I thank you in advance for your time and consideration and look forward to hearing back. David

Planepirate

Can you take a leave from your current job to go get your flight training? The approach I would take is to take a leave of absence from your current job, go to ATP and get your at least your private liscense (and instrument rating if possible). Then go back to your law enforcement job where you can make enough money to do the following: Either finance a little plane or rent one from your local airport (if one is available) and fly as many hours as you can on your days off. Then when you get ~250 hours take another leave to go get your commercial liscense and then go back to your law enforcement job and continue flying and building hours. When you have 1400 total hours take another leave and go get your commercial multi engine certification. Go back home and go back to law enforcement. When you have 1500 hours, apply at the regionals. After you get a job offer as a pilot, sell your plane, quit your job, and enjoy your new career.

Knobcrk1

Do you have a family? If you do I would strongly think about the effect your new venture would have on them. At the very least it sounds like you will have to uproot yourself to a big city where there an airline base/flight training to have some sort of quality of life. It will not be easy. I bring this up because as an airline pilot I almost think it's not worth it starting over again at your age with a family.

I went through ATP years ago and they delivered as advertised. It's got to be the quickest route. But the flip side is it's up to you to finish training, they don't guarantee you will succeed even after asking for that much money. I know many guys that have checkride failures from there or quit flying altogether in debt. Out of all the guys and girls that were there when I was in training maybe not even half are at the airlines.

The local flight school is way longer and I'm not sure it's even all that cheaper. However what I would do is to go get your private license at your local mom and pop to see if you are still interested in taking such a road towards being a commercial pilot. Don't commit to big schools like ATP unless you really want it. Worst comes to worst you don't like it and you just have your private to fly around on the weekends.

Pm me if you have any other questions.