ATP written game changer?
 

Word on the street is that the ATP written is a game changer as far as getting a call goes. I am closing in on 800 hours and a bare 7 hours of that golden twin time. I cringe at the idea of having to pay more to build twin time. A reliable source (a fellow CFI who interviewed) at PDT told me that the chief pilot told him that PDT does not care how much multi time one has as long as the candidate has the ATP written and is good in instruments. I am not sure if that's the case with other regionals. I have applied to a few places, but haven't heard anything so I ordered Gleim's 2012 ATP written prep and I have decided to hang in there until I get it out of the way. I am averaging over 60 hours a month as a CFI, so it is a possibility that I may take the ATP ride in a Skyhawk. As far as multi time goes, yes I know it's very low, but I hope to get lucky...

Send that Gleim book back and get Sheppard Air test prep. One weekend of studying will put you in the high 90s. Their software and memory aids make test taking so much easier than any of the other preps. Plus if you don't score high they refund your money no questions asked.

And yes thats what I have heard about the ATP written being required for a call. The airline knows you will need it in a year or less anyways.

Thanks, yes I have heard that Sheppard Air is a must. I figure I will keep the Gleim book anyway since I have no prior exposure to ATP written stuff. My goal is to get the test done in the next 2 months or so I hope. And then time to update my resume and start applying again...

No problem, If you use Sheppard Air do not use the questions in the Gleim book as a cross reference. Just use Gleim for reading after the exam. Once you see how the Sheppard Air software works and the memory aid you will understand why. Good Luck!

Oh and for around $20 Sheppard has an interview question prep for several airlines.

Are airlines looking for you to just have the written, or do they care what you scored too? Just Curious

ATP written or not . You are not going to get on anywhere with 7 hours of multi . 50 is a bare minimum . Is getting a MEI a option ? Or tagging along with a MEI so you can both legally log the time while you log it as dual received . You still need to get up to 1500 hours anyways ,and getting a ATP in a single engine is useless

This thread is a year old, things have changed!

You can assume that you MUST have the ATP written prior to interview since you'll take the ATP checkride during training.

Most people score mid to high 90's. Since the answers are available, that's kind of assumed. If you scored much less that will raise questions. You can retake it for a higher score.

I would assume that you'll need at least 50-100 ME depending on the airline.

I'll second this. I managed 100% using the Shepard Air prep and as a ex-military with little civil exposure, it was a god-send.

Sheppard Air is what I am currently using almost makes taking this test too easy. Not sure if a good thing or a bad thing.

There you go. Why learn the material when you can simply memorize the answers?

Given that many companies give written tests during interviews, and many of those take their questions and answers verbatim off the ATP written exam, why wouldn't one start studying early and prepare for success?

Take the "written." It doesn't mean much any more, but where many places want you to have it, why wouldn't you invest the few bucks and get it done?

Gents, it's done as of October of 2012. Currently I am at 1500 hours, 65 multi over 100 hours in instrument and night time, but still working on that infamous 500 hours of cross country time. Almost at 400 now...

Congrats! Looks like all regionals will be hiring for awhile so you should have lots of options.