Delta1054

I am new to this forum and have really enjoyed hearing the input on these boards. I am currently in the Navy and will be getting out in a year. I am also almost done with my PPL. When I get out I am looking into going to ATP in JAX. I have already gone there and visited. It seems like it is very nice and just what I need. Can anyone talk about what they had as far as ratings before they went there? And how was your experience? Thanks

BigjetLiljet

It's crazy to hear folks wanting to go into dept for their ratings. The best option is go with a local flight school and see if you truely enjoy flying. If you find yourself still desiring the flying gig, continue with the ratings at the local flight school. There are many flight schools out there with quality flight instruction. Don't sell the house or quit the full time job until you have the ratings and a flying offer. Just my thoughts for those on the fence.

Paying 45K+ for a 20K job is not the most economical. The best of both worlds is to have money in the bank as well as a flying gig. Again, just my opinion.

BigjetLiljet

LA,

Read the posts and have to ask if you are at Travis? C-5, KC-10.
I flew at Blueridge Aeronautics at the Vacaville Airport a few times.

Slice

LAFF flies satellites. Scary!

shamrok

Not all FBO's are bad. If you want quality instruction at a personable level and dont want to spend more than you need to then a local FBO with a good reputation is the right choice. I looked at many of the pilot factories and I must say I am glad I followed my gut to stick with my local flight school here in New England! In about a year and a half I went from private to cfII and spent much less than the big schools. My training was top notch in challenging weather and I would put my skills up against any. And with the regional mins as low as they are you can forget about the bridge programs. Just earn your ratings and spend some time instructing to learn more about yourself and build quality time. I have flown with a few of the products of the quicky flight schools and I must say that I wonder how they passed some of the checkrides.......I believe in quality over quantity.

LAfrequentflyer

Just the ones near the end of their service life...They won't let me in the building if the Space Shuttle is up...Oh well, good thing Georgetown is a short cab ride away!!!

-LAFF

LAfrequentflyer

I was there...Now in DC.

Blue Ridge was very expensive but the Aero Club on Travis was a complete disaster...

-LAFF

RXS676

I really don't think comparable training, for a comparable number of hours and in comparable equipment, can be had for a lower price that a program like ATP, at least for someone who lives in Southern California. There are only a few flight schools here that have complex and multiengine aircraft, and they are located at large airports and are very expensive. Many of them won't even allow you to rent their twins for anything other than dual instruction and checkrides, which will make it difficult to build ME PIC time.

There is also the issue of opportunity cost, which is significant for a working professional who is planning on leaving his work and training full-time. Of course, I am addressing only cost here, but finishing in three months is much less expensive that six months, even if the cost of the flying itself is $10,000 more.

I really enjoyed getting my private at a local airport, I love the small airport environment and camaraderie, and I would love to continue training in that environment. But I have crunched the numbers forward and backwards and I just can't conclude that it is best financially.

As for the hiring minimums at regionals, I think it's foolish to think that those minimums, and the hiring boom in general, will last forever. Whatever level of experience (total time, ME time, or whatever) is competitive today may not be in six months.

LAfrequentflyer

If you're serious about aviation and want to be a professional pilot you need to get thru training ASAP and start building experience / time as a CFI.

People like to spin things but its really important to get your ratings and move on into making a living...Not much of a living, but a living all the same...

R, take a look at www.prarieairservice.com give them a call and visit. Offer the same program as ATP for 30K less.

Before I decide on ATP I'm taking a few days and visiting Herb and family in Kansas...The $400 airfare is worth it if it saves me 25-30K in the long run.

I'm with you the ATP package / time / money is very tempting. However, PAS is also an accelerated program w/ ME time and the same plastic ratings from the FAA at the end...

You can always get your CFI ratings at ATP after PAS...

-LAFF

RXS676

Thanks for the information.

One thing to keep in mind is that ATP normally considers for flight instructor positions only those students who have completed the ACPP program with them. Due to the high instructor turnover as a result of strong regional airline hiring, they are now also consider anyone who completes their CFI programs. However, as I have said before, we really can't rely on the current regional airline hiring continuing forever, and there is a chance that if you don't do the ACPP program, you may not be able to instruct with them. (Not sure if that's a factor for you or not, but I think it's something to consider).

In my paranoid mind, I'm thinking that if in fact getting a job at a regional does become more competitive, having the ME time that you get as an instructor at ATP could make a big difference.