FlyingStormie

Tell me about it! I've been wanting a flying career as far back as High School (back when Al Gore had just finished inventing the internet). Then it seemed as if there were only two "acceptable" ways to become a professional pilot: start in your early teens, scrape together every cent possible and "pay as you go" basically live at the local airport. Then, after several years of back breaking work, become a CFI, then move on to flying freight in aircraft that are barely airworthy and then, only then, were you deemed worthy of a part 121 gig. Or go the military route. There some hyperbole there for sure, but that was my impression. Fortunately, there are a myriad of programs and paths available. Once you have the certs and hours, employers really don't care where you got them.

That is a little fast. Even ATP Flight School doesn't advertise that. They advertise "about 2 years."


[QUOTE=Dontknow;2533699]Am I right in the fact also that after I have my CFI, I can walk and work somewhere else if I need to in order to get my hours?[QUOTE]
That's the case at ATP. One of the CFIs I worked with at my club left ATP after getting frustrated with the amount of flying he was doing, or rather wasn't doing. He trained at the Denver (Centennial) location and, following CFI school, requested to go back to Centennial. ATP sent him to Portland pending an opening at APA. Due to weather, he didn't fly much there, so he quit, moved to Denver on his own, and quickly picked up another CFI gig. He wasn't in any way, shape, or form contractually obligated to stay at ATP.


For the most part, yes. Where you went to flight school may come up during interviews but interviewers are more concerned with your knowledge set, what you've learned from failures, and how you deal with difficult people, etc.

While some schools have placement services for their CFIs, in the current market, they aren't really all that advantageous. The CFIs at my club, for example, don't seem to have any trouble getting airline jobs, even at the "tough nut to crack" Boutique Air. The club has zero placement, preferred interview, or such agreement with any company.


If you haven't done so already, consider the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve. I can't recall off hand what the age limits are, but you're likely getting very close. The advantage to the ANG or RES is that you'll be joining the unit in which you will eventually serve and that you join after being selected for a pilot slot. On the other hand, competition for these slots is very fierce and should only be attempted if serving in the military is right for you. Even in ANG or RES you are an Officer first, pilot second.

Dontknow

Unfortunately I am too old for that route. You have to be under 28 as I checked.

BryFlys

Agreed that they are $hitty but they aren't the "quickest" option. I went to a local 141 in Denver and was able to go from my private to commercial in less than 5 months(I started with roughly 60 hrs SEL) ...the CFI & CFII on the other hand... that's taken me a while due to some scheduling conflicts. Moral of the story is that if you get plugged in with the right instructor, school, club, ect. AND you're motivated, you can complete it just as quick (if not faster) elsewhere than at ATP.

sourdough44

I would lean this way, AZ I think. They may have other locations. You need and want the ‘fast track’.

The problem with your own plane, you will soon need instrument, multi-engine etc.. Having your own plane is great for intro and private pilot, beyond that you need more than a Cherokee 140.

TurboWill

American Flyer's

jarinawoz

you are totally right! I have seen many students they are so into the last step, but not the steps and experience between. I have also plans... but step by step
Everything takes time and the PPL is the basic.

If you learn all the basic well, the theory too, but all these things need to sink in. To understand, not only memorize things. There are so many things which makes them easier, a lot of apps, flight simulators, ebooks and so. I am in ppl training, but already started looking for deeper and more serious knowledge, to getting ready for atpl.

magoo6541

I don't know what ATP is offering now but I went in 2010 and their Professional Pilot Program went from 80hr PPL to CFI/CFII/MEI in 3 months.

Not saying this is the best option but taking 5 months to go from PPL to commercial seems like an awful long time.

OP, I don't have experience doing it but know of several people who purchased their own planes and knocked out their training and then sold the plane for what they purchased it for. Basically their only costs were fuel, CFI and insurance.

The downside to that is buying a lemon and ending up way in the hole if things really start to go downhill for the plane. I had a student buy her own plane and that thing ended up being a money pit for her.

Dfwnightflyer

The route I went and my suggestion to you is to take an intro flight and then enroll in lessons at a local 141 flight school. Schedule as much weekly flying as your schedule permits. You can likely still work full time all the way through your multi commercial, paying as you go. Once you are ready for your cfi training, then you can quit your job and go attend one of the many reputable CFI factories around the US.
I think it’s absolutely ridiculous to drop a ton of $$ into these zero to hero programs.

BryFlys

I think they went up to 6 mo's for the "program" with 80 hrs credit for Private... however, I have met some folks who went through them and went zero to hero in about 6 mo's so anythings possible I guess. Honestly, I think it depends on the students/instructor's schedule and budget concerns over there... but that's true at a lot of 141 ops. Not hating on you though... 3 mo's private to commercial is d@mn impressive in my book.

Hflyr51

I'm active duty about to get out of service in 3-5 months. Being that I'm 33yrs old I'm electing to go to ATP school. I do not have the time to attend a 141 program that would take me at least 3-4 years to become regional eligible. Nor do I think the "professional pilot" degree is worth my time. I am a current PPL holder with about 115hrs total time. So I'll be doing the PPL-CFII professional pilot program in Mesa, AZ.

I wanted to finish with my local flight school I received my PPL training from. However, due to the way financing works and private loans compared to student loans. I could not get the loans I would have needed to finish with the school. Though this would have been a much cheaper option for me and I could have completed my training sooner. I do not think that even as a CFI here in NE Kansas I would get the hours quick enough to my liking.

I chose ATP because I wanted a set and no BS path to get through my ratings and have a sure-fire way to have no doubt flight instructor time to finish my 1500 ATP requirement. ATP is quite pricey, but with SallieMae I was able to get financed in whole for the program. Flight training is expensive no matter how you slice the pie. I, for one, like the fast-paced training as I completed my PPL in just over 2 months. Completing the remainder of my certificates in 6 months doesn't seem problematic at all. I'll have my FAA written Instrument and probably commercial completed before I start.