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How to / Help picking a flight school?

Old 03-27-2018, 12:47 AM
  #1  
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Question How to / Help picking a flight school?

Hey all,

I'm about to graduate college this coming spring and I'm finishing up my PPL right now. I've got my 3rd class medical and will be getting my first class this coming April. Right now I'm really lost on what my next steps should be in terms of flight school.

I know about ATP but I also know that there super expensive and the instructors are gonna be guys/gals who just got there licenses not to long ago.

Is there an alternative to ATP that I don't know about? I do want to get my licenses done ASAP but don't want to compromise my education which I can hear can sometimes be a problem with ATP.

I will be getting approximately $50,000 in loans and have a few $$$ saved up myself. I would really love some advice or maybe first hand experience for where people got there licenses or the route they took. Location isn't to big of an issue but I've been mainly looking at arizona, florida, california, and washington dc because of my girlfriend!

Please and and all advice would be very much appreciated! This is a big step for me and spending this much money has me a little worried because I don't want to get into my training feeling like I may have made a mistake!

Thank you everyone for your help!
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Old 03-27-2018, 05:21 AM
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Traditionally all the southern states from California going east are big flight Training states.
California and Florida pretty much lead the packs as far as certified certificates issued every year according to the FAA.
You don’t need ATP to do it quickly.
Any mom and pop operator with at least one full time isntructor can get you a CPL ME in 6 months or under.
However, they don’t have the connections that ATP does.
ATP will have you do coast to coast cross countries in a ME, you can work there after gaining your CFI and they have all sorts of deals with Regionals where you sign letters of intent while you’re still in training.
Doesn’t meant they’re the best there is but maybe a better option.
But only you can decide that based on which direction you want to go.
I do keep reading about them pushing checkrides and a string of failed checkrides is the last thing you need.
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Old 03-27-2018, 10:41 AM
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Originally Posted by TiredSoul View Post
Traditionally all the southern states from California going east are big flight Training states.
California and Florida pretty much lead the packs as far as certified certificates issued every year according to the FAA.
You don’t need ATP to do it quickly.
Any mom and pop operator with at least one full time isntructor can get you a CPL ME in 6 months or under.
However, they don’t have the connections that ATP does.
ATP will have you do coast to coast cross countries in a ME, you can work there after gaining your CFI and they have all sorts of deals with Regionals where you sign letters of intent while you’re still in training.
Doesn’t meant they’re the best there is but maybe a better option.
But only you can decide that based on which direction you want to go.
I do keep reading about them pushing checkrides and a string of failed checkrides is the last thing you need.
Would you say those connections are actually needed right now with how much the regionals are hiring?
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Old 03-29-2018, 02:51 AM
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Originally Posted by PNWPilot View Post
Would you say those connections are actually needed right now with how much the regionals are hiring?
You don't need those "hook-ups" right now...as far as my limited experience has been. I went to a FAPA job fair last month, and all the regionals were there, and doing interviews on the spot. Super nice, and legit competing for your application. It's a buyers market right now.
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