ryane946

The cost of the career pilot program at ATP has been raised by $5,000 to a staggering $50,000! In order to qualify for this program, you must have 85 hours and a private (another $9000+) if you want to start from scratch.

I had a student of mine look into ATP after his private. I called for some information, and found out information that prevented him from attending. This information was from when the program was $45,000, not $50,000 like it is now.

We took the cost of $45,000. We then subtracted the cost of the checkrides. We subtracted double occupany apartment rate for three months ($400 a month). We then took the number of hours in ground school * $10 an hour. Subtracted that. Then we subtracted 50 hours in a flight training device at $20 an hour. Then we looked at how much it cost per hour for a single engine C-172 and a multi-engine piper seminole.

Turned out to be about $250 an hour for a piper seminole. That was solo. Another $50 an hour for the instructor. ATP will quote you this price of $300 an hour dual for a piper seminole. Multiply that by the 11% increase, you are looking at $333 an hour for a piper seminole at ATP. YIKES!

Come to my FBO, the seminole is $155 an hour, and I cost $35 an hour. It will save you about $150 an hour!!! Times 140 hours!!

Slice

www.prairieairservice.com. You can do it there for around 20K less(probably cheaper actually) with good multi time. $60K is ridiculous and you don't need ATP's "regional connections" in the current job market!

LAfrequentflyer

I agree 60K is just way too much...Unless you're spending your parents money.

I'll let you guys know how my PAS visit goes in September.

-LAFF

Danzig

FYI - I recently talked with Herb. He has no room for new students (except the ones he has already approved) until October.

ryane946 - Where abouts is your FBO? Here in PA the average is around $200 for a Seminole.

Slice

Wow, good for him. I know it goes in cycles there, feast or famine I guess.

Engineer Pilot

My feeling is that ATPs price increase has to do with Bush's proposal of raising FAA fees and aviation fuel tax.

Nonetheless I agree to look elsewhere and find a good CFI and FBO who won't decelerate your training time.

Slice

So they are raising prices based on what MAY happen?

'There's a sucker born every minute' - W.C. Fields

LAfrequentflyer

Herb said he was going on vacation in July / August so that may be another reason why he's not taking any new students. Anyway, he said he doesn't take on more than he and Kenny can train - no point in it...

-LAFF

Danzig

ATP purchased a fleet of Diamond Jets. I would imagine that the higher costs of operation (as those students who are doing multi time will be flying a percentage of it in these jets) contributes to the higher tuition fees...

Very true, from what I gather, Herb is very cautious about overbooking.

Slice

Herb is Austrian(European) so Summer vacation is standard...I was Kenny's CFII, how scary is that!
I think it will be a while before the D-Jets come on line. Hardly justifies the rate hike right now.