ATP vs small school
#21
New Hire
Joined APC: Jan 2019
Position: B767 FO
Posts: 6
So i was in the exact same situation as you a year ago. I was seriously considering ATP. But, I ended up just staying at my local small school. My thoughts over the past year
Small school:
Pros
-I saved about $15,000
-guaranteed CFI job (with medical and dental benefits)
-small school vibe, they actually seem to care about my progression
Negatives:
-slow. What I could have done in 6-7 months at ATP took me a year
-Our fleet isn’t as big as our demand for airplanes. So when an airplane goes into maintenance it messes up a lot of bookings
so I don’t really know. Sometimes I wish I did ATP because I would have finished a lot sooner. But at the same time, my school has some students who had previously been at ATP and most have horror stories
Small school:
Pros
-I saved about $15,000
-guaranteed CFI job (with medical and dental benefits)
-small school vibe, they actually seem to care about my progression
Negatives:
-slow. What I could have done in 6-7 months at ATP took me a year
-Our fleet isn’t as big as our demand for airplanes. So when an airplane goes into maintenance it messes up a lot of bookings
so I don’t really know. Sometimes I wish I did ATP because I would have finished a lot sooner. But at the same time, my school has some students who had previously been at ATP and most have horror stories
In the end, I just could not justify paying ATP so much extra. Especially when I don't see much benefit to the extras (with the hiring situation as it currently stands...airline partnerships don't seem to be worth much). Plus I can keep working full-time and save some money.
#22
Line Holder
Joined APC: Nov 2016
Posts: 55
I have ultimately decided against ATP as well. I found a local flying club to build time and a local flight school with an expanding 141 college program for after I get my CFI. The plane is simple, but it's IFR equipped and extremely economical.
In the end, I just could not justify paying ATP so much extra. Especially when I don't see much benefit to the extras (with the hiring situation as it currently stands...airline partnerships don't seem to be worth much). Plus I can keep working full-time and save some money.
In the end, I just could not justify paying ATP so much extra. Especially when I don't see much benefit to the extras (with the hiring situation as it currently stands...airline partnerships don't seem to be worth much). Plus I can keep working full-time and save some money.
I also recommend these videos on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...5Y8lSzlOUCTXp1
I little dry, but informative and free.
#23
Line Holder
Joined APC: Nov 2016
Posts: 55
msmarchin, sorry, just read your other posts and saw that you have 90 hours and a PPL. Disregard those PPL training reference suggestions. You probably know where to start with instrument stuff already (Instrument Flying Handbook, Instrument Procedures Handbook, AIM, Sporty's IFR video course is also good)
#24
On Reserve
Joined APC: Mar 2019
Posts: 12
I loved my time at ATP. I was motivated and finished the whole program from zero time in just under 8 months. I went to MMU in New Jersey.
12 months from the day I started I landed a job as a FO for a cargo company.
I was switching careers. 29 when I started. I didn’t want to wait around.
12 months from the day I started I landed a job as a FO for a cargo company.
I was switching careers. 29 when I started. I didn’t want to wait around.
#25
On Reserve
Joined APC: Mar 2019
Posts: 12
A regional? No. Piece of cake. Get your ATP mins, avoid DUIs and speeding tickets and their recruiters will be on you like stink on.....
A lower tier major? You can do it but you’ll be at a slight disadvantage to those who have one. Even a two year degree would help though. Although some may prefer you without a four year degree since it rather dramatically decreases the likelihood of losing you to a top tier place that pays better.
A legacy or top tier major? Not impossible, maybe 3-4% of their pilots DON’T have degrees. That may change by the time you get the numbers to be otherwise competitive, but I doubt if it will change much.
You really have to ask yourself if you want to compete for ALL the legacy jobs, or maybe - at best - 10% of them.
It shouldn’t be a hard choice.
A lower tier major? You can do it but you’ll be at a slight disadvantage to those who have one. Even a two year degree would help though. Although some may prefer you without a four year degree since it rather dramatically decreases the likelihood of losing you to a top tier place that pays better.
A legacy or top tier major? Not impossible, maybe 3-4% of their pilots DON’T have degrees. That may change by the time you get the numbers to be otherwise competitive, but I doubt if it will change much.
You really have to ask yourself if you want to compete for ALL the legacy jobs, or maybe - at best - 10% of them.
It shouldn’t be a hard choice.
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11-07-2023 01:04 PM