rickair7777

The 61 schools need to fly you to 250 hours, that costs more. 141 is only 190 hours.

Those are the min hours. With 61 there is some more flexibility in that if you go over on the PPL, that time counts towards the CPL. For 141 that may or may not be the case depending on where in the syllabus you are. You have a better chance of finishing 61 in 250, than 141 at 190.

Typical hard sell approach, most of the people they talk to know little to nothing about the industry.

That means they're having troubling providing enough planes or CFIs and don't want to be "obligated" to fly you every day. Sign up for that and you'll be lucky to fly once a week, and lucky to have your CPL before 2025.

It might be useful IF you can finish in 190 hours and save some coin, and IF you can get a time-building job in part 91 (amybe 135 SIC) with just a wet CPL and no CFI ratings.

You'll have to do the shave and uniform anyway, for almost all airlines and most other good pilot jobs.


Right now with so much pilot training demand both training planes and CFI's are in short supply. It's also important for YOUR career to not waste time sitting around while all the retirements pass you by. If it were me, I'd be looking at some guarantee for flight scheduling, with financial incentives. Not sure if anybody offers that.

JoeSkurkis

Thanks so much. You are a great help with a wealth of knowledge as always.



This actually makes total sense because when I was there for my discovery flight they kept telling me how busy of a day it was and everyone had already gone out flying, but yet there was 1 student in a classroom with a CFI and only 1 plane missing out of what they claim are their 6 from the hanger. Thank you for helping me understand what I saw because I didnt think anyhting of it until you pointed that out. I guess ATP it is after my admission flight with them tomorrow if all goes well. Sounds like a worthy investment of $25k more for a school with a reputation to defend.

rickair7777

There have been issues over the years with ATP, but yes they have a reputation-ish to maintain.

Sounds a bit like the other school was hoping, as a career changer, that you'd be flexible and could be used as a "schedule filler" whenever they had a hole.

Again, try to catch a random student or two in the parking lot and hit them up for info. They may have you talk to a designated student who's shilling for the school, I'd also go find your own.

JoeSkurkis

I plan to do that while at ATP tomorrow. Also, they will have a regional recruiter there tomorrow too.

hifiaudio177

There are quite a few posts on here about ATP "rushing" students through checkrides, ready or not. Just make sure you are comfortable with the pace they plan for you.