otterjumper

Hello all I'm brand new to this forum and am seeking some advice. Flying has been a dream of mine since I was knee high to a grass hopper and I'm fortunate to be in a position where I can go after a dream. Having been around flying most of my life whether for work travel or play(skydiver)I always knew if given the opportunity I would pursue it full bore one day.

Now is that time. I have looked at ATP, DCA and my local FBO which is comprised of a really fantastic group of people. Very friendly, a nice mix of experience levels/personalitites and plenty of aircraft.

What route of education would you recommend for a guy who wants to ultimately get his ATP ticket? I'm not certain I want to fly for the 'big boys' and could be very happy just flying regionally or locally if the opportunity arose. It seems the schools are very focused on funneling into the RJ's and that is fantastic, but I want to make sure I take the proper steps. The schools just seem like they are cramming an awful lot of info in a short period of time. Maybe that isn't a bad thing, but in my skydiving career I adhered to the 'old pilots, bold pilots, but no old bold pilots' adage and it served me well for many years.

One caveat, I can devote 100% of my time to flying my keyster off. Thanks for any input....I'm all ears.

de727ups

ATP caters to those seeking an RJ job at min quals and in min time. I'd suggest your local FBO for a higher quality, less expensive, experience, especially if you already are happy with the place.

otterjumper

Thanks de727. I should have been more specific in my ultimate goal so please excuse me for omitting that detail.

There is a great looking outfit called SATSAir flying a bit out of my FBO. They are actually based out of my parents home town in Greenville. From what I can tell the RJ would hire me before they would if I went through the ATP style school. So, that path would lead from from RJ to SATSAir, but I'm not sure that is the most efficient route.

Any ideas on how you would like to see a person progress to a SATSAir position? Thanks so much

de727ups

Don't know anything about SATSAir, sorry. You might try the search function, once you hit 10 posts. Also, I remember a thread about them at Jetcareers. You might do a search over there.

otterjumper

Thanks de727.

I have made my decision and I'm bypassing the 'quick way schools'.

da_flyn_hawyn

I've been to an FBO, DCA, and ATP. I don't want to change your mind, if you have already made your choice, but hopefully my little speech can help ya. An FBO is always a great place. It is usually cheaper, has great service, and everyone there is usually nice. At DCA, it is too expensive, takes a really long time, doesn't have real regional minimum agreements, but has probably the best training from what I have experienced. At ATP it will be cheaper than most accelerated programs, get you done in a timely manner, they have the actuall lowered regional minimum agreements (I actually just talked with a recruiter that came by the school to try and find some pilots) but isn't really the best training. I did my private and instrument at an FBO, and my commercial single and multi add on at DCA, and then my CFI's at ATP. My advice is to make sure that you have a great instructor cause it will make all the difference both in training and in cost. Hoped this helped!

Yamaha Dave

I am currently in DCA ground school. As everyone else has said DCA is expensive. Mostly because of the the facilities and aircraft. We have 50 SR20 aircraft, amazing sims etc. Nobody is questioning that they offer probably one of the highest quality educations though. But when it comes down to it a rating is a rating whether it's from DCA or Bob's Flight School. So I am sticking with the DCA for the time being I at least want to finish my PP here.



-Yamaha Dave

kdoner

Get out while you can... i've heard nothing but bad stories about the $90,000 flight training. btw.. you dont need a SR20 to get ur ppl...

da_flyn_hawyn

I'm with ya dave, DCA does have the best education, but after I got my commercial single and multi from them, I realized that if I had continued I wouldn't be able to put a down payment on a house. I bailed only because of the expense, if you do decide to leave you should check out ATP in daytona, that's where I'm at and I always tell people to get a good strong basis of aviation which is DCA but then get it done, and ATP will do it for you. Just go talk to Ron Lewis and tell him your done and then tell mary you want some of your money back! LOL j/k if you like it there, you should stay I still hang out with a lot of guys from DCA on the weekends and some of them like it still.

otterjumper

Hello all just wanted to thank those of you who chimed in on this thread. This weekend will be chock full of flying at my FBO weather permitting....having a blast! For me, the rushed, hurry up M.O. of the immersion school just wasn't a comfortable fit for me in addition to the ever increasing cost. Building my foundation for a long, safe career just happened to be a fit with the moderate pacing of the FBO. Blue skies....