CFI ratings
 

Greetings...

I'm a college student attending a two year degree plan in Houston - the college I go to has had a partnership with DCA (Delta Connection Academy) implemented recently.. which is bittersweet in a way. Anyway, the degree plan gets you a AAS in aeronautical tech after earning your private, instrument and commercial ratings. I don't have to get a ME rating to get the degree, which leaves me the option of getting my ME and CFI ratings elsewhere.

These are the costs DCA is asking for multi, instrument instructor, cfi and multi instructor:

Multi rating: $4450
CFI: $7600
Ins Instructor: $3900
Multi Instructor: $8940

Ever since DCA came along the prices are a little higher than they used to be. It's not really the price that's bothering as much as the feeling that "I want to get the best quality training for my money." Lately I've been torn between DCA and ATP; ATP seems very appealing because of the multiengine a/c time. DCA here is big on SE 172 time. Please chime in if you have attended either flight school and have any info that could help me make a well informed decision. I have ATP literature here at home but you know how flight academy propoganda is; it seems better to get info from someone who's went through it.

Thanks everyone and happy holidays!

Chris

ATP...I've done a lot of research into where I want to get my certs/ratings and I'm going to ATPs. I may end up going to the one in Houston or Dallas. I don't know...I've just heard too much BS about DCA to even consider them...

PM me if you want to know what my research turned up or want to talk...I'm at home (KLFT) on leave for the next few weeks...

_LA

Wow, I just looked at ATP's CFI program. There is no comparison. It's much more cost efficient, then there's the ATP name behind it too. I wonder why DCA is charging so much for CFI ratings. The basic ratings seem pretty much the same price..

I don't like the idea of going to DCA either but I sort of have to for the rest of my ratings (except multi and cfi's) since the financial aid I'm getting is tied to my college, which is now DCA sponsored. When I started going to school here it was affiliated with XJT, and not Delta.

ATP is def the way to go, I went IFR thru CFI-A at DCA through my college in MA, I wasnt interrested in payign 7-10K for my Multi INTIAL so I went to ATP for those and loved the program wishing I went all the way though, However the program definitely lets soem pilots slip through the cracks, something that DCA doesnt let happen

Hey, what college in MA did you go to? PM me if you don't want to say over the forum. I went to college in MA and still do.

If I knew what I know now I might have gone with ATP from the start. I'm not sure if they have a college degree plan with their training though. I will probably be going there for my multi/CFI ratings.

As far as letting some pilots slipping through the cracks, our campus with DCA is no different. Hell, some intructors slip through the cracks. One of my ground instructors (who taught half of my classes) can't communicate to save his life. He knows a lot and is a good guy, but man, take a public speaking course or something.

I feel like I've gone a long way since I started flight training, as far as learning about the industry. This website and PpRuNe have helped me out considerably so far, already. Most of the guys in my class are so oblivious to what's going on in the industry that I feel like I have an edge in knowing what I'm getting into.

I'm guessing he went to Bridgewater since that's the MA school DCA has listed on their website, but that's just a guess.

Chris

I would also suggest ALLATP's. I did my Multi Commercial Instrument add-on with them. I was in and out in 4 days. It costs less than HALF than DCA even with hotel costs! The program that I did got you 8 hours of instruction in the air, 3 on the ground, and the flight test (for me) was 1.7 on the Hobbz. Examiner fees are typically $300 IN CASH. I'm not as familiar with the CFI programs, but I believe you have to go there with 15 hours of ME PIC (one of the MEI requirements). I am sure that you could work out a 15 hour PIC block with them...they seemed to be pretty flexable.

Check out their website and call the hotline for more info. They are very helpful!

D

I used to work for ATP. If you are looking for quality training at a reasonable price call 1-800-ALL-ATPS. I think thats the number. Well, at least it used to be the number. Good Luck to you.

I am going to Bridgewater State College, they have an agreement with DCA