Accelerated Flight School
 

I'm looking for a flight school with a accelerated program that will get me into the regionals without a college degree so I can finish getting my degree and build hours. I was thinking about NPA but alot of you are telling me thats it'sa fraud. Who else is out there? It's more of a time issue then a cost issue, I'd rathe rpay an extra 20 grand to get my ratings and start flying then spend four in school.

At the moment, things aren't looking too good at the regionals for low time pilots to get hired. I'd suggest you shop around a bit in your local area and see if you can find a place that would get you done fairly quick without having to move someplace just to train. But to answer your question, the big one is ATP (I don't recommend the 90 day program). Some less expensive and yet still accelerated programs are White Air, Skymates, Falcon, and Prarie Air. Google them for more info.

Why blast through your ratings and waste tons of money for jobs that don't exist?

In the next three months there will be at least 500 regional pilots on the street. Most of which will have four year degrees and most will have more time than an accellerated course graduate. Right now isn't the time to be buying the academy hype. Get a degree in something outside aviation and by the time you do that the regionals should be hiring again.

No offense but you are either nuts, have someone footing the bill, or you are too rich to care. There is no reason in the present market to go into hoc for fresh set of tickets- most would say there is no reason to go into hoc for flight training even when the market is doing well. Even in good times the best approach is to keep your training costs down. There are relatively inexpensive ways to get your tickets, and all tickets are the same in the eyes of the airlines.

Get enrolled now in a college to get your degree and do the training on the side. You're going to be competing with a bunch of guys who already have the degree, the tickets, the type ratings, and the hours.

I don't know about the regionals right now, but getting into feeder freight would be a good way to get hours while attending college. Some of the runs only fly 40 hours a month and the schedule is the same every week, so attending college at the same time would be feasible. You just have to hope your run doesn't close.

I know a guy that went from no training to the right seat of a Shorts in less that 12 months. He went to an FBO for the private pilot license and did the rest through ATP. I know almost nothing about ATP except that it worked for that guy.

Good luck

Is that the same guy who posted asking how to get out of his training contract at ACC?

How old are you? If under 23, I'd say go to 'real' college. The job market is crap right now. You'll be working the rest of your life. Have fun along the way. Flying for a living can be great, but work is called work for a reason.

Hey Meatwad,

I'm not sure how that is relevant this thread, but myself and the pilot I was referring to have not posted about how to avoid paying training contract.

Hey Spade Helmet?

It alludes to be careful what you wish for, the grass isn't always greener, etc. I wasn't accusing you or your friend but there was an eager young fast track pilot who found the 'job' wasn't quite what he expected when he finally 'arrived'.

I did my training with ATP at the Atlanta location. I did the 90 day program too. If you decide to do this one, don't expect to do anything else for those 90 days. You'll eat, sleep, and breathe flying. You won't be able to have a job because you'll be so busy. Luckily I had saved a bunch of money over time and was able to live off that while I trained. There is also the option of doing the 10 month program. I found the Atlanta location to be pretty well run with good instructors. There is a lot of self study so don't expect to be spoon fed.

The program will only give you about 150 hours of time; However, 140 of that will be in the Seminole. (The private pilot course is about 85 hours on top of that.) Luckily I had my private rating for some years before I did the course and already had some time under my belt. After you graduate, ATP will hire 90% of their graduates to instruct. They get a lot of time too. Usually about 100 hours a month. That may have changed due to the changing airline industry, but that's how it was when I was there.

Also, be prepared to get some people (very few really) turning their nose up at you if you complete the course and get a job at the regionals. I don't know why there is this sentiment, but it's there. You had to pass the same check-rides they did.

ATP is one of the fastest ways to get all your ratings and your costs are fixed. If you fail a checkride you may have to pay a little extra for re-training, but there are no hidden fees.

Check out their web site. atpflightschool.com

de727ups; Why would you not recommend the 90 day program at ATP? I'm on the brink of going with ATP this Nov/Dec.

Going through all the ratings in such a short time doesn't allow any "seasoning experience" between the ratings. An FAA certificate is a "license to learn". Much learning comes from "using" the training you get out there in the real world, outside the academy enviornment.

I don't believe it's ideal to go from PPL to CFIME in 90 days, and then start teaching the next guy. ATP has been doing it for years but I just don't agree with the practice.

That said, sometimes ATP is the best option for certain folks. To each his own. Just don't be sold on the program based on the marketing or talking to a recruiter. Slice will suggest Prarie Air Service. White Air, CPS, and Skymates are other options to look in to. If you've really done your homework and think ATP the way to go, then more power to you. But don't discount the downsides and don't discount the lack of experience you'll have to be a competent CFI going from PPL to CFI in 90 days.

There is an ATP forum at www.jetcareers.com Check it out. Much more info there.

The PTS standards only outline the bare minimum needed to recieve your ratings. The factories are using their own DPEs and you'll usually see pretty much the same checkride every time (before you get your panties in a wad, most examiners use the same basic checkride every time). The only thing you will accomplish in 90 days is learning the bare minimum required. It's the only thing you really have time to do.

In the mean time, you're missing out on valuable lessons on weather and other important topics that you shouldn't be trying to learn while sitting in the right seat teaching somebody else, or while doing .78 with 50 people behind you.

There are so many valuable things you can learn by taking your time and looking around a little. Dive in a little deeper and you'll be a better pilot for the rest of your career as a result. Rated and proficient are two different ballgames friends.