ATP or other
 

Im finishing up my private right now and im trying to decide where I should do the rest of my flight training. I dont want to go to the airlines at all so would atp still be smart to go to? My goal is to fly for reach or any air ambulance. I know it will be a while till I get there but would they like that I went to ATP?

Thanks. Any help would be great

Are you flying helicopters or Airplanes?

I can't say what air ambulance companies are looking for, but I sure would look at any wage offerings they can make before committing that kind of money to flight training. I doubt they will pay sufficient wages to even make the monthly student loan payment at the bottom of the scale. I had a $60k note when I graduated college a few years ago. On a 4 year repayment schedule I was (and am) paying over a thousand a month on it. Even at this accelerated rate of repayment I have paid almost 5 thousand in interest alone so far. I have little money left for fun after that. I would recommend FBO style training to save money rather than ATP.

I want to fly airplanes. I would like to fly cessna 421's. I heard they make around 60 grand a year. Thats just what I heard. Ya everyone is telling me to just train at a local FBO and not ATP.

AllATPs makes sense if and when the economy is strong, airlines are hiring, wages there are fair, and upward mobility also looks ok.


None of the above is currently the case.

so I should stay at a local FBO and finish all my training there. Save money. So if I am not going airlines there is no reason for me to go to ATP? Is that what im understanding

I can't see any reason to go to ATP over a local school you're happy with. The advantage of ATP is it's quick and you fly twins more (though safety pilot time and sim time make up the majority of it). The twin time looks good to the airlines hiring low time pilots (which isn't happening much at the moment).

To get into 135 medivac stuff as PIC, you'll need 135 mins and probably 200 to 500 multi. Plus, you'll need an in at the company. Is the company part of a flight school/FBO? If so, train there. If not, it doesn't really matter where you train. If your happy with your school now, no reason to leave. Get your ratings up through CFI and instruct to build up to 135 mins, that's 1200 total. Then, you can go out and get a 135 freight job to build the multi time. Once you meet the mins the medivac place is looking for, you should have a good shot at it if you've made some friends there.

thanks for the reply. So I should go in and talk to the company I want to work for in the future, and ask what they are looking for and kinda be buddy buddy with them.

That wouldn't hurt. Just don't over do it. But maybe you could get in and talk with the chief pilot, let him know you'd like to work there some day, and that you'd like his opinion on how best to prepare for it. Also, if it's local, a great way to get a "foot in the door" is to take some sort of part time job there, if possible. Pump gas, wash planes, answer phones, whatever...

But, talking with the pilots and asking them how they got there would be a great start.

Exactly!......


Im at a FBO....taking my time. Theres no rush yet to go to ATP or other flight school.