Interesting email from ATP
 

Here is the section of the email I am talking about:

"Finally, we're about to introduce an exciting new program to help Airline Career Pilot Program graduates build 250 hours of turbine flight experience in an airline internship program. Details will be available soon, so keep checking the website or give any of us in Admissions a call at 800-ALL-ATPS (800-255-2877) for more info. I look forward to talking with you again soon."


I'm close to really pulling the trigger and going with ATP.


Your thoughts on the above? (Do you think this could be the beginning of a gulfstream sort of thing?)

And pulling the trigger on a 100k loan that can't be paid back on first officer wages too? This is not the time to be getting in debt.

It's 50K, not 100k... Not only that, I'm about to be laid off from my moderately low paying non-aviation job anyway.

Spending 50k+ with a pilot factory is not going to get you a job any quicker and if you are dumb enough to waste your money with those idiots then you deserve to be in debt for the next 30 years. Don't do it.

So what do you recommend?

I saw you edit that 100 to a 50 by the way ;)

Don't do it, take what these flight schools say at face value.
They are there to take your money not help your career.
How are they going to get you this turbine time?
Give us more details and we can give you a more accurate opinion.
Don't pull the trigger yet.

Well I'm also going down to visit ari-ben this week by the way... probably the same price when you include the other fee's they don't tell you about up front tho...

This "idot" went to ATP, and am now a sucessful pilot. $26 an hour, and averaging 75hrs a month. I may just be instructing, but compared to what I used to do, I am much happier. Watch your tounge please. And remember, not all of us have aspirations to go off to an airline.

ATP was a great experince. It was realy tough, but I got what I needed out of it.

And BTW, it will get you there quicker in most cases, in my opnion. It's extreamly hard to find an FBO that can get you through in 6-7 months from 0 time to CFI/CFII/MEI (I should know, I now work at one).

I am never apt to use inflammatory words on a public internet forum, especially with nice folks like pilots. But using your own figures you make about $24k before tax. This is not a lot of money, you are talking about poverty for a family of three. In addition, you must have a $50k bank note to pay on. If you even made minimum payments you would be sending them about $500 a month out of what is already poverty wages. Sorry but I do not see the light in the proposal at all.

The hourly rate sounds good... But I'm only seeing about 23,400 a year... Why wouldn't you want to go for an airline? I know the first year is about eh same, but you keep on moving up each year at least?