ckozlos

Hello everyone!

I feel as though I am in a difficult situation and would like to get others opinions or advice. I live in New England and currently in the midst of my PPL training with 55~ hours in a Cessna 162 Skycatcher. Once I complete my solo requirements, I will be eligible to schedule my checkride. The problem is that the 162 is most likely going to be taken off the line due to maintenance issues, so I would have to complete the rest of my requirements in another plane. Those being the 150, or 172. Switching from digital displays to analog displays is going to take time to get used to, requiring additional flight lessons, more money to become familiar. I'd like to mention being in New England has caused many of my lessons to be canceled recently. I went almost 4 months without flying the 162 Skycatcher. During my time flying, I have applied to numerous airline cadet programs with the intent of flying commercially… the most excited being United's Aviate Academy. I do have an upcoming behavioral interview with the academy next month, which I will either receive a conditional acceptance offer or deemed not a fit. With some of these cadet programs you won't be eligible if you obtain your PPL while others require you have that to start, while some also require an instrument rating. I would like to complete my flight training fast as possible; I have researched ATP, but the vast majority of reviews being negative makes me want to steer away. In my situation, I know I will have to finance my training because I am not financially able to pay out of pocket for the rest of training for the timeframe I'd like to finish my training in.

I'd like to know other's perspective on my situation and what they think I should do. I am going to sit down with my flight school's manager next weekend to discuss my situation and options.

Thank you to anyone that took the time to read this!

dckozak

Your question(s) have been asking many times on many different aviation forums. Expect to see a wide variance in opinion based on peoples own experiences and subjective bias of the industry. My own take; you only mentioned time, as in wishing to complete quickly, or what takes as fast in this industry. You also implied you are interested in the airlines, by way of mentioning The United training program. Having started your PPL in New England, I assume that's home and anywhere else will require at minimum, temporary housing and the associated cost. You are probably already aware what some of the "Zero 2 Hero" programs (so called because they advertise training and flight time up to ATP mins to get you into a regional job). Are you willing to spend 100K, or are you looking to do this as cheaply as possible? There is endless advice on both the cost affective end (cheap) and the premium expensive way. Only you are your accountant know which you can afford or are obliged to do. Most will advise against financing if at all possible. My suggestion is not to use a training center or national programs financing if at all possible. Bad terms with high interest rates reported.

Generally quick means going south, either Florida, Texas or Arizona due to weather primarily. Most of these programs train under FAR 141 vs 61, the way you are probably training right now. It is more scripted and better suited for most students who want/need a formalized approach to training. Bigger schools generally better with regards to scheduling and availabilty of equipment, though a very busy school with inadequate resources would also have that issue. It may cost you more time, but putting together a war chest for your next block of training (commercial/instrument) would be a wise move. Most pilots working toward the airline or corporate goal will flight instruct to bridge between the 300+- hour mark that will probably be your flight time with an instructors certificate, and the 1500 hours required to move on. Expect that to take 18 months, give or take. A school that will hire you after you have learned there and has a steady flow of students is a real plus. Like the training you received, teaching hours will come faster or at least more steady where winter does not affect flying as much.

One last thing. Don't chase the airline gateway programs without further research. Plenty of opinion both for and against getting involved. No experience personally but I don't like things that limit my options, especially when I still don't really understand those options.

LeakyStrut

If you have an iPad with Foreflight you may be surprised how not that different an analog cockpit will be. You'll still want to know and have readily available the best rate of climb/descent etc. for the aircraft, maybe make a little cheat sheet.

I have yet to hear anything good about ATP Flight School. Whether as a student or CFI there are lots of horror stories. They're also the most expensive school to get your ATP. I'd consider other flight schools in your area. If your intent is to become a CFI and hope to be a CFI at the school you graduate, pick a school where flight instructors are logging 90-100hr averages a month to get an idea of what you can expect to fly when you become a CFI. The general consensus from ATP CFI's are that they are overworked, mistreated by management and under paid by a lot compared to other schools.

As mentioned be very careful when accepting airline partnerships or cadet programs. Often these programs include years of commitment to a regional airline before you'll be eligible to flow to a major airline. Any bonuses offered in the event you decide to leave prior to fulfilling your contract will require to be repaid. The quickest pathway to the majors isn't necessarily from say Envoy's four year flow to American. Many majors are plucking competitor's regionals or hiring LCC pilots from Spirit or Frontier after two years.

United's Aviate Academy has had so-so reviews from pilots here. You'll be required to have your covid vax going through their program -if that matters to you. Just a head's-up.

Theminortypilot

Personally speaking, I enjoyed the transition from steam gauges to digital, I dont know how it would feel going backwards but I can only say it will probably improve your flying skills.

As far as flight schools are involved, there are more options than ATP, you could do the online Liberty University program, you could go to Lift Academy which flows to republic (5 year contract), etc.

As the poster above said, limiting yourself can frustrate you but you can always buy yourself out of a contract. I know the buyout for someone at Lift Academy is 12k if you came in with your PPL