MaoriCho

Three questions:

I'm 24, single, with one BS degree in engineering.
I've been reseraching many of the flight academies. I almost went to CAPT before it closed down, and then almost went to DCA before I found this website.

Through this website I found ATP. It's a little bit cheapter than DCA (by a lot than CAPT) and I think I can afford to take 90 days fast track, because I'm currently unemployed. However, I read from somewhere on this website that airlines don't desire people from 'fast tracks' True? What's the point of taking a fast track and wasting $50 grand?

Secondly, doesn't it look better on the resume to take flight training at an acedemy than a local FBO just because you know that they will get a guaranteed good training then?

Thirdly, is there like a hidden employing hand that only selects mostly Caucasian Americans in the airline business? I'm a naturalized citizen. (Korean) It concenrs me that there are so few number of Asian US carrier pilots. Do you think there is a slight chance of racism/favoritism that exists in the selecting process?

Thank you.

de727ups

If you're talking about ATP's 90 day program that's PPL to CFI, then it's not the same as CAPT style "fast track". The ATP program leads you into instructing for a while and then on to a regional. While I think a going from zero time to CFI in four months and then going on to teach newbies is less than ideal, a lot of folks at ATP do this.

"doesn't it look better on the resume to take flight training at an acedemy than a local FBO just because you know that they will get a guaranteed good training then"

Going to an academy doesn't "guarantee" good training. I know of smaller flight schools that no doubt have better training than academies. There are certainly other with worse, too.

Some of the big academies have slightly reduced hiring mins at a few regionals. While I think the big academy marketing overplays the advantages of this, it may be worth it to some people to pay more upfront to spend a few less months as a CFI.

BURflyer

Welcome to the site. First of all I have to say that it doesn't matter where you received your flight training. In the end, you will get an FAA certificate, it looks the same regardles what school you went. Does it matter where you learned how to drive? Same thing. Saver your money, first and sometimes second year pay at regionals is very low.

Also, DCA/ATP etc. are not fast track meaning you get a job with less hours than regular applicants, it just means that you will do your ratings faster/full time, this is not a problem. There are other programs that offer interivew opportunities with regionals with lower times, like MESA pilot development and the ATP airline transition program, these are the ones you should avoid as it is considered taking the short cut which is not considered very highly by most interview boards.

Do not be influenced by the "90" days ATP program, while it does work, you will have to spend, on average, at least a year from 0 time to being able to apply for a regional job.

Lastly about your racial comment, it's nonsense. The reason is because there are not many Asian pilots in the business. That is not to say that there are none, I've seen asian pilots at United, Skywest, and others. The airlines are quite diverce. I've run into Middle Eastern pilots, British, German and others flying for U.S carriers. If you meet the requirements, you can get a job.

MaoriCho

Thank you for your answers. It helped immensely.

rickair7777

As a degreed engineer, you will not need any hand-holding on the academics. US pilot training is pretty easy as far as books and tests go (compared to europe, australia, etc). If you pay a lot of money and find yourself sitting in a class on recip-engine fundamentals that is geared to someone with an AA in underwater-basket-weaving, you will be bored to tears.

If you can find a good deal on flight time and instruction, you can study on your own. Might save some bucks that way.

preludespeeder

Maoricho, I highly recomend that you do not go to ATP. Their 90 day program does not work. In AZ I have been talking to the local DPEs and they were telling me that the ATP students have a high fail rate and that the knowledge that you need to learn is not being acheived. Do not be fooled by their sales men into thinking that you can go from zero to hero in 90 days, you might have the certificate in your hand at the end of the day but you may still know as little about aviation as you do now. Go to a school that has a normal program that is about a year long. If you want to become an airline pilot the things you learn in the begining must be solid in order to make it through some of the hiring processes out there. ATP's goal is to get you to memorize the things you need for the test but you never really understand it.

sigep_nm

Agreed Prelude
Training for a rating is not the same as trying to fly with that rating. Professional athletes are not made over night and neither should a pilot be.

CAPTAINxJSB

go with the atp self paced program.... i started with zero... at my own pace i did pp and the career program in a little under a year and it is advertised as 14 months at the most....but i bet u i know way more then those 90 day guyz!! you get way more time to soak up the knowledge....get a side job while u go and save your freaking money for the regionals...cause u will need it.... good luck


p.s. my first ever instructor was Korean....best instructor i ever had!!

AirWillie

That is what I have heard also and to add, most ATP students do the 90 day program instead of the self pace Just go through the local school or find a good pt141 pro flight school that is dedicated to your knowlege intake. Remember in the 80s and 90s pilots had to have thousands of hours and a lot of multi-engine time to be considered for regional airline flying, so you're only kidding yourself if you expect to have the experience need by flying a few months.

Flying Ninja

Lucky for you that you didn't sign up with CAPT. Consider it a blessing because you just saved yourself a world of hurt. Good luck with your flight training, sir.