FlyingBulldog

Ok, before y'all start getting on to me about asking about ATP, just wait. I HAVE searched the forums for information about this flight school, but most of what I could find was pre-2010. I'm looking for information in the past year or so. I would plan on attending before the end of this year.

Can anyone who has been through ATP flight school in Jacksonville give some sort of review on it? I'm considering either the commercial program (followed by CFI at my local FBO) or the Airline Career Program (although I'm already nearly finished with my instrument rating). I'm currently working on my instrument rating at the local school here, but it is taking forever. I can't imagine working on my commercial at this pace. Has anyone gone into the career program at ATP already having their instrument rating? Does anyone know if they will let you skip the instrument rating portion of the program if you already have it (at a reduced cost, I hope)?

Lastly, does anyone have any recent knowledge of their financing options (interest rates, payment schedules, etc)? Anything else I haven't thought of that may be relevant would be appreciated as well.

Thanks!

FYI:

PPL
~73 hours
Memphis, TN

MD-11Loader

I went to ATP with my ASEL and an instrument rating. I had 204 hours when I started. I went right into multi-engine training, and took my ASEL four days later. Time building was next, and then CMEL, two days later CSEL.

I started instructor school on June 20th, and thanks to a hurricane, everything was backed up with the FSDO and I got three weeks to prep for my first checkride. I did MEI, CFII, then CFI in 8 days. It was intense. Personally, if you can, just knock it all out at ATP in a few months, and go instruct for them (if you can afford to).

I got my loan through Sallie Mae, for $35,000. Total cost of flight training was $29,000 but I needed money to live off of. Keep in mind your payment will be huge. Mine was $535 a month, and with 73 hours you will need more time building, and a larger loan. I have been lucky and have paid a lot of it off and am down to $225 a month, which is much more affordable.

Good luck in your decision.

FlyingBulldog

Thanks for the reply. Were you there this year? Are you instructing for them now? And did they give you a lower cost because you already had your instrument rating? Its currently $50k for the 90-day.

MD-11Loader

I went last year, and had a custom program built for me because I only needed 46 hours for my commercial. I elected to not instruct for them, but I have a few friends that did and they enjoyed their time there.

FlyingBulldog

Didn't want to start a new thread, but has anyone heard anything about the quality of their Raleigh-Durham location? They are offering free housing there right now.

jrsx99

Hey there, I was at ATP Jacksonville during the beginning of 2012. I went down with a private and an instrument rating and about 240-250 hours. I had a custom program built PVT-MEL, COMM-MEL, SE add-on, MEI, CFII, and CFI(SE add-on).

The training I got was for the most part pretty good, but its a real roll of the dice for who you get as an instructor. I lucked out with some real good ones, but its not at all uncommon to get an instructor fresh out of standardization with absolutely no clue about what they're doing.

Also, CFI ground school is a real roll of the dice again, I was extremely fortunate that their asst. chief pilot (S.S.) taught our ground school, and it was one of the best experiences I ever had, but certainly don't count on this (I've heard some real horror stories).

Now....working for ATP as a CFI is a completely different ballgame. If your planning on working for them run as fast as you can. They treat their CFIs (and candidates) like complete sh*t. I went down to work for them after I completed training and it was the largest waste of time, money, and effort I ever made. Spent over a month in the call center answering phones 6 days a week for minimum wage, living in an apartment with 5 other people (shared bedroom). They don't have enough open positions to fulfill their "guaranteed CFI job" lie, so while you are there they will dismiss you at the first possible chance they get. They fired 5 out of 8 of my standardization class after only one flight in a Cessna.

Bottom line, training with ATP is a dice roll (I got lucky). Working for them is an absolute nightmare (assuming you don't get fired first).

Pilotandrew

I trained at ATP (PVT Multi and on), and instructed at ATP as well. Training side - a lot of self studying, very fast paced, and always being pushed to be ahead of where you are. I enjoyed the training program, met numerous other people I still keep in touch with today and financed it outside of ATP. As an instructor, be warned. The job will get you what you want, Multi time and total time but your administration does not care about you as an employee. As the forums here say, they will fire you over the smallest things, as you are just another expendable resource to them. The pay sucks, and you work 7 days a week 10 - 12 hours a day. If you can handle this, it's probably going to be the quickest way to get your hours but for me QOL was a little more important.

gdpballin

Be prepared to stay for much longer than they tell you. This isn't always their fault, usually due to weather and examiner availability, but you end up paying for it in the end. 3 month program takes up to 5 months and 5 month program takes way longer. If you want to get your ratings done quickly then its the program to do. Free housing is good, better than paying $200/week.

Jacksonville is their HQ, so it will be a tight ship. Nothing wrong with that though.

Bassetjet

How many multi hours did you log with your plan? I am in a similar situation as you were, getting my instrument rating took a long time. I would like to get it all done as soon as possible. What was your total time out of the program?