"and they said it would cost $300.00 an hour."

For what?

Welcome to the world of the FBO CFI...Its part of their scam along with the 'our average student has completed in xx hours'

Its all a big scam for those people.

ATP won't let you take their PPL unless you agree to the rest of the program.

You may want to look at PAS if you want to avoind the evasive answers at your local FBO. In the few conversation I've had with Herb - he doesn't BS. He puts it all on the table and is very open / honest about himself and his business.


-LAFF

Your broken-record posting is stupid and frankly insulting (says the FBO CFI that's had all the students he could possibly handle for the last seven years).

Seriously, find a new rant, this one is old.

Congratulations on your success in the field.

-LAFF

I would suggest a 141 school if you are wanting to do more accelerated training. It allows you to get a Commercial license in 190 hours if meet the minimums, which would let you get your CFI quicker. I finished my CFI with less than 250 hours which is the total time required to get a Commercial under Part 61. ATP is 141, but I'd look for a smaller school than that. Find something you can live with.

I don't want this to be a war, but I agree with LAFF and this is why.

I have been doing my homework and research and would love to fly. I have a pilot at work that is going to help me with ground school, so I don't have to pay for it. When I talked to the local CFI at the school I told him I was willing to do 2-3 hours a day 5 days a week. He said that was aggressive and if I was to commit to that I should have my PPL in 6 months. Well, if you do the math it doesn't add up. Considering that the national average is 71 hours 2hrsx5=10 hours a week 40 hrs a month so 6 months would equal 240 hrs? I have one more local school to check out and if that doesn't pan out I will go to ATP.
I really appreciate the time you guys are taking in posting a reply. This is a very important decision I have to make for a job that I believe to be rewarding.
Thanks again
Orlando

Pretty sure ATP is Part 61.

There's a lot of "Pro" schools that are still Part 61, basically means you still have to comply with the regular minimums instead of lowered PPL and commercial mins. In my opinion, the 61 mins sometimes are too low for "most" people.

You're a guy with no experience agreeing with a guy with low experience who hasn't even been to that school. If that sells you on ATP, go for it. If you're going to jump in with both feet I'd at least check out www.prairieairservice.com, you can finish just as fast as you would at ATP, it's much less expensive, and your CFI's have been pilots for more than 3-6 months. I'm not anti-ATP but it is over priced for what you get. Most of the guys that have been around the block and even some former ATP students are suggesting you shop around. LAFF is a PPL with around 100 hours who's never visited or trained at ATP. He's not a professional pilot. If you want to 'fly' satellites in the USAF for a living, he is for sure the man to get in touch with.

I really hope I misunderstood him when he said 300 an hour, maybe it was 300 for 3 hours