Good ATP Schools?
 

Anyone know of a good place to go get an ATP rating? I'm military and have never really flown light twins, so I'm looking for a place that will take this into account. Most (95%) of my experience has been in turbofan, EFIS equipped aircraft on jet routes with a good amount of time spent in terminal areas. I've looked at 'All ATPs' and they seem to have a pretty good program, but I've heard a horror story or two about military guys getting sent to the checkride and being hung out to dry because they didn't know the ins and outs of the GPS or weren't intimately comfortable with prop levers. Are there any military friendly schools out there?
On a related note; are there any military folks out there who have been through this process that can recommend some good gouge to prepare? I'm looking at taking some leave this coming summer to accomplish this, so I've got a few months. Should I just bury my nose in the FAR/AIM, or are there better things I could be doing with my time?
One last question for the civil or mil side: Does anyone know about converting a FAA ATP to an international license? I've heard that an FAA ATP counts as an ICAO ATP -- Can anyone confirm this? If that's true, then that leaves JAA. Are there any schools in North America that offer a conversion course? If so, what kind of a time/money investment am I looking at?

Sorry to be so long winded!! Any info available would be helpful.

Thanks!

I've heard that an FAA ATP counts as an ICAO ATP -- Can anyone confirm this?

Yes this is true...

JAA conversion - don't know anything about this...

ALLATPS - I know many people that have gone with them and done fine. If you have access to a aero club - maynot be a bad idea to log a few hours in a twin thru them to get comfortable before heading to a school...

-LA

this always cracks me up. sorry for the sidetrack but here in AMERICA we lead the way for the world insofar as airlines and airline ops are concerned yet our ATP is considered to be some kind of joke in places like japan or europe.

Kill Bill,

Have you not met any of the slack-jawed mouth breathers coming out of Higher Power with 737 type ratings? Not everyone with an ATP is a professional and could never even make it in Europe/Japan.

Hey Tanker, I was a 135 guy overseas. I just took a week last Christmas and went to the AllATPs in Trenton since it was close to home home. I didn't feel terribly prepared prior since I had never flown a light twin either. I did their 3 or 4 hr program, had the two flights and took the check and passed with no problems whatsoever. The seminole is pretty benign and easy to fly. Kinda reminded me of a prop version of the tweet with a yoke (and only slightly slower...). The examiner was a big fan of military pilots so the oral ended up being pretty easy as well. Seriously, I doubt it could have gotten any easier or more efficient than it did with AllATPs.

For the written test, I just went out and bought the GLEIM ATP written book and looked through it for about two weeks and then took it. You can also do the written through ATPs in a mini course for like another $300.

As for the ATP itself, as LA posted, your FAA ATP is an ICAO ATP. There are some spots that do the JAA conversion courses, several in FL but I can't recall the names. Check out www.pprune.org for JAA conversion info, it's a board big on overseas flying.

Good luck.

Military Trans
 

Agree with other posts. I have bene going through this process...
ATP...writtens can be done lots of ways...study the test bank for 8+ hours and take the test is the method of choice. Drawback is you do not learn the material which could come in handy at an inetrview :D There are lots of prep books that are inexpensive and are very easy reading...easier than trying to absorb FAR/AIM...go to a local pilot store and look at what they have.
ATP flying portion...check out their ops and ask around...there are some outfits out there that have an axe to grind and make it unpleasant. My experience is they are quckly identified, avoided and do not stay in business long. Bottomline...you are paying them money to train you and prepare you for an FAA checkride. You may have to travel a way to find one that everyone likes.
Yes...the US ATP is a ICAO ATP. Be careful of the JAA ATP requirement....very expensive to convert. In my opinion...part of the old boys club mentality from many European countries to exclude everyone else. The FAA accepts other countries ATPs as long as their training meets or exceeds ours...most of Europe only excepts their own training.

Mildenhall or Kadena?

Kadena, the "Keystone of the Pacific" <gag>

ATP school in Columbus
 

Tanker-driver,

I used to fly tankers at McConnell and now fly T-1s at Columbus. Check out this school here in Columbus:

http://www.accessibleaviation.com/

It is owned by a retired AF guy who is a T-37 sim instructor. It is a little bit cheaper than All ATPs. It is a very laid back program, and the check pilots are very big picture. I just did my ATP written, FE written, and ATP checkride with them. They have good test prep software and the checkride was the easiest checkride I've ever had. My only complaint is that being so laid back they kind of dragged the program out for me. But I think its mainly because I live here. I have known lots of people who flew in here from out of town and got done with the program in 4 or 5 days.

Good Luck!

Thanks for the info... Bookmarked for future use...

-LA