Used Arizona Flight Training Center in Phx. Very mil friendly, good compact course. Practicing on analog instruments a little bit before going will help. I went in June and it was 108F, and very turbulent on the little twin prop.

Glendale Flyers @ GEU / SkyWarrior @ PNS
 

Hi all, first post here... currently in Phoenix for a few weeks, figured I'd knock out the ATP while here.

Phoenix: Heard some of the horror stories about AZFTC, so I'm going with Glendale Flyers (aka Angel Aviation). They just upped their prices because they got feedback that one flight was not enough to prep for the checkride, so now they do 2 flights. Program price is $2995, plus examiner's fee, and that includes 10 hrs ground instruction, 5 hrs flight instruction, and 3hr check flight. Paul is their scheduling guy, he was pretty flexible with working around my schedule. I'm doing ground instruction and one flight this weekend, then finishing up next weekend. Will pass words once complete.

Pensacola: BTW, I was stationed in Pensacola up until a few months ago, lots of guys from our squadron were planning to go through SkyWarrior. By the time I left only one guy had actually finished, he said it was all good. Prices seemed a bit cheaper than other places, including Accessible Aviation. We heard some bad rumors from about 1-2 yrs ago, but apparently they stopped using that particular examiner. Apparently lots of Navy guys also use this place. (so don't drop the soap! haha)

Written test: Sheppard Air's website has a list of all the military places that still offer free FAA testing. Luckily there were two near Pensacola: Hurlburt and Mobile. Hurlburt was going through some transition when I was trying to take my test, so I ended up going to Mobile. Piece of cake, but definitely schedule it about a month out.

Cheech - Curious what you think of Glendale Flyers once you start the training. Heard less than good things about them as of about 9 months ago from dudes in the squadron, but I think it may have been mostly DE based. I'm looking for a place to do the practical in AZ this fall when it starts to cool off a bit (did my written last week). Good luck!

Hey man, I'm an pilot for the largest 737 outfit. You can guess which one and I'm a DE who gives many ATP checkrides to MIL guys. If what this DE said is true, that's pretty unprofessional. I certainly don't feel that way but what I will tell you is this. There is definitely a difference in performance between a Civilian and a Military guy. I know what you're about to say, 'well I only had 2-3 hours in the airplane'. All of the ATP flight schools for which I conduct checkrides offer Military pilots, or the general public for that matter, 4, 8 and 12 hour flight training syllabuses. Granted, you have to pay for that but it would be in your best interest to do so. The ATP is the only Part 61 ticket that does not require the endorsement for a checkride by a CFI. It requires the pilot to make his own decision as to his/her competency. Now if you were to fail, then you would require the endorsement of a CFI for retraining as per FAR 61.49. I have probably conducted 200 Military ATP's over the last 12 years and if I meet one more who says, 'well I only had 3 hours in the airplane' I will throw up. Pay for the additional time and show that to the examiner. He will not only appreciate that you did that, but I can almost promise you your checkride will be successful.

Any other info? PM if you prefer.

then you did something wrong. :cool:

Opening the aperture a little more....anyone have any gouge/insites for the Tampa/St. Pete area?

Or SOCAL!!! I've been getting the run around by a school here in San Diego and would really like to get the practical knocked out in the next month! Thanks

I did mine at All ATP in Riverside, CA back in '98. Two tests, FE written and ATP. Two flights (split with another student -- we were both MIL), one with IP for practice and one with examiner. Never flew a piston twin before. It wasn't rocket science. If you're presently flying fighters then be prepared for slow motion -- I do not see how you can **** it up, despite previous comments advocating for buying extra time.

Anything can be screwed up. You don't know what you are going to get when the designee gives you the ride. No guarantee's.