I just finished up the ATP Career Pilot Program and I already scheduled the Regional Jet Course which requires a non-refundable $1000 deposit, so there isn't much point in trying to get out of that.

With the being said, I found a flight school that wants me to instruct after i'm done with the jet course. But i've always wanted to fly cargo, 135, etc. So if that's what I decide to do I won't need to take ATPs program but that's too late now.

So should I instruct until I get 135 mins, and then get a freight job? Or instruct until about 500 or so hours and use what I learned during the jet course from ATP and fly an airline for a while, and then switch to 135? I'm not really sure what to do. I just like the style of 135 and think that 121 would get old real fast. I think that I would like to work for someplaces like Ameriflight, or Airnet if they can get their current situation straightened out. Like I said about the style of 135, turbo-props and Lears, etc. have ALWAYS appealed to me more than airliners. Then ultimate dream to go to NetJets.....(drools)

 

"Or instruct until about 500 or so hours and use what I learned during the jet course from ATP and fly an airline for a while"

First of all, RJ programs are a waste of money, in my view. There is nothing there you don't get at the airlines initial. Secondly, I think you'll find it difficult to get hired for a while at 500 hours just because you did ATP and an RJ course. I hope ATP isn't still preaching an easy path to the shiny jet. It's not like it used to be. And I think that's a good thing.

I'd stick with CFIing until you meet 135 mins. 1st year pay at a regional is low, you may be do better CFIing. Also, as a junior regional pilot you could end up on reserve and flying very little. If that happens, it could take longer to build your time. I guess a lot depends on what kind of instructing job you can get, too. Some are better than others.

 

Instruct! I did it untill I had ATP times plus a few hundred and then went to a 135. It will give you more expierince than yanking the gear in a RJ.

 

I guess the idea behind the RJ course is to bring you up to speed before you go to the airline class. ATP is saying that AE may start hiring again soon so they are trying to hook people in now.

Tommorow I will call and say that I was offered a job and see if I can get back my deposit.

 

Read the fine print in your contrat with ATP when you put your deposit down. I don't think you're going to get your deposit back. I used to be an instructor at ATP and they're not bad folks to work with at the instructor side, but when it comes to management, watch your 6! I think instructing till you get 135 mins is a better way to go than jumping into the RJ side of life. I think the experience you will obtain will be more valuable than the side of flying in the RJ, plus you will have a lot more respect for the jets than if you just jump right in. It may take a while to get to that point, but with the business side of life in the doldrums, I think it is safer to be an instructor than working the airline side of life. Good luck in what ever you decide to do!

 

Well I never signed anything about signing up for the course. I just talked to Paul Templeton and he said they put down the deposit and I got put on the schedule.

 

Currently, you have no choice in the matter. You will be instructing for a while.

Probably a long while.

 

A lot of it kind of depends on your views personally. Everyone here can say the RJ course is a waste of money and time while others think it is a great way to go. I agree that you should probably instruct for awhile or at least instruct and apply to 135 carriers in the mean time. Just make sure you find an instructing job that DOESN'T have a contract otherwise depending on the market you could get screwed.

As for what I think about the RJ transition course I thought it was a very helpful to take and put me ahead of a lot of people who did not take it or didn't have the option of doing it. I say do it but like others said, don't get the whole shiny jet syndrome in your head. Take from it instead on the operations of the way things are done. Otherwise good luck with what you decide in doing.

 

We have a winner!

To the OP: There are plenty of us with actual jet time who can't get into anything turbine, so the RJ transition course isn't going to do a thing for you. Plus, as de727ups said, there's nothing you'll learn in that course that you won't learn in initial training. Airline training programs are designed to get everyone up to speed and standardized to the way the company operates the aircraft, which you won't learn through the ATP Career program.

Get your CFI and instruct. Best thing you could do right now, IMO.

I have to respectfully disagree. I'm just starting out in 135 (prior 121), but I felt that flying an RJ gave me a lot of excellent experience. A lot of guys give it a bad rap by saying you "yank gear," but FOs fly just as much as CAs, and I fondly remember doing non-precision approaches (with the standard DME arc) to mins at night in Mexico, having to hand fly the thing because the autopilot kept bracketing the approach course.

 

So I called up ATP this morning and I think i'm in the clear. Paul T. said that I still had $2500 on account and it was going to be taken once I got there. So I just said I got a job and I wasn't sure if I'd be able to make it, and i've still got 2 years to take it at that price so I can still do it if I absolutely need to. I should be getting a check sent to me pretty soon.