Planning on paying for my own ATP-CTP to give me more opportunities with 135 operations and maybe ULCCs. Would this also help me out with getting looked at by a regional? So far silence from all the regionals except for Republic.

 

having it and the written done likely won’t mean anything at a regional. They don’t care one way or another since they pay for it. Not even sure if there’s somewhere to specify you did it without the complete atp. Airline apps asks your written completion that’s it. It’ll mean a lot more to a lcc where they don’t pay for atp and having passed the written is one more box checked off making you a less risky candidate for training. The true cost of atp ctp when paying for it yourself is only a couple hundred dollars. The airlines value the course at about $4-5k and you’re taxed on that which means you’re paying over a grand in taxes when it comes time to file since it’s not taken out of your pay. You can find a place that offers the course for as low as $2k as I’ve seen it. When you look at the taxes you owe vs paying for it on your own it’s only a couple hundred more. Then you’re not tied to the company for X years where if you leave you have to pay the cost of the course.

 

Keep in mind that if you get the ATP and do the whole thing on your own, ATP's are a dime a dozen.

 

I am doing through ATP Flight school and it's only $2,700 + $200 for the ATM since I went through the program. That is also my thinking as well; if I am paying for it then I will not have to worry about potentially paying a regional back for it if I decide to leave.

 

I paid for my ATP (ATP-CTP, written, and practical in a Piper Seneca) during Covid since there wasn't much going on with my non-flying job. Once my daughter can drive in January, I'm going to fly for a living. So far, I have applied to a couple ULCC and the regionals that have bases around me, but that was only in the past week or so after getting my medical refreshed. Flexjet and Netjets told me to wait until October to apply for a January start date. Commutair told me they were not hiring until after the first of the year.


The full rating probably cost me 10K on my own to obtain but does allow me to apply to more places. Once everybody starts the first job, then every applicant has their ATP, so doesn't really help afterwards. The good part about having the rating for my first job is that I don't have to answer the PTS oral questions on weather, human factors, air carrier operations, CFR, etc.. for the checkride. My sim partner from ATP-CTP in 2020 just started at American Airlines, but I regress.

 

just an fyi if you’re in aqp or even a 121 type ride the oral portion is basically a systems and sop quiz. They don’t change the questioning based on if you have it or not. It’s the same oral.

 

This is a timely thread because I made the decision to do just that. I am enrolled to go to ATPJets in Dallas in a few weeks for their course. Is your $2700 program through ATP Jets next to DFW airport or another program? They are doing it for me for $3995 (advertised price), which includes the ATM exam. Days 1-4 ground, 5-7 flight sims (training device and full motion sim), day 8 ATM exam. They are offering the course virtual for the ground portion (days 1-4) starting in September, but I prefer the classroom experience to avoid distractions at home and collaborate with other pilots in the learning process so I will be there in person starting 9/6. My airfare and hotel are all on points because I have a gazillion for years of traveling for work so besides my meals, my only real expense is the actual training.

 

It's through ATP Jets. As a alumni of ATP flight school you get $1,000 of the price so that's not too bad. Same boat as you, I have a ton of hotel and rental car points so I didn't have to take on that much of additional costs.

 

Been shopping around, seems $4000-5200 is the range im seeing.

 

Yeah that's the average for the course