Originally Posted by ctd57

I went to a four year Catholic U. That is besides the point though; I respect those who get all of their tickets at an FBO(or four year U) and work there way up the ranks.....not just buy a RJ right seat(as they do at ATP)

So what are the ranks, lets see.
1. Student
2. Instructor
3. Right Seat at a Regional Airline

If you want to talk about people who skip step #2, then you need to talk to the people who go through Mesa's Pilot Development program or whatever it is called. No one comes to ATP and after getting their certificates, goes straight into a right seat of a RJ at 250-300 hours. Well, ATP does have the Airline Transition Program, but I really don't agree with that one even though those guys have more than the Mesa students, but only a few have done that program. Over 95% of all pilots that come out of ATP, did the Career Pilot Program, instructed, and then moved on. But in your mind you wouldn't respect me because I went through the career program, instructed, and now I am on with a regional, and I also have a 4 year degree from state university, and not to mention a LT in the United States Naval Reserves, but I guess none of that matters in your mind. In the long run, we all have FAA certificates, the FAA doesn't care where they came from, I personally hold nothing against anyone because of where they EARNED their certificates and ratings from. The only people who care about that kind of stuff are pilots like you. I respect people based on who they are, not because of what flight school they attended. Maybe you should try the same. And if you have flown with people from ATP who were bad pilots, than maybe the airline you fly for needs to look at their training programs and maybe weed out the weaker pilots. I hold nothing against you personally, I don't know who you are, but I would never say that I wouldn't respect pilots based on that.

Originally Posted by HotMamaPilot

If you read my entire post, you would see that I noted that the DPE's are on the ATP payroll and RARELY fail anybody. i.e. they are not examining to the proper standards(IMHO). I know that things may seem ideal to some, but in the real world things "non-standard" sometimes happen. The owner is a fedex capt and has much "clout" with many DPE's. Trust me, I know plenty of pilots who went through the program and I am not impressed. Can we say "buy a license"?

Originally Posted by ctd57

Well, HotMamaPilot, let me tell you one thing, I used to work for ATP, and they DO NOT have DPE's on their payroll. I know for a fact that DPE's are not there just to pass people. As professional pilots themselves, why would they pass someone who isn't safe or deficient in some aspect of flying? You may not agree with ATP and how they do business,but what you are saying is totally wrong. I worked for them for over a year and they don't pay off DPE's. Where did you do all of your flight training? Just curious. Every DPE I have come across or personally know through ATP, have failed plenty of ATP students. ATP removes students from the program who cannot meet the standards, so tell me how that is buying your certificates. What do they get from DPE's passing people who cannot meet the PTS, nothing. Why would ATP let 2 students who just "bought" their instrument rating, let them fly an airplane all over the place. Just for kicks, name me one DPE who ATP "employs" that won't fail a student or is on their payroll.

Originally Posted by ctd57

I went to a four year Catholic U. That is besides the point though; I respect those who get all of their tickets at an FBO(or four year U) and work there way up the ranks.....not just buy a RJ right seat(as they do at ATP)

So what are the ranks, lets see.
1. Student
2. Instructor
3. Right Seat at a Regional Airline
If you want to talk about people who skip step #2, then you need to talk to the people who go through Mesa's Pilot Development program or whatever it is called. No one comes to ATP and after getting their certificates, goes straight into a right seat of a RJ at 250-300 hours. Well, ATP does have the Airline Transition Program, but I really don't agree with that one even though those guys have more than the Mesa students, but only a few have done that program. Over 95% of all pilots that come out of ATP, did the Career Pilot Program, instructed, and then moved on. But in your mind you wouldn't respect me because I went through the career program, instructed, and now I am on with a regional, and I also have a 4 year degree from state university, and not to mention a LT in the United States Naval Reserves, but I guess none of that matters in your mind. In the long run, we all have FAA certificates, the FAA doesn't care where they came from, I personally hold nothing against anyone because of where they EARNED their certificates and ratings from. The only people who care about that kind of stuff are pilots like you. I respect people based on who they are, not because of what flight school they attended. Maybe you should try the same. And if you have flown with people from ATP who were bad pilots, than maybe the airline you fly for needs to look at their training programs and maybe weed out the weaker pilots. I hold nothing against you personally, I don't know who you are, but I would never say that I wouldn't respect pilots based on that.