Im not sure who told you that or if something has changed in the brief time that Ive retired, but you most certainly will have to pay. Unless you are using the GI Bill at an university where you are enrolled in an accredited flight program (Post 911 GI Bill) or you are enrolled in a Part 141 School (Montgomery GI Bill) the GI Bill will not cover the ATP. The Montgomery GI Bill will only cover 60% of it at the inflated rate a flight school will charge. Has something changed? If you have some flight school telling you that, I would research it. If you know something Im missing here please let me know.

If you are hired at a regional and have the minimums along with the written test completed, the regional will "pay" for your ATP by putting you through their training program.

The previous advice given here is pretty solid. You want to have your instrument proficiency SHARP SHARP SHARP. Spend some time on Microsoft Flight Simulator. Actually spend a ton of time on Micorsoft Flight Simulator. Know your Jepps and review your Instrument Flight Manual. Good Luck!

 

I haven't talk to a school yet but I was looking at US Aviation in Denton tx and the website said the GI bill covers the ATP using the post 9/11 the Montgomery only pays 60%. I'm working on my ATP written right now but I def need to start brushing up on my instrument skills!

 

Do not delay!!!! You need to get your written completed before the end of July or the requirements to take the written will change dramatically to include hours logged in a full motion simulator and extensive classroom work provided by an approved school. I don't think very many understand just how tough it is going to become just to take the written.

From avweb.com:

The New ATP—A Brief Window Before the Sky Falls? - AVweb Features Article

Things Get Uglier in August

The big deal is the “airline transport pilot certification training program” set out in FAR 61.156. This requirement kicks in on August 1, 2014. It’s staggeringly expensive for a prospective professional pilot and, frustratingly, it’s pretty much the same as a portion of the training a new hire gets at an airline, but now the ATP applicant has to somehow pay for it and pass it before he or she can even take the ATP written. You must complete it successfully and show a graduation certificate from a training provider that has applied for and had its training program approved by the FAA. The training provider must either be an airline operating under Part 135 or 121 or a certified training provider operating under Part 141 or 142. The program must be taught by instructors who hold an ATP and have at least two years of airline experience. I’m curious as to what kind of salary range is going to be necessary to attract and retain instructors with such experience.


As part of the ATP training program, you’ll have to go through at least 30 hours of classroom instruction (a classroom is specified, not on-line training) in aerodynamics, high altitude operations, meteorology, air carrier operations, physiology, communications, checklist philosophy, operational control, minimum equipment list/configuration deviation list, ground operations, turbine engines, transport category aircraft performance, automation, leadership, professional development, crew resource management and—lastly—safety culture.


Along with the classroom instruction you’ll have to buy at least six hours in a Level C (full motion) sim that represents a multi-engine turbine airplane with a max takeoff weight of at least 40,000 pounds. One good thing is that the regs allow the Administrator to approve a deviation from a weight requirement for the simulated airplane—which means that a lot of current bizjet simulators could get approval.

You’ll also need another four hours of sim time, but that can be in a lower cost FSTD of Level four or higher.

I’ve been looking at cost estimates for the ATP certification training program ever since the FAA put out the NPRM on this regulation. According to the AOPA, a Level C sim runs at least $8 million. A room or building, with suitable environmentals, has to be built to house it. Techs have to be hired to keep it working. The instructors have to meet the ATP and two year of airline experience requirement.

Two years ago, AOPA estimated that rental rates for such sims will be $1000 per hour, before considering the cost of building the building and hiring staff. I think that a more realistic number, all things considered, is going to be on the order of $2000 per hour for the six hours in the Level C sim. Based on prices for similar courses at the major simulator training centers, a bare minimum of $15,000 for the ATP certification training program is a fair estimate, with reality probably on the order of $20,000.

 

Wow!! Yeah I'm going to take it this month!!

 

Some regionals offer phone interviews which consist of asking, "why do you want to fly? You have a pulse? You're hired!"

 

Yea I don't think you need to be current anymore to get a class at a regional. If you want to pass training though I would definitely at least brush up on IFR and glass cockpit flying.

 

I would not bank on that. Maybe a few, but most are still looking for a professional attitude and some solid fundamentals. Show up with a poor attitude or poorly prepared and you will not get the job.

 

Roger that. I think the rules have changed a bit since I used my Montgomery GI Bill. I just read you can use your Post 9/11 at a Part 141 up to $10,000. Certainly new to me. I've been out for a few years.

Im sure you already knew that. However, as previously mentioned, if you are hired by a regional you will get your ATP at the completion of training. Save your GI Bill for college if you haven't already completed your degree. If you have completed your degree there are a ton of Master Programs that would love to take your money .

Are you out of the service yet or getting ready to be?

Best of luck to you!

 

I got out of the army a couple years ago I do have a associates degree. I've been out in west Texas flying pipeline for little over a year I just don't get any instrument work done I need to get current so I don't bomb the interview!

 

Does GI Bill pay 100% now?