Razor,

How much total time did you have to spend in ATL on your own dime (assuming you don't live there)? Just trying to figure out if I should go crashpad or hotel it for training.

Thanks Razor - my wife and I was just discussing this, as I'm getting close to the type ride and curious about domestic OE.

I'm just about to finish up the sim on the 767. I have been on my own dime for almost exactly a month. Now, I've had two or three days off each week, so I'll have spent about 20 nights in the crashpad for the month.

I'd recommend a crashpad for training. They run about $250/ month. You may have to commit to two months, but $500 is still cheaper than 20+ motel nights.

I went with a crashpad for the month of Jan plus a couple of days but some in my class stayed in the Comfort Inn. I paid $400 for a room to myself and a classmate paid $250 for a bed in the other bedroom that he shared with a commuting DAL pilot that was only there a few nights. I'd recommend you start looking for a crashpad as soon as you get to indoc because they go fast.

The place I stayed (The Happy Hidaway) is a couple of blocks from the Comfort so you can ride the van to the Training Center if you don't have a car. PM me if you want more info or the phone number.

Guys,
If you need a crashpad definitely take a look at the ones on Hardin ave. This is the street directly behind the Comfort Inn. When commuting in to ATL you can ride any one of about 5 hotel shuttles and then walk a very short distance to your pad. During the week you walk over to the Comfort and take the shuttle to the training center. It is also a good location for running. Just head west on Hardin until the train stop, then turn right until Rugby and continue west on Rugby, go up to 3 1/2 miles and then return. I was a little concerned about running in this neigborhood, but this route will steer you past most of the riff raff.
Scoop

If you live within driving distance (1000 miles in my case) I suggest you take your car. A month in a crashpad with no transpo options tends to make one stir crazy. The Va Ave area is not the best nor the worst of neighborhoods. My crashpad was about 15 min away in a townhouse of a local Delta pilot. There are lots of options, but the car is worth the drive. Besides, how are you going to get all those books on the airplane?

I've run that route many times. Zig zaging east and west through the neighborhood is good for a few blocks north of Hardin, but once you are north of the school all bets are off. There are a few intimidating house pets in that area. You can also get a few laps at the school track if you need a quick mile or two.

I used to have a crashpad next to Woodyard Academy but they tore it down to put the tennis courts up. I NEVER had an issue in that area - ran a lot during the day - used to walk to Malones at night.

I have heard its scary these days or is that an exxageration?

2 dudes got held up at RIFLE point a block or two from the Comfort Inn on Virginia Ave in Jan. Or so they told us at indoc.