(yawn...)

Similar situation, but further in. Rolled the dice on a career change and crapped out.

Made a careful decision to retire from the military back in '19. Went and taught (along with other 91 work) in the race to 1500 because everyone was hiring. COVID hits. In May, rolled over 1500 (800+ multi), with nobody hiring. Knowing the days of an employer paying for anything (other than type) are over.... used my GI Bill to pay for the CTP course, just took the written and will take the ATP ride on my own dime. Back to teaching part time until someone will hire.

Timing truly is a bi***. Wife being employed and the mil retirement are at least keeping this from being cataclysmic. Oh well, that's the way the chips fell.

Almost all of us who have been doing this for a while have experienced something like that before. This too shall pass. As I've said before, be as ready as you can be for the next step when things pick up. Not everyone positions themselves optimally, and many drop out or hunker down and wait.

Good afternoon. OP here with a quick update and another big question. I did pull the hook and leave my LE job for good. The 135 job fell through but I am instructing at a good school, so I've got a good spot to hang out for a while, and I do enjoy instructing. I took the ATP-CTP class on my own dime and passed the written. My next step is the check ride, and here's where I could use some advice. The school I used (ATP Jets in Dallas if it matters) has a ATP check ride program in their Seminoles which looks good. But... they also have an A320 type rating program that they offer, and that got my wheels turning upstairs (especially having just spent a few hours in the A320 sim at CTP.)

I need to take the ATP check ride anyway, and the cost delta between the Seminole program and the A320 is not as much as you'd think and is within my budget. Given that my goal is still to get to the airlines (regionals at first, after that, who knows?) would you recommend the extra effort to get the type rating? My guess is that it will help at interview time (and maybe help get the interview in the first place,) but may be viewed as a negative if I show up at a regional interview with a mainline type rating. If asked about it in an interview, my answer would basically be this paragraph, which is the unvarnished truth.

Any advice is appreciated, especially from those who have been involved in recruiting/ hiring at the regionals. Thanks.

A 320 type won't hurt, but without operational experience it's not going to make a huge difference in the US. It will be a useful box to check when you apply to majors (more types is better than fewer types), especially if you only manage to get one type at a regional. Pre-covid, the majors had a clear preference for multiple types.

That said, be aware that the bus is a grown-up airplane... easy to fly but a real biatch to learn if they don't spoon-feed you (they do that overseas but not so much here). Be prepared to put in a LOT of study effort. Also make sure you understand the lay of the land of the training/checking environment... if it's designed for experienced turbine pilots, it's not going to be for you. A checkride bust will do more harm to your career than a no-flight-time bus type will enhance your career.

Out of curiosity, how much did the ATP-CTP course cost?

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$3995. Includes the Shepard Air test prep and the written exam cost.

Thanks! What are they quoting you for the ATP course in the Seminole?

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$5995 for the ATP course in the Seminole. They do offer a combo deal if you do the CTP and ATP together, they knock a couple grand off the package.

https://atpflightschool.com/atp/atp-...rtificate.html

if I decide against the A320 I’ll probably go this route to knock it out. My experience thus far with ATP Jets has been good and I’d recommend them for the CTP.

I had this very conversation with the ATP folks and they assure me that people in my situation have been successful in this class. I’m in a trust-but-verify mode on this. I don’t underestimate the amount of study or work, but I also know that the checkride is not mandatory at the end of the program (I’m paying, not my employer.). If I’m still 5 miles behind the airplane I can always opt for more training or forgo the ride. I don’t want to risk a bust at this stage... but on the other hand, nothing ventured nothing gained. And if we’re back to 2018/19 levels in 5 years that type rating could come in mighty handy.

This is a tough decision in a long string of tough decisions. Life is like that.