Quote:
Originally Posted by stiknruder
Hello fellow pilots, I have been looking and reading forums on here for the last month but have some questions about RAA and ATP that I would like some of the students to respond if there are any out there and able. I have recently taken a tour of both schools and both I think have there pros and cons.
1. I applied for finacial aid from RAA and was only approved for half the amount needed. Has anyone else who has done this had any problems getting the rest of the money to finish?
2. Have any of the students from ATP or RAA had any problems being placed as an instructor?
3. Do any of you RAA guys know any of those students who has who got hired with 350tt and 50me?(Do they really exist)
How about you Pro-Pilots, do any of you fly with any of the guys who have finished from these schools? What are some of their failures and some of they successes.
I would be greatful for any help.
I think ATP has an al la carte kind of menu, where you can pick out the training you really need. You are going to be confronted with folks trying to sell you some "extras", like jet or airline ops training. What you really NEED:
1) Private Pilot Lic. (If you don't have one, I recommend you get one at your local airport BEFORE you quit your job, relocate, and/or plunk down a huge chunk of change. You need to really make sure you enjoy flying before you get carried away...)
2) Instrument Rating
3) Commercial Single Engine
4) Commercial Multi-engine
5) CFI
6) CFII
7) MEI
Anything else you pay for, you need to ask WHY? It is nice to get a CFI job at the school where you did your training, because you know the procedures, airspace, and airplanes. However, if you don't there are plenty of places where you can work.
Also, it might be advantageous if your training program emphasizes multi-engine time early on, rather than at the end. The 100-300 twin hours is often what CFIs have the most trouble acquiring $$$.
Airline job opportunity "guarantees" for low-time (<1000) pilots are largely BS. There a few exceptions. You may not want to pay a bunch of extra money for an interview opportunity at 700 hours...you could apply off the street 300 hours later...Also, like de727 said, your resume will look better in the long run with the instructor ratings.