Smart ssa!

-LAFF

Why would someone pay $45,000 for their licenses and ratings when they can pay $30,000 for the exact same training at an FBO is beyond me.

Hey LAFF, I have a car I'd like to sell you. It blue books for $10,000, but you can have it for the ATP discount price of $15,000.

I am not saying ATP is bad. It is the best of the academies because it is the cheapest and most reasonable off all the academies. It is still more expensive than any FBO.

PM me and we can work out the details.

-LAFF

For what it's worth, I had a student that I solo'ed at 65 hours. I was his fourth instructor and I guess I was picked as a "last resort" before him being kicked out of the 141 program. The up-side is that he solo'ed, and is sort of on his way to doing something that he really wants to..., the down-side is that I doubt if he will have the ability to finish the private pilot course, and if that occurs he will certainly wash out when he gets to instruments...not to mention the fact that he's spent a TON of money and should be working on his instrument rating by now, instead of still trying to figure out how to flight plan...*sigh*

My point being, go ahead and compare yourself to others to see how you stand, and don't sweat the small stuff like a 10-15 hour difference between when you solo'ed. The important thing is that you DID solo (congrats, by the way), and you're on your way to that cert!

Another victim of the FBO / CFI rape.

I ended up spending 9 months and 9.5K on my PPL. IHMO - I paid 4K too much because I had to go thru two CFI before I found one I could work with. I'll never waste time / money at an FBO again...

-LAFF

you know LAFF, not everyone at ATP passes everything on the first try. Infact I bet they even have students who drop out of their program. Not everyone can fly , some people are just plain lazy and don't study on their own. Some students don't pick up on everything as fast as other students. Just because you went to a FBO and you didn't get done in the time you think you should have, doesn't mean every FBO is horrible and out to rape you of your money.

I got it done. I just had to juggle FBO CFIs and my military duties. I also paid 4K too much for a PPL. I paid too much because I was 'taken for a ride' by the first two CFIs. Its that simple.

-LAFF

Everyone has a style and approach to training that suits them best. The FBO offers a closer home town feel, but often lacks in true expertise, equipment and availability. The ATP style has a fast and action packed "get er done" way but has higher costs due to newer equipment and higher overhead at the larger metropolitan airports.

The best answer is to not go to either and buy yourself a Cessna 152 or piper tomahawk and hire your own freelance CFI.

Skyhigh

Interesting, $9,500 for your PPL, ATP charges $8,995 for your PPL. So a difference of $505, I guess ATP is in on raping students too. But instead of paying 4k too much, you would have only paid 3.5k too much.

You missed my point. At ATP you're quoted a fixed price not strung alone so some CFI can build time on your dime.

Had I kown about this site I would have done my research. Had I known about ATP I would have gone there.

-LAFF