ATP 150 day Fast Track
- Thread starter DerekRoth
- Start date
Flight81
OO BRO FO
Why did you choose ATP? What were your reasons for going there? Just curious.... Why not a local FBO?
Tram
Well-Known Member
Because time is seniority and seniority is EVERYTHING..
Flight81
OO BRO FO
Is that still the bait for these guys? Can't believe it still works. And just for the record I was an ATP guy about 3 years ago.... Oh, if I could change the hands of time... And my bank account...
elmetal
Ain't nobody got time for that
because your FBO could not possibly have you 0-250 comm/mei/cfii/cfi in 6 months.
give me a break... any FBO could do that. I started flying 2-3 times a week (read: I work 8-5 Monday thru Friday) last April, it's now 10 months later and I'm at 200 hours. If I could fly full time I could easily have done it in "ATP time". In fact, if I could afford to fly more, I'd have done that in less than 6 months, but flying more than twice or 3 times a week is really hard to pay for. If I had the money I'd literally fly 5+ times a week.
just find a place with enough instructors who are willing to fly with you full time and you're set.
then once you're in the time building stage, find a place who will let you take their planes far, and do a real XC with another pilot. I flew 60 hours in 9 days doing that (went to california and bacK)
but ATP has also got its own share of pluses and minuses.
I obviously don't have the opportunity to drop my job and go to ATP fulltime.
give me a break... any FBO could do that. I started flying 2-3 times a week (read: I work 8-5 Monday thru Friday) last April, it's now 10 months later and I'm at 200 hours. If I could fly full time I could easily have done it in "ATP time". In fact, if I could afford to fly more, I'd have done that in less than 6 months, but flying more than twice or 3 times a week is really hard to pay for. If I had the money I'd literally fly 5+ times a week.
just find a place with enough instructors who are willing to fly with you full time and you're set.
then once you're in the time building stage, find a place who will let you take their planes far, and do a real XC with another pilot. I flew 60 hours in 9 days doing that (went to california and bacK)
but ATP has also got its own share of pluses and minuses.
I obviously don't have the opportunity to drop my job and go to ATP fulltime.
crfguy51
Well-Known Member
Not being an ATP fanboy, but how much multi did you log?
If an FBO even had a twin, getting them to let you rent it and take it across the country with 10 hours dual would be a difficult task.
It's not cut and dry -apples to apples- when you try and compare ATP to FBO's.
elmetal
Ain't nobody got time for that
I can show you 3 places within a 30 minute drive of my house who will let you take their multi cross country.
Your argument is ridiculous. Florida is the banana republic, nobody here really cares what you do to their planes, just bring it back in one piece.
I logged 0 multi hours because I'm not rich. Could I have done it in a multi? You bet your behind I could've paid my half. But anybody willing to pay the other half will just go straight to ATP.
It's great if you want to get in and get it done.
It's not about getting to 250 and getting the ratings, it's about all the flying until you get there. If you come in for the ratings and get out sure you'll have it all done quickly, but did you enjoy only flying 125 hours ALL IN THE SAME AIRCRAFT?
Please.
I'd rather do it wherever else just because I have the freedom to fly whatever the heck pleases me and not just a seminole day in day out. Good luck with that cfrguy
elmetal
Ain't nobody got time for that
I'll personally give you the name of the flight school owners and their cell phones if you so choose.
It's not hard finding a place that'll let you take their multis cross country with another pilot.
not to mention you get a lot of sim time, which is about as useful as playing call of duty in training to be a soldier in the military.
Matt13C
Well-Known Member
Not really sure thats a valid reason to spend that much money at the interest rate they charge. When one looks at the pilots backgrounds at any airline, I doubt the majority went to ATP. Not saying it doesnt help, but it certainly doesnt place you at the head of the hiring line. There are many ways to get twin time and with the new 1500 hour rule going into effect soon it doesnt do much good to be 200/150 with a $500 monthly payment and still need to build another 1300 hours. Just my .02, but I like being able to eat something other than ramen that wasnt heated up on the engine block that is now doubling as an oven since apartments dont rent based on potential future earnings.
elmetal
Ain't nobody got time for that
glad we got some sense in this thread.
The main point I wanna emphasize that you mentioned is the actual time.
You do 250 hours in 6 months, GREAT! What the heck kinda job are you hoping on getting at 250? Surely not ANYTHING that needs your "oh so amazing" 200 ATP Multi hours. I say that because everybody knows how ATP Multi time works. You get to make almost NO calls on where and when you go. You go to another ATP location. Phoenix to florida to the north over and over and over.
We all know what ATP Does.
Why don't you guys go to Oregon, or pretty much anywhere that's NOT an atp location? Oh yeah, because ATP won't let you. Give me a break man.
Besides, like I said earlier, if you get a job at 250 that's NOT instructing, I guarantee you your ME hours are useless for it. It'll be a single engine job.
I'm with you Matt.
crfguy51
Well-Known Member
I don't have one cent of flying debt.
It's not for everyone, but why come crap in this guys thread digging up an argument that is played out in here 100x.
Matt13C
Well-Known Member
The same reason you came in with your ray of sunshine, perspective. I am not trying to crap in his thread, but many people do not use the search function or want to look at the other side of the coin. I honestly found this website days before I was set to go off to a large university to drop 100k+ because I had drank the kool aid and had nobody knowledgeable to tell me otherwise. I read and read and read on here and came to the conclusion that it didnt fit my situation.
You may not have one cent of debt, but I would be willing to bet that is not the norm fro most students exiting their program.
I am not saying ATP is bad, its not, it has its place. I just dont think the value is there for what you get, especially in this hiring environment and with the new regs about to go on the books.
elmetal
Ain't nobody got time for that
Amen
staglia
Right seat
Re: the OP...
try not to get frustrated when you hit the inevitable speed bump in your private training. It happens to everyone, you'll get through it. If for some reason, you and your CFI aren't meshing well, don't be afraid to bring the issue up -- I'm sure your CFI will want to know if there's anything (s)he can do to help you along.
Ask lots of questions, read the POH over and over, and keep the shiny side up. Have fun and keep us up to date...
Re: the other stuff. ATP isn't for everyone and it's a shame some people have spent too much money on a program that may not have fit their budget or goals at the time. ATP spends a lot on adverts and some are very persuasive. It's up to the prospective students to judge whether ATP will work for them. That's why the fair assessments/critiques here on JC are so invaluable. There are lots of roads leading to the right seat. Pros/Cons to everything, hindsight is 20/20, yadda yadda....
try not to get frustrated when you hit the inevitable speed bump in your private training. It happens to everyone, you'll get through it. If for some reason, you and your CFI aren't meshing well, don't be afraid to bring the issue up -- I'm sure your CFI will want to know if there's anything (s)he can do to help you along.
Ask lots of questions, read the POH over and over, and keep the shiny side up. Have fun and keep us up to date...
Re: the other stuff. ATP isn't for everyone and it's a shame some people have spent too much money on a program that may not have fit their budget or goals at the time. ATP spends a lot on adverts and some are very persuasive. It's up to the prospective students to judge whether ATP will work for them. That's why the fair assessments/critiques here on JC are so invaluable. There are lots of roads leading to the right seat. Pros/Cons to everything, hindsight is 20/20, yadda yadda....
LoadMasterC141
Well-Known Member
The guy asked what he could do to prepare in the upcoming days. He did not ask for the usual naysayers to come in and start the usual FBO versus ATP debate. If you feel that passionate about it, start a thread on the topic...or go look for the many started before. I would love to chime in with my own usual experience.
Autothrust Blue
“If you jump on my shift, that’s just rude, man.”
:yeahthat:
There are many ways to the top. Not everyone can cross off 3 months and do it that way...some must make a long, slow, and steady climb, rather than a 757-at-V2-blasting-off-over-Newport-Beach-style rocket ride from zero to hero. Not everyone should do a 90-day "OMG IM A PILOT" program.
In the words of car manufacturers, "Your mileage may vary."
Not an ATP grad, but did do some training there and got a glance into how they operate.
Come prepared and do your homework. You're attempting to compact what is a 1-year-or-more thing into 90 days. You will be living, eating, and breathing aviation. Don't get a new MOTAS or make any other large changes while you're in the program.
The airplanes are in pretty good shape, or they were last January when I was doing things. Never raised an eyebrow on walkaround, even while flying their older airplanes.
As mentioned, you're not going to go anywhere but ATP-approved airports, and you won't be taking their airplanes on any trips that aren't within the scope of their program. (In other words - If you need to run an errand somewhere, fuggetaboutit unless you can cram it into the program's framework.)
At my base, housing was nice. Your mileage may vary!
Where are you doing the fast track?
Lastly...good luck. You are about to embark on what could become a transformative experience.
elmetal
Ain't nobody got time for that
That's what ATP Advertises, you knwo with all their "partnerships"
People not in the industry literally think ATP will put you in a regional.
Actually, people not in the industry don't even know that you don't go straight into Delta/American/etc.
People have no idea who the regionals are because the mainliners disguise their regional flights with "connection, express, etc"