rswitz
Well-Known Member
So I have my PPL and about 100 hours. Did my PPL at a local FBO and received great instruction, but I felt the pace was too slow. Goal is to go to the regional airlines but I'll take any flying job I can get once I've got my CPL. Part 91 stuff, charter etc.
So I'm basically all set to start ATP's 90 day program at FXE. Got the loan in order and even selected December 9th as my start date. I plan on driving down from CT (yeah, I know) on November 30th to build up my XC PIC. Need 25 and have 7.
The thing is, the little part 61 school that I trained with initially is now trying to convince me to ditch ATP and finish up my ratings with them. I loved my training and time with them and made a lot of great connections while I was there. I even interned at this place and got some cool perks.
My former instructor at this 61 school actually went to ATP and has nothing but horrible things to say about it. Stuff like its way too fast paced, you don't learn anything, high failure rate, CFI's are just kids who past (and failed) the rides a few months earlier, etc. Now, he's a great CFI and a great Pilot with thousands of hours logged, but he is hell bent on persuading me to avoid ATP. He even recommended other fast track type programs as an alternative, unrelated to his school. Seems he genuinely cares about my training and not just looking for my business.
He is offering me another "internship" type deal where I could get some nice benefits like discounted ground training and some free dead-heading flights logging PIC, in exchange for answering the phone and washing the occasional plane. Same thing I did before.
Whats more, he says he can finish me off (CFI and the add ons) for way less than the 55 grand ATP wants.
It seems pretty attractive, but my question is will I lose out on anything special provided by ATP? Airline opportunities, multi-time etc? I'll be able to get a ton of part-91 opportunities if I stay with the 61 school through all the connections I made.
I always hear ATP is the best place to go if I only want to go to the airlines. I definitely do want to go to the airlines, but will I have a much easier time getting there with ATP than with a small, local FBO?
Thanks a lot and sorry for the long essay.
So I'm basically all set to start ATP's 90 day program at FXE. Got the loan in order and even selected December 9th as my start date. I plan on driving down from CT (yeah, I know) on November 30th to build up my XC PIC. Need 25 and have 7.
The thing is, the little part 61 school that I trained with initially is now trying to convince me to ditch ATP and finish up my ratings with them. I loved my training and time with them and made a lot of great connections while I was there. I even interned at this place and got some cool perks.
My former instructor at this 61 school actually went to ATP and has nothing but horrible things to say about it. Stuff like its way too fast paced, you don't learn anything, high failure rate, CFI's are just kids who past (and failed) the rides a few months earlier, etc. Now, he's a great CFI and a great Pilot with thousands of hours logged, but he is hell bent on persuading me to avoid ATP. He even recommended other fast track type programs as an alternative, unrelated to his school. Seems he genuinely cares about my training and not just looking for my business.
He is offering me another "internship" type deal where I could get some nice benefits like discounted ground training and some free dead-heading flights logging PIC, in exchange for answering the phone and washing the occasional plane. Same thing I did before.
Whats more, he says he can finish me off (CFI and the add ons) for way less than the 55 grand ATP wants.
It seems pretty attractive, but my question is will I lose out on anything special provided by ATP? Airline opportunities, multi-time etc? I'll be able to get a ton of part-91 opportunities if I stay with the 61 school through all the connections I made.
I always hear ATP is the best place to go if I only want to go to the airlines. I definitely do want to go to the airlines, but will I have a much easier time getting there with ATP than with a small, local FBO?
Thanks a lot and sorry for the long essay.