ATP flight school CFI Program

jgheggie

jgheggie

Well-Known Member
It appears as though ATP has reinstated its CFI program for outside commercial pilots. As most of you know, for a while now ATP was only offering CFI training to its own pro-course and commercial graduates. They are once again offering the 21 day MEI, CFI, and CFII in Jacksonville for the low low cost of $9,995 for 7 hour program and $11,995 for the 15 hours program. Break out your check books and dig in....
 
Annnd their Pro Pilot program AFTER PPL is now $60k!

I used to think ATP would be a good idea... Not such much at those prices.
 
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ATP does this when their enrollment is down. They opened it up after the 2008 crash when people stopped getting into the industry and banks were not loaning money.

Hint above in bold.
 
As someone who was in the ATP web for a bit, I used to be able to recommend it to the right person under the right circumstances. Now, I would recommend staying far away at any price.
 
Many different reasons.

For me it all changed when they started promising people jobs as CFI's before they had even flown an airplane. Students stopped studying as hard because they knew the job was in the bag. It was kind of the one safety net that was in place, that the bottom half would not be back to instruct.

Bad students became bad instructors and like making a copy of the copy things were getting worse. To top it all off they introduced the "private-insturment" deal, which was another total catastrophe. I was leaving around that time but saw quite a few people get bounced out and stuck with a huge bill (the refund process is nuts) and literally nothing but a student pilot certificate to show for it. Those that did finish were left with (in my opinion) a very low level of skill for the certificates they actually held, and were right back creating the next generation.......
 
Those prices are insane . . . and more than likely their CFI pay rates haven't been "inflated" as much.
 
I did the 14 day course a few years ago, I caught it on a deal for 2,995. I cannot believe how expensive it is now...
 
Eh...the price is comparable to other "accelerated" training places. I'm looking into getting my cfi here soon. Most "mom and pop" flight schools are still quoting an average of $4500 for the initial. Add $2500 for MEI and $2200 cfii. That's $9200. Can it be done waaaay cheaper? Absolutely. However, I can see why there is a market for such an expensive program.

*Note; these figures are from CFI academy in yuba city ca. They are very similar to Executive Flyers in sacramento. As well as skywalk in sacramento.
 
Also, for anyone interested in getting the cfi AND instructing at the same school, do your research. There are several schools out there that are willing to give you the cfi for free in exchange for 1000 hours of service.

It's not the best option...but it's an option. Just do your homework before spending $10k or near it.
 
jgheggie said:
Eh...the price is comparable to other "accelerated" training places. I'm looking into getting my cfi here soon. Most "mom and pop" flight schools are still quoting an average of $4500 for the initial. Add $2500 for MEI and $2200 cfii. That's $9200. Can it be done waaaay cheaper? Absolutely. However, I can see why there is a market for such an expensive program.

*Note; these figures are from CFI academy in yuba city ca. They are very similar to Executive Flyers in sacramento. As well as skywalk in sacramento.
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Anyone have a report on CFI academy at yuba city?
 
doog said:
Anyone have a report on CFI academy at yuba city?
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Im still working on finding information on them. I was led onto them by a friend of mine who went there. He has yet to get back to me with the scoupe. I am going to call them tomorrow and see if they are even still in business. With the way aviation is who knows....
 
jgheggie said:
Also, for anyone interested in getting the cfi AND instructing at the same school, do your research. There are several schools out there that are willing to give you the cfi for free in exchange for 1000 hours of service.

It's not the best option...but it's an option. Just do your homework before spending $10k or near it.
Click to expand...
My friend Liz just got that deal down in Austin TX... she got hired as a straight CFI, and as soon as she started they offered to give her the MEI and CFII training/checkrides for free if she agreed to stay a year. Can't really beat that deal if it is a decent company to stick around at for a year.
 
jwp_145 said:
My friend Liz just got that deal down in Austin TX... she got hired as a straight CFI, and as soon as she started they offered to give her the MEI and CFII training/checkrides for free if she agreed to stay a year. Can't really beat that deal if it is a decent company to stick around at for a year.
Click to expand...

Where in Austin is she doing that? PIlot's Choice?
 
The avg training time is about 30 days even though it's sold as 15. I used to teach that program and only had a couple guys get it done on time. I also recommend doing it in FLL, they have the easiest examiners and the highest pass rate.
 
crfguy51 said:
Many different reasons.

For me it all changed when they started promising people jobs as CFI's before they had even flown an airplane. Students stopped studying as hard because they knew the job was in the bag. It was kind of the one safety net that was in place, that the bottom half would not be back to instruct.

Bad students became bad instructors and like making a copy of the copy things were getting worse. To top it all off they introduced the "private-insturment" deal, which was another total catastrophe. I was leaving around that time but saw quite a few people get bounced out and stuck with a huge bill (the refund process is nuts) and literally nothing but a student pilot certificate to show for it. Those that did finish were left with (in my opinion) a very low level of skill for the certificates they actually held, and were right back creating the next generation.......
Click to expand...

As an add-on to that, when I was at ATP using my GI Bill benefits for my CMEL / CSEL, one of my CFI's for the SEL add-on was fresh out of CFI stands in Jacksonville. She had maybe 2 hours dual given at that point. I basically got her oriented with the practice areas around DuPage (not a big deal) but when we went to do Lazy 8's, she point blank said, and I quote, " I'll be honest with you, I really suck at Lazy 8's and I'm not sure how I passed them, but we can go through the AFH and see how you do."

uhhh, wat?

Due to life circumstances, I did not do the CFI program there. Kind of glad I didn't either.
 
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