Hello JC'ers, my first post since signing up as a member. I live in Raleigh and hope someone can answer the following for me. Do you have first hand direct knowledge of the ATP program based out of RDU (Raleigh/Durham) or do you have any second hand reliable knowledge? I ask for 1 primary reason. It seems Raleigh may not be the training capital of the US and therefore may lack a good flow of students, such as a flight school located in Jacksonville e.g. I plan on visiting this weekend but I'm weary of any goods being sold by anyone behind the counter and rely on some objective thoughts from you guys. If I'm not building hours due to a small stream of students at the ATP facility in RDU, do you think it's highly possible I could be transfered say up North to Manassas for a month or two for time building (or is this like a franchise operation), whereby if initiate training in RDU, I must do all my time building in RDU.
ATP Raleigh
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Will ATP in RDU allow me to build time in Atlanta? A transfer with a priority due to my seniority within ATP as an instructor? I could ask ATP direct but I have a hunch they'll tell me what I want to hear. Somebody has probably been out there with a time building dilemna (that is having signed up and then realize that an 8 month program becomes a 16-24 month program due to no students. I can't find it now but I saw someone post an experience of an ATP location I think in Texas, whereby he was flying way to few hours and requested his money (refund). In the end he said they refunded all monies (minus the 3 month pro-ration), he was there. This is a nightmare of a story. They he went back to an FBO and I think it took him 2 years thereafter to exit the flight instructor status into an Airline or Freight job. I'd like to instruct but if RTP has few students even after being told I'd have plenty, I would like to know how I can determine that.
casey
Well-Known Member
call ATP, you will be talking to people that just finished the program and are becoming instructors, they'll be pretty straight with you.
You dont timebuild in any one location, dispatch assigns you flights and you may end up doing out and backs (ie, rdu-fty-rdu, rdu-ttn-rdu, etc) or long flights (ie out to california and back). it just depends on where the planes need to go.
If you do the 9 month program the timeframe is up to you. Few students is what you want because that means the instructor (rdu only has 1 i think) can give you 100% of his time and you can finish it in 90 days or 9 months, its up to you. The 9 month program does tend to go long though if you dont fly very often or stay current in the books. Its easier to do the 90 day program imho, immersion helps.
You dont timebuild in any one location, dispatch assigns you flights and you may end up doing out and backs (ie, rdu-fty-rdu, rdu-ttn-rdu, etc) or long flights (ie out to california and back). it just depends on where the planes need to go.
If you do the 9 month program the timeframe is up to you. Few students is what you want because that means the instructor (rdu only has 1 i think) can give you 100% of his time and you can finish it in 90 days or 9 months, its up to you. The 9 month program does tend to go long though if you dont fly very often or stay current in the books. Its easier to do the 90 day program imho, immersion helps.
v1valarob
Well-Known Member
First off, are you a CFI looking for a job? Or are you a student looking to get licenses? Or are you just looking to time build?
If your a CFI, you can apply and pick your location. When it opens up, you go to it. You can transfer around sometimes.
If your a student, go to the ATP forums on this website and read the tons of threads on how others have done it.
If your looking to time build, ATP no longer offers that.
-Rob
Clocks
Well-Known Member
I think I'm reading this to mean you are a CFI?
If that's the case as far as I know RDU is a 1 CFI location, and they aren't going to have any 90 day students (which is where I got the majority of my flight time from).
The possibility of transfering to another location as a CFI exists, but they'll only let you move once another CFI wants to move to RDU, which may be immediately or may be weeks (or longer) away.
Personally I'm partial to RIC ('cause I worked there
). It's a medium sized location and if it's anything like it was you'll get a reasonable amount of time (60-90/m) without feeling like you're working 23 hours a day. I had a very relaxed schedule and averaged a little over 70 hours a month, mostly from working with 2 career students at a time. Although a lot has changed there since I worked there, and I believe every CFI I worked with is now gone to the airlines, so I can't give any updated information.Anyways as far as getting straight answers, if you go chat with the RDU CFI he has no reason to "sell" you on working at RDU...seeing as you aren't going to be allowed to go there until he has a job at an airline somewhere. I'm sure they'll give you details on their flight time and schedule.
Clocks I have my PPL, approx. 70 hours in the log book. I am now living in Raleigh, moved from DC about a year and half ago. I was hoping that RDU ATP would be busy enough that I could get through the 90 day program and then do time building via CFI'ing. From your post though, if I'm interpreting it correctly, the CFI there would have to move on before I could come in and replace him to do my time building. I suppose (and it makes sense), that he/she would be priority in so far as CFI timebuilding. However, if I signed on then I would think that the hours the CFI could build on my program alone might help edge them closer to a job?
Clocks
Well-Known Member
All speculation, but maybe. You could always ask.
There's always a chance though that someone else is already waiting for RDU...so when the current instructor leaves they are replaced by someone who now needs 400 hours...and you're back to waiting for months.
The best choice, if it's possible considering where you are in life (wife, kids, house, etc) would be to be able to move anywhere and get the experience quickly rather than waiting around. If you're able to do that, you might still get RDU, but at least you will be moving forward even if you can't go there. Being flexible with where you can live will also be helpful if you find out you hate flight instructing and you'd rather go another route.
Nihon_Ni
Well-Known Member
"CFI timebuilding" is a phrase you should take out of your lexicon. Do one or the other. If you do both, your students will be the ones who suffer. Most CFIs go on to do other things, but if you are already looking at CFI'ing for timebuilding as you've stated in your post, then I believe you are approaching it for the wrong reasons. Being a CFI is a step in a professional pilot's career. While you are a CFI, you should strive to be the best one you can be. It's like going to college for the purpose of just getting a diploma instead of getting an education. Be a teacher, not a time builder. When you have enough experience as a teacher, move on to the next step in your career as a professional pilot.
Besides, don't you want your CFI to care more about your flight education than his own log book?
Rob
Besides, don't you want your CFI to care more about your flight education than his own log book?
Rob