ATP's best flight location

BrknWing4

BrknWing4

Well-Known Member
ATP\'s best flight location

New guy on board!

Alright, here is where I stand. Currently I am pursuing a degree in Aviation Admin. at Eastern Kentucky University. I will be graduating in late December 05'. After graduation, I plan on enrolling in ATPs ACPP in early January 06'. I have done ample research on numerous flight schools and this one stands out among the rest to me. It is my understanding that if you enroll in the ACPP, the housing cost are included with the program. My situation is this. I live in Spotsylvania, VA, which is, located about 30 min. south of ATPs Manassas location. I've heard good things about this location as well as their instructors there. The reason I have some reservations about this location is solely based on location for this time of year. The way I see it, if ATP is willing to cover the housing cost for the duration of the program why not enroll in one of the Florida locations or out west where the climate that time of the year is a cut above that of Washington, DC. I would like some recommendations on which schools have the best location coupled with the best equipment/training. I hope someone(s) can give me some insight on what to do in this situation. I would appreciate any advice; it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Steve Moore


"All men die, but few truly live"
 
Re: ATP\'s best flight location

Stuart is the absolute best location to do the ACPP. Small, nice apartments, and incredible beaches!
 
Re: ATP\'s best flight location

Yeah, Stuart is pretty darn nice. That said, all of the locations have the same quality of aircraft and same quality of instruction (for the most part). You aren't going to have a WHOLE lot of time to explore the local area, but there is some time to do so. So pick a location in a place that interests you. You are going to be flying above it almost everyday. Benefits of Stuart: Nice beach... nice beach to fly over. Benefits of out west (PHX)... No beach... Mountains to fly over. Mountains to drive/hike around.

Sorry this is sort of incoherent. I think I have been out in the sun too much today.

Ethan
 
Re: ATP\'s best flight location

I'd recommend you look into Dallas. New building, nice apartments, really professional location, and all they fly are the new seminoles out there because of the examiner.

If I didn't have family ties to ATL, that's where I would've gone.

Heath
 
Re: ATP\'s best flight location

Thanks for the replies guys. The main reason I like to get other peoples view on different locations is mainly due to the fact that I will enroll sight unseen. This way, I’m getting knowledgeable info from reliable sources. Keep the replies coming; I could use all the info you can throw my way!

Switching subjects a bit. From all the post I have read about ATPs 90-day fast track program has been somewhat biased in a sense that everyone has gotten through it one way or another. It is my understanding that this is a very trying and demanding 90 days. It takes a very dedicated and intelligent person to make it through this program in my opinion. I know not everyone that enrolls in this program has that drive or potential to graduate from a program as intense as this one. We hear of all the Cinderella stories that are posted on here as well as on ATPs website, but what about those who don’t make it? I guess my question is this- what is the “wash-out” ratio among students that enroll in the 90-day ACPP? The reason I bring this question up is because I don’t want to go in there thinking everyone that has enrolled in this program graduates and is offered a job within months of completion of their training. If anyone would like to provide some insight on this it would be appreciated. Hope you are still awake!!
 
Re: ATP\'s best flight location

I've been instructing for 8 months now and in that 8 months I have had 5 career pilots my self and seen about 25 more go through this location. Of all of those, only one did not get through the program. Yes, people did struggle, but the wash out rate (at least out here in Phoenix) is pretty low.

Ethan
 
Re: ATP\'s best flight location

[ QUOTE ]
I've been instructing for 8 months now and in that 8 months I have had 5 career pilots my self and seen about 25 more go through this location. Of all of those, only one did not get through the program. Yes, people did struggle, but the wash out rate (at least out here in Phoenix) is pretty low.

Ethan

[/ QUOTE ]

I would second that opinion. Having worked with, or around, probably 25 or so students in the program I've only known one that quit. ATP does a pretty good job of weeding out the ones that can't cut it in the interview process. Despite what you read about them not turning away anyone with 40K, I've seen them tell people who were loan approved and ready to roll that they were wasting their time and money as they really had no shot of making it in the airlines.

So, if you are accepted, you can rest assured that you'll most likely make it through and come out with all your ratings. Now not everyone gets hired afterward, but that's up to you during your 90 day interview.

Good luck,
Heath
 
Re: ATP\'s best flight location

[ QUOTE ]
I'd recommend you look into Dallas. ... all they fly are the new seminoles out there because of the examiner.

[/ QUOTE ]

(Emphasis mine)

Eh???
 
Re: ATP\'s best flight location

...because rumor has it the designated examiner ATP uses doesn't want to give checkrides in the '79/'80 model Seminoles. Only the '00/'01/'05 models. Understand?
 
Re: ATP\'s best flight location

Believe it or not it is true. Rumor has it that now he has flown the 05 models and that's all he will do check rides in. Somebody from Dalllas can talk about the air vents as well.
 
Re: ATP\'s best flight location

[ QUOTE ]
Why would that be even remotely relevant to a DE?

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess the relevance is separated from the cloth seats by his pants.

Unfeathering accumulators and the fact that he can easily hit switches from his side are big plusses too.
 
Re: ATP\'s best flight location

For those who posted, why do you recommend Start, Fl over JAX? It is my impression that it doesn’t matter where you decide to train with ATP; you end up in JAX regardless finishing your CFI. Is this true? If so, I don’t know if I would like moving twice during the duration of their program. Moving from Virginia to Florida once would be enough for me. Any questions or advice would be appreciated.

Steve
 
Re: ATP\'s best flight location

I was Stuart based for the bulk of my 90 day program. It just so happed that when I was ready for the week long CFI school after I got my commercial, it was being held in Atlanta that week instead of JAX. You won't necessarily end up in JAX, so there's no reason to bank on it.

They were going to try to fly me up to Atlanta to attend, but I opted to drive my own car up there which put me closer to home. I finished the program up there, but it was less than three weeks. I started CFI school on a Monday. The following week on Wednesday I was a MEI. Then the Monday after that I had all my ratings. Two weeks was all.

I was basically done at that point, but I stuck around to do my jet ride on Tuesday and had to wait until Thursday to fly off my remaining Seminole time. On Friday I drove up north to visit family over the holiday weekend and I came here to JAX to attend new hire class on the following Tuesday.

No matter where you train out on the east half of the country, the plan is usually to use your Seminole cross country time to get you to either JAX or Atlanta for CFI school. You'll only spend a week there, then use your Seminole time to get you to South Florida for your initial CFI (ATP uses the Fort Lauderdale FSDO), and then you'll use more of your Seminole time to get you back to your base training location to finish your remaining checkrides.

That's the general plan anyway. No one who I went through the program with in Stuart finished in quite the same way. A couple people I know went through cfi school in JAX, then wound up in Atlanta finishing their remaining checkrides up there, and then flew back to Stuart. ATP will send you wherever it takes to get your checkrides done in a timely manner. You'll have the cross country time in the Seminole and your three hour jet ride to use to get from place to place.

As far as "moving" goes, get used to it! What do you think life as a professional pilot is like? For ATP's 90 day program, you will not need to have more stuff than will fit in your car. If so, you will have brought too much.


Mike
 
Re: ATP\'s best flight location

The CFI program may be in JAX or ATL depending on what week you go. If you train out west you will be heading to Vegas for the CFI. However, you aren't really "moving" when you go to CFI school. Chances are you will just be there for a week or two, which may be less time then you are out on your cross countries.

As to SUA vs CRG... you have to decide whether you work better in a high stress location or a lower stress location, taking into account that the program on it's own is pretty stressful. That's my take anyways.
 
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