Considering ATP

C

CFICANFLY

New Member
Hey Everyone-

I am interested in ATP, & have gone back through a couple of pages of posts to hopefully not ask the same inane quesions all over again! I do appreciate those of you that respond regularly. Having attended FlightSafety, I know I was able to get info from the Jetcareers bulletin boards, which was a help.

I have my initial CFI, ASEL, AMEL, etc. from FlightSafety. For the last almost two years I have been also earning my A&P. I am finishing up & am looking to do my CFII/MEI. Ideally, I would like to get the II/MEI with someone with whom I have a reasonable chance to instruct with. I happen to be moving to the JAX area anyway, hence my interest in ATP (plus the ability to get a lot of multi time).

What I am interested to know:

What is your assessment of the training you received with ATP?

What are the student loads currently? i. e. instructor to student ratio?

Is "the pipeline" for instructors moving, or are people sitting on a waiting list to instruct?

What is the maintenance like (I don't want to hear "the planes are new", any airplane in a training fleet can get tired rather quickly).

Who performs the maintenance, is it in house?

Assuming a reasonable level of flying ability, are the prices quoted realistic?

How quickly do instructors build flight time (hours/year, etc.)?

I'm sure that I will have more questions as I go, but this is probably enough for now. Obviously I am most interested in hearing about the JAX location, but I appreciate in advance any & all constructive posts.

'canfly
 
Hi CFICANFLY,

I noticed no one has responded so I thought I'd chime in.

The assessement of the training I received at ATP...?
- That's a fairly loaded question. I think that for the price and timeframe it can't beat. Can you receive better training elsewhere? Most likely, yes... however, you are going to pay more for it, it may take longer, and it would most likely be single engine training primarily. Remember ATP requires a certain knowledge level prior to starting any program, and you are responsible for a good majority of your own ground school knowledge.

Student to Instructor ratio?
- Most Career Pilot Instructors have no more than two students at any given time. However there is some overlap from time to time in which an instructor may have two students finishing with two new ones starting. Most Add-On Instructors can have 1-4 students from an assortment of programs at once, however, mostly never more than two at one time. CFI Instructors can have classes of between 2-8 students although I believe they try to limit it to 6 at most times. I've heard the single engine instructors can get pretty hammered with students and I've heard 4+ at any given time.

Waiting list for instructors?
- Like most flight schools, you stand a better chance of getting hired on if you complete one of the long courses. Although with the recent rise in airline hirings everyone is looking for quality candidates. ATP hires "reserve" instructors to do internships in JAX until a position opens up in the field. They may be interested in you if you are a two year CFI which it sounds like you may be. That would allow them to hire you to teach the CFI ground and flight portion of their programs, once you have earned your MEI and II. (of course you would stand a better chance at getting hired if you did your training with ATP... but alas... there are no guarantees)

What is the maintenance like?
- The planes are new!! Just kidding!
smile.gif
Actually, the majority of the Seminoles are '79/'80 models and the majority of the cessnas are older model planes as well. Major maintenance is done in house at facilities on both coasts, with minor things being done by approved local mechanics. You are always welcome to set up a tour and take a look for yourself at the aircraft. The maintenance logs are always up to date and are on each aircraft. Having done my Private at an FBO... I have to say that ATP's maintenance is 100% better. I've never been down a plane for lack of a part or service for more than 24 hours. A part is either fedex'd to our local maintenance on the field or Dispatch coordinates getting us another plane to use ASAP.

Are the prices quoted realistic?
- This is most likely the number one reason why I came to ATP. I could find no information in all my research to the contrary. I have not personally met anyone who has had to pay more money for a program that the quoted price.

Flight time for instructors?
- I'd say between 700-1200 hours a year depending on several factors: Are you training PPL candidates, Career Pilots, Add-On's at a large location, Add-Ons at a single instructor location...

Hopefully that helps, Good luck with your research!

Bob
 
Captain Bob-

Thanks for your response! I had given up on hearing anything from anyone...I hadn't checked the board in days. Your response was reasoned, informative & well balanced (sometimes when a question is asked about a school, the people that attend that school are a little too zealous in their support for their choice; i.e. if you don't go to their program you'll never make it as a pilot).

I am coming up on two years as a CFI, but I really have very little dual given, due to the fact that I chose to go to A&P school after getting my CFI. That is part of my interest in ATP, I need to renew my ticket, which I'd like to do by getting at least my II if not my MEI too. ATP's prices are extremely attractive, almost to the point of looking too good to be true. More important to me than the financial 'bottom line' is doing my training with a school that I would have a reasonable shot at instructing for.

My follow on question if you (or anyone for that matter) are so inclined:

How are the instructor assignments doled out after the initial time in JAX? (I'd want to stay in JAX as that's where I'm moving)

By the way, I noticed at the end of your post [ QUOTE ]
my heart is still in Maine

[/ QUOTE ] Where in Maine? I used to live in New Hampshire for a few years.

'canfly
 
[ QUOTE ]
How are the instructor assignments doled out after the initial time in JAX? (I'd want to stay in JAX as that's where I'm moving)


[/ QUOTE ]

Assignments are offered based on senority... If you only are willing to go to JAX you may wait a while... if are willing to take whatever pops up you will transition a lot faster.


Whatever you are going to do I would not put a WHOLE lot of faith in getting hired. I am not, by any means, saying this to discourage you . But the hiring process is one that you are basically in an interview from day one of training. And seeing that you have such a short time of training it may be difficult to get a good account of who "you" are.

Like I said though that statement needs to be taken with a grain of salt I know of 2 instructors that did the same program you are looking at and are now working at ATP.

The best thing you can do is be very prepared with the oral work... your program is 13.5 hours of training in the plane and 4 days... you need to be prepared and set a good example of who you are!

Best of luck!!!
 
JJ-

Thanks for your post. As far as your statement:[ QUOTE ]
Whatever you are going to do I would not put a WHOLE lot of faith in getting hired. I am not, by any means, saying this to discourage you .

[/ QUOTE ]
Don't worry, I'm not discouraged, & I am not holding out a whole lot of hope on being hired by ATP. I've basically learned from these messages what I had wanted to know. Before I posted, I basically knew very little about ATP, now I know a little more. It sounds like a good operation, I'll take what I've learned here as background info for when (& if) I talk with their marketing. I'm keeping my options open at this point, & ATP remains one of them. Thank you to all!

'canfly
 
[ QUOTE ]
Where in Maine? I used to live in New Hampshire for a few years.

[/ QUOTE ]
'canfly, I lived in Cape Elizabeth, Maine... Just south of Portland.
smile.gif


Bob
 
Capt'

Sure, I know Cape Elizabeth! My wife & I spent a portion of our honeymoon there. Beautiful place...

'canfly
 
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