Current CFI's for ATP - Questions

FlyingPoke

FlyingPoke

I'm here to help...
Hey guys, CFI here considering going to ATP to finish up the CFII/MEI in the 5 day course. I am also considering applying with ATP as an instructor and have a few questions regarding the working conditions.

Guestions:
1. Are students given to you or do you have to sit around and grab them as they walk in?
2. Are you required to work the desk for minimal/no pay?
3. Are you required to be there when you arent scheduled to fly?
4. Is pay based by hours flying or is it set at 1200/mo and you get an incentive if you fly over a certain amount dual given?
5. Does doing the CFII/MEI with ATP help ensure me an interview for an instructor position with ATP?
6. How is the provided housing as far as living conditions, roomates?, whats the setup? (im looking at, hopefully, Dallas - if I were hired)
7. Do you pretty much get whatever base you ask for?
8. And, most importantly, how many hours are you logging a month? Is most of it multi?
9. Is there a contract to work there for a certain period of time?
10. Is the $1200 take-home pay or before taxes?

I'm sure I have lots more but cant think of it now, and I'm sure you guys have more info to provide outside of what I've asked. Any other pertinent info would be appreciated... thanks for the help!
 
Also, I read in another thread that addison is pretty slow and no housing is offered... is Arlington any busier and do they provide housing?
 
1. Are students given to you or do you have to sit around and grab them as they walk in?
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Your assigned your students. If your at a small location there all yours.
2. Are you required to work the desk for minimal/no pay?
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Pay is a flat fee. Same whether you work 6 hours or 16 hours a day.

3. Are you required to be there when you arent scheduled to fly?
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Depends, at small locations you're going to have to be there. At large; You'll train somebody almost everyday...weather permiting

4. Is pay based by hours flying or is it set at 1200/mo and you get an incentive if you fly over a certain amount dual given?
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1200 set plus some incentives. You get an hourly bonus for X/C time building, and bonuses for students passing checkrides on the first attempt, completed phases, etc. I know instructors who averaged $1700/month

5. Does doing the CFII/MEI with ATP help ensure me an interview for an instructor position with ATP?
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Yes, it is a phone interview. If you train with them they know you're familiar with their policies, call outs, etc. If you don't train with them they'll still call you. I know a few guys that instructed with having done any training with them.
6. How is the provided housing as far as living conditions, roomates?, whats the setup? (im looking at, hopefully, Dallas - if I were hired)
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Housing is with other instructors. Two per room usually. Dallas housing is on the airport (usually).

7. Do you pretty much get whatever base you ask for?
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Now days, yes.

8. And, most importantly, how many hours are you logging a month? Is most of it multi?
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Private pilot instructors are logging around 100+ hrs per month. Multi instructors vary by location. Anywhere from 50 to 80 per month. Private instructors is all single and multi instructors...well all multi.

But don't let that be your only motivation to work there! Its not YOUR flight time unless YOU'RE paying for it! There are too many "time-builders" in the whole industry now and not enough instructors! Everybody knows that most people instruct to get the hours up and move on. Just don't make it so obvious to your students.

9. Is there a contract to work there for a certain period of time?
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No, contract

10. Is the $1200 take-home pay or before taxes?
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You're a sub contractor...no taxes taken out but you get a 1099 at the end of the year.
 
FlyingPoke said:
Hey guys, CFI here considering going to ATP to finish up the CFII/MEI in the 5 day course. I am also considering applying with ATP as an instructor and have a few questions regarding the working conditions.

Guestions:
1. Are students given to you or do you have to sit around and grab them as they walk in?
2. Are you required to work the desk for minimal/no pay?
3. Are you required to be there when you arent scheduled to fly?
4. Is pay based by hours flying or is it set at 1200/mo and you get an incentive if you fly over a certain amount dual given?
5. Does doing the CFII/MEI with ATP help ensure me an interview for an instructor position with ATP?
6. How is the provided housing as far as living conditions, roomates?, whats the setup? (im looking at, hopefully, Dallas - if I were hired)
7. Do you pretty much get whatever base you ask for?
8. And, most importantly, how many hours are you logging a month? Is most of it multi?
9. Is there a contract to work there for a certain period of time?
10. Is the $1200 take-home pay or before taxes?

I'm sure I have lots more but cant think of it now, and I'm sure you guys have more info to provide outside of what I've asked. Any other pertinent info would be appreciated... thanks for the help!
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Let's see if I can help;

1. Students are assigned to locations by scheduling and within the locations by a Training Center Manager, if that location has one.
2. (& 4.) Not sure just what you're asking here, but you are paid a monthly salary plus performance bonuses based on several factors. Not hourly, no real 'desk work' to speak of.
3. Well, kinda depends. In most cases, I'd say no. BUT, there's ground school, FTD time, and even if you aren't 'scheduled' to fly, you'd be foolish not to be there looking to help. I'm sure one of your objectives is to build time, and the more often you're there, the more flight time you're going to get.
4. (See above, # 2)
5. Doesn't hurt :-)
6. Housing is typically 2 bedroom, 4 person apartments. I never used the housing, perhaps someone else can offer greater detail.
7. In most cases. You can wait if there are no openings at your desired location, but you're giving up flight time.
8. Again, depends; on location and motivation. I'd say that at most locations, if you roll up your sleeves and jump in, you'll have no problem logging 60 -80, often more, hours per month. Most of it is multi.
9. Nope.
10. As an independent contractor, you take home every penny you earn You will be responsible for any income and Social Security taxes come tax time.

Good luck!
 
Thanks a lot for the info guys, makes things a lot more clear.

I'd still like more info on housing though if anyone has experienced it, I'm not from any of the areas so I'd likely be looking for the cheapest rent (the housing provided) and roomates are ok since I wouldnt know anybody and would be looking to make friends anyway.

Regarding #2... I ask because at my current position I sit at a desk waiting for the phone to ring all day and MIGHT log 1 hour a day, I'd sy most days I dont log anything and sit up there for 4-6 hours - zero pay. Then I get the occasional "normal" CFI day and log 4-6 hours...

And I know not to make it obvious that I'm there just to build time and move on, people spend way too much money on this stuff for me to sit there like a bump on a log, and I do actually enjoy instructing... I just couldnt do it forever :D

Thanks Again!

PS MxFlyer... just to be clear, so some guys just teach single and some just just teach multi? What decides who does what? Since CFIIME was required I figured everybody did a little of everything...?
 
PS MxFlyer... just to be clear, so some guys just teach single and some just just teach multi? What decides who does what? Since CFIIME was required I figured everybody did a little of everything...?
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Good question.
 
ATP requires you to have the CFII/MEI regardless of what you're teaching. Standardization is done in the seminole. Private instructors need to have an MEI because they could be called upon to do multi work. For example, a 302 ride (XC with a career student before they are released for the XC phase)
 
When it comes to single/multi its a very strange situation. Richmond for example has private instructors and then ACPP instructors. They dont switch back and forth. When you go to standardization they ask if you want to be a private only CFI.

But places like Phoenix its based on seniority. When you show up brand new, you teach private pilots, then when someone else new comes in, you move up to multi.

BUT, if you go to a place that doesnt even have a private pilot program, then the only time you step into a Cessna is if your ACPP student comes to ATP needing some time building, or if the person is working on their single engine comm/cfi.

-Rob
 
v1valarob said:
When it comes to single/multi its a very strange situation. Richmond for example has private instructors and then ACPP instructors. They dont switch back and forth. When you go to standardization they ask if you want to be a private only CFI.

But places like Phoenix its based on seniority. When you show up brand new, you teach private pilots, then when someone else new comes in, you move up to multi.

BUT, if you go to a place that doesnt even have a private pilot program, then the only time you step into a Cessna is if your ACPP student comes to ATP needing some time building, or if the person is working on their single engine comm/cfi.

-Rob
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Sounds very strange indeed... I guess I should just call them and see what the situation at Arlington would be/if there is even a spot available.

Hopefully I wouldnt get stuck exclusively in a single, not to sound like I think I deserve it or am entitled to the time, but the only reason I'm considering going there is for the substantial multi time available.

Thanks again for the info guys... and I'm still lookin for more info on provided housing through ATP if anyone has experienced it!
 
FlyingPoke said:
PS MxFlyer... just to be clear, so some guys just teach single and some just just teach multi? What decides who does what? Since CFIIME was required I figured everybody did a little of everything...?
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v1valarob said:
When it comes to single/multi its a very strange situation. Richmond for example has private instructors and then ACPP instructors. They dont switch back and forth. When you go to standardization they ask if you want to be a private only CFI.

But places like Phoenix its based on seniority. When you show up brand new, you teach private pilots, then when someone else new comes in, you move up to multi.

BUT, if you go to a place that doesnt even have a private pilot program, then the only time you step into a Cessna is if your ACPP student comes to ATP needing some time building, or if the person is working on their single engine comm/cfi.

-Rob
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Rob's pretty much right. It is usually based on senoirity. Meaning the junior pilots usually teach privates. The reason they don't switch back and forth is for safety. They don't want a private instructor gearing up an airplane, which makes sense. Not to many people jump between the two.

One common thing between all locations with a private program is a training center manager. The TCM has different ways of how private instructors are assigned. It's usually by seniority but they sometimes will try to get effective instructors invovled in that program.

If in standardization they need private instructors at that location then they will assign it there. Again it's based on senoirity and if you are assigned to the private program and don't want to be there...it's not forever. Personally, I had way more fun teaching privates and Multi students.
 
Thanks for clearing that up even further MxFlyer.... makes sense the guy with the most seniority at the place gets to fly the multi, same thing was done at my origional flight school.

However, if a ACPP guy decides he wants to work where I happened to be working, and I was getting ready to hop into the multi... I wonder if his "ACPP status" would trump me and I would still be stuck in the single... you may not have an answer, but just something I was wondering and will ask them on the phone when I call ATP.
 
FlyingPoke said:
However, if a ACPP guy decides he wants to work where I happened to be working, and I was getting ready to hop into the multi... I wonder if his "ACPP status" would trump me and I would still be stuck in the single... you may not have an answer, but just something I was wondering and will ask them on the phone when I call ATP.
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No, once your an instructor your an instructor. Doesn't matter how you got there. You go through the same standardization. They don't get lay the "red carpet" out because you trained with them. Don't look at it as being STUCK in a single. That's a time to really instruct a lot. Also, other flight schools only have, maybe, one multi and the rest single. That's why they get STUCK in a single. ATP has somewhere around 80 Seminoles and 30 Cessnas. That ratio holds about the same at locations with the private program....the bottom line is that ATP has more multi-engine aircraft than single....don't worry about being stuck
 
FlyingPoke said:
10. Is the $1200 take-home pay or before taxes?
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Negotiation is key here brother! ATP is extremely hard up for qualified instructors right now. If you know how to work it, you should be able to wrangle free room and also about 2,000-2,500 in monthly base.
 
ftyflyboy said:
Negotiation is key here brother! ATP is extremely hard up for qualified instructors right now. If you know how to work it, you should be able to wrangle free room and also about 2,000-2,500 in monthly base.
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Never happen. There are no special deals. $2000.00 monthly for Career Pilot graduates, $1200.00 for all others, and it'll cost you $300.00 monthly for housing.
 
ftyflyboy said:
Negotiation is key here brother! ATP is extremely hard up for qualified instructors right now. If you know how to work it, you should be able to wrangle free room and also about 2,000-2,500 in monthly base.
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Bahahahahahahhuehahhahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahhaha sorry... bHAHAHAHAHAHHHAHAHHAAHHA

-Rob
 
CFII2008 said:
Any one working at the ATP SAC location? Is this an all "multi" location? How busy are you now?
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Last I heard, SAC is hard up for instructors. Had a few transfer there recently, but AFAIK its a lot of multi there right now. YMMV.
 
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