Well guys this really sucks and my mind is still spinning so not sure if this will all make sense. I am a week and one day into my private training at ATP I passed my written exam with a 88 last week, and was so happy to have that over with and was looking forward to actually get to fly... Today I got the most devastating news I have gotten in a long time. I am 320 lbs (I know that is out of shape I am 6'-3" tall and working on getting the weight down) we did a weight and balance on the plane before takeoff the other day and found out that with full fuel on the Cessna 172 R model I am about 90 lbs over weight on my total takeoff weight with a 195lbs instructor and full 53 gal of fuel... So we thought no big deal, we will just have someone else go up before me and burn off enough fuel to get us down to about 38 - 40 gal... Today I found out that it is ATP's policy not to let anyone takeoff without full fuel, unless it is with a two year CFI for the purpose of spin training, or specially approved flights that happen 2 or 3 times a year... So therefor the facility manager had to tell me that I was not going to be able to continue with my program at ATP. After one week of hard studying I get the crushing news that I will not get to fly. The facility manager was very sympathetic to my situation and even went as far as call around to some other schools for me to see if the had a Cessna 182 that I could possibly train in. Jim has made a decision that ATP was not going to charge me for ground school and other things just $750 for material (that I can get on line for $250 but whatever at this point I am just happy that they are giving me my money back).
What really makes me mad though is that when I first called the 1 800 ALL ATPS number I asked them about my weight and if that was going to be a problem, the answer I got was "No, we've had guys as big as 400 lbs go through this, no sweat!" I wish I remembered who that was, so that if nothing else I could give them a piece of my mind. Also no where on their site does it mention anything about weight limitations... I have two kids and a wife back home, I left a very good paying job for this, and now I don't know what. I know I can't get my old job back, I also know that I can not afford to take 1 to 2 years to get my ratings else where... Also another concern is that SLM gave me $78.9 K to go to school at ATP, I don't think I can use that money for a different school, but that is something I will ask them tomorrow.
At this point I am just so depressed and disoriented I do not know up from down. ATP was a great school while it lasted (definetly not for the feighnt of heart) and my two instructors Jermaine and Brian were awsome! But unfortunately it has ended faster then it began.
What really makes me mad though is that when I first called the 1 800 ALL ATPS number I asked them about my weight and if that was going to be a problem, the answer I got was "No, we've had guys as big as 400 lbs go through this, no sweat!" I wish I remembered who that was, so that if nothing else I could give them a piece of my mind. Also no where on their site does it mention anything about weight limitations... I have two kids and a wife back home, I left a very good paying job for this, and now I don't know what. I know I can't get my old job back, I also know that I can not afford to take 1 to 2 years to get my ratings else where... Also another concern is that SLM gave me $78.9 K to go to school at ATP, I don't think I can use that money for a different school, but that is something I will ask them tomorrow.
At this point I am just so depressed and disoriented I do not know up from down. ATP was a great school while it lasted (definetly not for the feighnt of heart) and my two instructors Jermaine and Brian were awsome! But unfortunately it has ended faster then it began.