Re: I\'m a new hire MEI for ATP!!!
Hey Travis.
Thanks for the response. I hear what you're saying. The program at Ft. Pierce includes includes three months of housing. I'm married and have rented an apartment right down the road from Craig Field in Jacksonville so housing will cost me no matter where I go. I've been here in JAX for a couple weeks flying at the FBO next door to ATP to keep building hours and taking my writtens at ATP.
The concerns you raised are exactly why I went to visit the place for four hours yesterday. They have four A&Ps on staff and an inspector. I saw them personally. They have their own maintenance hanger. (I'm a former Marine Corps Avionics Tech. and have worked around planes for years, I'm not completely niave about maintenance issues). They do not guarantee ratings, but truthfully, no one can guarantee ratings, you have to pass the tests and no one (I hope) guarantees you'll pass tests. Even ATP will ask you to leave if they feel you're falling behind in the time you've been allowed, especially at the instrument level. Ft. Pierce is a 141 school and that says something because the FAA is pretty tough on those schools. I personally saw one C-172, several Pipers and four Dutchess on the flight line and two in the air while there. I saw three instructors, several students, classrooms, computer testing, and I also saw a large stack of invoices for flight time so the planes are flying. Unless this was all staged for my arrival, things looked Kosher.
I'm not in any way bashing ATP, I'm still signed up and have not yet made my decision. I'm a cautious consumer and I'm simply checking out everything I can find before making an expensive decision. I'm not considering Fort Pierce because of the money, but because you get 220 hours (80 dual instruction and part 141 instrument and CFI) and if I can't make my ratings in that time than I certainly wouldn't have made it at ATP either.
You mentioned a contract you signed with ATP. I have been here two weeks and paid $1100 so far and I have not seen any contracts. I would feel alot better if I did have a contract that spelled out everything in advance, including how much I get charged if I can't make it through the program. When did you sign yours? Does ATP guarantee that you will get your ratings in the time? I don't see how any flight school could promise that and frankly I wouldn't believe it if a school did. Individuals learn and progress at different rates. I honestly would feel much better!!!!
Again I wish you the best of luck! You are on your way and no doubt will do well. I am not looking to work for the Airlines myself. I own a 2001 172SP and I'm hoping to be able to open a small flight school in Asheville, North Carolina
when all is said and done. I've been self employed ever since I got out of the service 15 years ago and I don't ever plan to give up THAT freedom for anything!
I have a few more days to fiqure things out so I'm going to keep looking and researching as best I can, until then I'm still an ATP Career Pilot Student.
Thanks Travis!