Is ATP worth it???

Pilotwannabe1123

Pilotwannabe1123

New Member
Hi all,

I am wondering if ATP flight training a good flight school! What are some pros and cons between going to a local FBO. I think that ATP might be better because you have a much bigger support system. What are your thoughts. Are all pilot mills, bad? Is 50,000 flat a good rate, including housing as well as getting all your ratings in 6 -9 months and working as an instructor for them when you complete your training.

What are your thoughts of ATP. Do pilots respect ATP pilots or pilots who go through an FBO?

Thanks
 
Just think critically.

There are NO jobs for 300 hour pilots anymore unless you know someone or are related to them. So, what is the rush? Why not take your time to earn your ratings so you can pay as you go and come out with zero debt?

Two types of pilots come out of academies:
1. Those who bought their ratings and shouldn't solo a lawn-mower.
2. Damn good pilots who overcame the pitfalls of cookie-cutter pilot factories and are fine aviators.

Sadly, #1 is the norm.
 
esa17 said:
Just think critically.

There are NO jobs for 300 hour pilots anymore unless you know someone or are related to them. So, what is the rush? Why not take your time to earn your ratings so you can pay as you go and come out with zero debt?

Two types of pilots come out of academies:
1. Those who bought their ratings and shouldn't solo a lawn-mower.
2. Damn good pilots who overcame the pitfalls of cookie-cutter pilot factories and are fine aviators.

Sadly, #1 is the norm.
Click to expand...

but but It's all about twin time. :sarcasm:


Do pilots respect ATP pilots or pilots who go through an FBO?
Click to expand...
If you make it out of either, nobody will be able to tell the difference unless you tell them.

I too think I will stick out of this.

ATP'ers will be along shortly.
 
Pilotwannabe1123 said:
Do pilots respect ATP pilots or pilots who go through an FBO?
Click to expand...
People only care on the internet. I flew with captains from universities, FBOs, and ATP, all chatting freely about it. No one (except on the internet) cares where you did you're training as long as you're a decent pilot.

-People will say (online) "90 day programs are too fast to learn, those pilots suck!"
-People will say (online) "those damn university programs are too standardized, those pilots suck!"
-People will say (online) "those damn FBOs need more standardization, those pilots suck!"

And out in the real world, you sit down, do your job, and watch each other's backs.
 
Clocks said:
No one (except on the internet) cares where you did you're training as long as you're a decent pilot.

-People will say (online) "90 day programs are too fast to learn, those pilots suck!"
-People will say (online) "those damn university programs are too standardized, those pilots suck!"
-People will say (online) "those damn FBOs need more standardization, those pilots suck!"

And out in the real world, you sit down, do your job, and watch each other's backs.
Click to expand...


Wow... That something to really think about.... You are totally right... Thats the lesson of the Month Guys! :)
 
ATP is as good as you make it. If you don't study you won't make it through the program and they don't have a problem asking you to leave. There are bad instructors with ATP just like there are bad instructors at FBOs. In my experience most of the instructors that I had contact with at ATP were very good and that was over a year ago.

What you need to do is figure out what works bests for your lifestyle. The you need to realize that after you get done there might not even be a cfi job out there let alone a airline job.
 
Pilotwannabe1123 said:
Hi all,

I am wondering if ATP flight training a good flight school! What are some pros and cons between going to a local FBO. I think that ATP might be better because you have a much bigger support system. What are your thoughts. Are all pilot mills, bad? Is 50,000 flat a good rate, including housing as well as getting all your ratings in 6 -9 months and working as an instructor for them when you complete your training.

What are your thoughts of ATP. Do pilots respect ATP pilots or pilots who go through an FBO?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Well, no one answered me in the other thread, so I'll ask you:

Just curious for those like you embarking on flight training now-a-days... what is your plan for when you have your certificates?
 
In the end nobody really cares where you did your training. Additionally nobody really cares how much you know. Just get through the training, and be nice. That's 99% of it right there.

Personally I question any school whose greatest virtue is how fast they can get you through their program.
 
Ian J said:
Well, no one answered me in the other thread, so I'll ask you:

Just curious for those like you embarking on flight training now-a-days... what is your plan for when you have your certificates?
Click to expand...

I'll chime in. I am currently working a decent job as an engineer in the telecomm world, making a decent wage. I am 35. I am embarking on flight training because I feel I need to do something fulfilling. I realize it may be 3-4 years before there are jobs...that is why I am taking it slow, and trying to enjoy the ride...I also realize that if/when there are jobs, I will have to take a HUGE paycut...but I don't care. I am in a situation wher I can be picky. When I get my ratings, I can wait until the perfect job comes along while I stay in my current career and fly for fun. And if the perfect job never comes...oh well...I'll just continue to enjoy the ride.

But that's just me.
 
Ian J said:
Well, no one answered me in the other thread, so I'll ask you:

Just curious for those like you embarking on flight training now-a-days... what is your plan for when you have your certificates?
Click to expand...

I had a plan when I started, unfortunately that folded somewhere around 2007. I didn't graduate til summer 08.

*cue Price-Is-Right FAIL sound*

WAH WAH WAHHHHHH.
 
futurepilot1 said:
I'll chime in. I am currently working a decent job as an engineer in the telecomm world, making a decent wage. I am 35. I am embarking on flight training because I feel I need to do something fulfilling. I realize it may be 3-4 years before there are jobs...that is why I am taking it slow, and trying to enjoy the ride...I also realize that if/when there are jobs, I will have to take a HUGE paycut...but I don't care. I am in a situation wher I can be picky. When I get my ratings, I can wait until the perfect job comes along while I stay in my current career and fly for fun. And if the perfect job never comes...oh well...I'll just continue to enjoy the ride.

But that's just me.
Click to expand...

Cool... I did something similar.
 
Pilotwannabe1123 said:
What are your thoughts of ATP. Do pilots respect ATP pilots or pilots who go through an FBO?

Thanks
Click to expand...

You've got it all wrong. About 1 out 5 pilots out there has trained or done something with ATP there's thousands and thousands of ATP pilots flying out there. All the ATP flak is made by FBO pilots not by pro pilots.

ATP only makes sense if you want to pursue a career as a pilot, they've got the resources to get you through. Their philosophy is different than a pt61 mom and pop flight school. You can always take the FBO route but it will be longer and quite possibly as expensive because of the multi that's required for future employment. Obviously if you only do single engine training it will be cheaper than ATP. But right now.. the only upside to ATP is that they only hire their career graduates for CFIs which is almost all multi time.
 
Ian J said:
Well, no one answered me in the other thread, so I'll ask you:

Just curious for those like you embarking on flight training now-a-days... what is your plan for when you have your certificates?
Click to expand...

When I finish my rating I will build time but in the mean while, when looking for an airline job I will teach Psychology. Being a teacher until an airline job opens is not really a bad choice. Its my way of giving back to the community.
 
Here's what I can say about ATP. There's a pretty darn good chance they will be in business when you get to the end of your training. That is worth something these days.

You are paying a premium for ATP training. However, you will get your ratings at ATP

You could pay a lot more at a scam flight school and not receive your ratings.
 
Ian J said:
Well, no one answered me in the other thread, so I'll ask you:

Just curious for those like you embarking on flight training now-a-days... what is your plan for when you have your certificates?
Click to expand...

I'm planning to work part- or full-time (probably a 9-5 office job-I've a BS in Economics), flying as often as I can afford to, keeping up the currency until I find a flying gig. Ideally would like to instruct to build up knowledge and experience as well as flight time. Hopefully end up flying for 121 or 135 in a # of years. Will see how it goes.
 
I'm at ATP right now. So far I've had a positive experience. But: I'm studying 7 days a week, 10-15 hours a day, no weekends.
In a month here I've learned more than I'd learned in 1.5 years at a local FBO. Very few distractions => studying as much as I can, since the pace here is fast.
Bottom line - it completely depends on you what you get out of this program. It works very well only if you are diligent and study hard.
​
 
Socal321 said:
You can always take the FBO route but it will be longer and quite possibly as expensive because of the multi that's required for future employment.
Click to expand...

Or...And I know this sounds crazy, but you can get a job and actually get paid to build your multi time! Who would have thought!
 
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