Made the decision!

Timbuff10

Timbuff10

Well-Known Member
Well after more than 3 years of reading/posting on jetcareers, talking to pilots, working in the industry, and even coming close to finishing my private, I finally decided on a flight school and put down my deposit this morning and will be starting in Jax on July 5 in the private pilot program. I checked out many other schools such as Pan Am, Comair, Mesa, Westwind, Sierra Academy and a few others including the local FBO route but in the end ATP is the only logical choice.

I used my airline bennies the last few weeks flying to Phoenix and Jacksonville checking out the school and even managed to stay the night in one of the apartments in Jax and felt like I belonged there. The apartments really impressed me and the quality of life seemed to be really good as pretty much everything you need is provided there and everything you dont need (stuff that will prevent you from studying) is not there.

As for the actual school, it seemed to have some really good facilities at Craig airport there and I was very impressed with the condition of all the planes I looked at (I was able to look around at alot more than what they show you on the tour). The instructors I talked to were great. I hope John from Texas is still teaching the private course when I get there! Seemed like a great guy and from what I heard he will make you give all you have in the air.

Right now I have 55 hours in my log book and need to get the cross country solos done basically. I figured the 85hrs of SE time with an instructor was a steal at $7000 with the apartment. Hopefully I should be able to finish the private fairly fast and then log a bunch of PIC time and be able to get used to things (the heat and humidity) and prepare myself for the 90-day program afterward.

Just thought I would share my experience for others in the same boat as I. If anyone else is starting the private pilot program on July 5 in Jax it would be great to hear from you!

Thanks alot everyone for sharing all your experiences!
 
Tim,

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One Step Closer!
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Congratulations on your decision! It sounds like you've put a lot of time, research, and thought into it. You are going to have a great time!

Bob
 
Woah, haven't seen that shot of me in a while!

Thanks Captain Bob, I am looking forward to it... It will be a great life change for sure, I just hope I can keep my head above water when I start the 90-day program, definetly will be a challange!
 
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Well after more than 3 years of reading/posting on jetcareers, talking to pilots, working in the industry, and even coming close to finishing my private, I finally decided on a flight school and put down my deposit this morning and will be starting in Jax on July 5 in the private pilot program. I checked out many other schools such as Pan Am, Comair, Mesa, Westwind, Sierra Academy and a few others including the local FBO route but in the end ATP is the only logical choice.

I used my airline bennies the last few weeks flying to Phoenix and Jacksonville checking out the school and even managed to stay the night in one of the apartments in Jax and felt like I belonged there.



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i too start the private pilot pgm in jax on 7/5. then the acpp end of aug.

after 6 months of visiting flight schools like comair, fsa, ERAU CAPT (what a horror!!) and racking my brain decided on ATP - I know the feeling...it just felt right. now im just waiting on those polos!

see you there!

-Bill
 
Hi Bill and Tim. I'm starting the Private Pilot Program in JAX on July 5th as well. Then I'm off to SAC for the ACPP in September. Looking forward to settling in and meeting everyone.
 
I also made the decision to attend ATP after much research and time. It seems like the popular place to attend is at the JAX airport. Being from California, I look forward to flying out to Florida on a cross-country. I will be attending ATP at RAL (Riverside) starting on July 19th. Anyone else currently at RAL or will be shortly? Love reading the posts, as they are very informational as well as helpful. Take care and congratulations on your decision.
 
Cool, I figured someone else from the July class would show themselves on here. Bill and Hazelrah? What are your backgrounds like? How did you find youself getting into this career track and so on? Career changer? Straight out of highschool/college?

I always find it interesting to hear about people's backgrounds and where they are coming from.

Look forward to meeting you guys down there... When I signed up yesterday I think I got the last spot in the July class which as we all know is the last class where you can lock in at the old price. Phew! I felt a bit lucky there.
 
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Cool, I figured someone else from the July class would show themselves on here. Bill and Hazelrah? What are your backgrounds like? How did you find youself getting into this career track and so on? Career changer? Straight out of highschool/college?

I always find it interesting to hear about people's backgrounds and where they are coming from.

Look forward to meeting you guys down there... When I signed up yesterday I think I got the last spot in the July class which as we all know is the last class where you can lock in at the old price. Phew! I felt a bit lucky there.

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I'm one of those career changers - been doing the computer thing one day too many. a few years out of college. Currently, but not for much longer, I am a sysadmin @ NYU... just handed in my resignation today and am looking forward to "starting over". its gonna suck leaving my g/f & sister here in NYC but they understand why.

this is something thats been in the back of my mind forever just never pulled the trigger. always thought only the military pilots got the gigs - thank god i was wrong. I've been taking lessons here in NY out of KISP but the weather sucks and waiting for the weekend thing just ain't enough time hence, ATP!

yeah i wanted to grab that price too so i signed up last week - still waiting on those polos!
 
Hello Tim.

I wouldn't call myself a career-changer because I never really had one. I thought about becoming a pilot directly after high school, but, of course, I was intimidated by the astronomical cost of it all. At that time, Metropolitan State College in Denver was offering a B.S. in aeronautical science. I suppose they still do. Instead I went to get a B.A. in Anthropology at Colorado State. You know, friends don't let friends go to CU
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. I thought about flight school again, but was once again intimidated by the costs. I spent a couple of years doing archaeology in Wyoming and New York and then decided to head up to Maine to study Quaternary geology. By some twist of fate, I ended up in Frankfurt, Germany studying the North Sea - I know, it's a long ways from the North Sea. After two years surrounded by academia, I've decided to chuck it all in and go right back to square one. I know it's going to be tough, but life's challenges are easier to face when your happy.
 
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but life's challenges are easier to face when your happy.

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Woops! My english was always poor, now it's even worse ........ you're happy.
 
Bill,

I am in the same boat with you, it will suck to leave the girlfriend behind for 5 months. Thank God for the T-mobile, mobile to mobile plan we have, that will serve as my leash I think.

You said you were flying on the weekends, how much time do you have so far in the air?
 
Stephen,

Wow, we have alot in common, well somewhat I guess. I always wanted to be a pilot since I can remember and then kinda gave up on that dream after I quit Air Force ROTC at CU, then I met my girlfriend whose father is a pilot and he started telling me about all the flight schools. Well the dream was alive again and after researching those a bit I decided that after I graduated with my degree in Physical Geography and Atmospheric Sciences I would go to Comair but then 9/11 happened and I figured I would go the FBO route and got a job with Frontier Airlines. I will hate to have to give up my job at Frontier but the people I have met and the skills I have gained there are invaluable I think.

My dad was in the military so I used to live around Frankfurt when I was little and the past few summers I have been working at a camp in Poland, Maine teaching Horseback riding, Marksmanship and Basketball.

Are you in the Denver area right now or still over in Germany?

I know the ATP experience will be tough but since it is what I have been wanting to do for the last 4 years or so I will have the desire to do it and have fun at the same time.

Tim
 
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Bill,

I am in the same boat with you, it will suck to leave the girlfriend behind for 5 months. Thank God for the T-mobile, mobile to mobile plan we have, that will serve as my leash I think.

You said you were flying on the weekends, how much time do you have so far in the air?

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TIm,

I hear you...it's verizon for me.

I have around 15 hours - usually fly out to the eastern end of LI in a C172, across the sound and the southern portion of CT. I usually do a 5 airport circuit and it takes about 2.5-3.0 hrs. But I need more!!! How bout you?
 
I've got around 55 hours in a 172 and a solid 2.0 in an A-319 simulator but don't know how to get ahold of the instructor to put it in my log book for me... oh well.

I am close to being done with my private, just have to do the cross countries and the checkride but it has been about six months since I went up. I was going to finish it here and then do the 90-day program but I figure total time will always be needed and you cant beat the deal ATP gives so I will just start over and learn it their way. Besides I have heard that in order to instruct a program there you have to have gone through it and I think I would really like to instruct PPLs at ATP. I guess I am afraid of trying to finish up my private here and ending up spending close to as much as I would doing the whole 85hrs down in Jax. Its easy to do that in Colorado!

Sounds like that time you have in NY will be very valuable as I am sure the airspace out there is pretty tricky.
 
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Sounds like that time you have in NY will be very valuable as I am sure the airspace out there is pretty tricky.

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flying within class c definitely helps develop your comm skills with app/dep control and handoffs, radar area - it is a great learning environment
 
That was really the last task in my private that I didnt get into very much. I did one cross country from Jeffco (north of DEN) to Colorado Springs (south of DEN) and the thing I remember most was that I didn't feel comfortable talking to all the different folks I wanted to chat with during the trip. I think I was a bit too concerned with dodging all the other traffic in the class B airspace I was flying in.
 
Hi Tim.
Sorry it took me so long to reply to your post.
Yes! I'm still in Germany. I'll be here up unitl I leave for JAX. Unfortunately, some things are still undecided here. We've just found out that my wife cannot come to the U.S. for at least two years; so, we're trying to decide if coming home is worthwhile. I wouldn't expect her to spend two years developing her career here and give it up to start over in America. Anyway, time will tell.
Hopefully, I'll see you in Jacksonville.
 
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