Well, I just got done with the 35 hour ASAP program. Overall I was very pleased with my experience. I’ll try and recap on the 7 day program.
The ASAP program is designed for low time multi engine pilots to meet minimum insurance time requirements. I’ll need a few more ASAPs to meet insurance reqs but it was a good start anyway. The first 10 hours are spent with an instructor going over the multi-comm maneuvers and instrument approaches. They want to be sure you are performing at the multi-comm level before turning you lose in one of their planes. The next 25 hours are spent with another student (career pilot or another ASAP student) flying cross countries. You call a dispatcher before each flight and they tell you where to go. Once you’ve checked the weather, planned the flight, and preflighted the airplane you call dispatch again and they release you for flight. Upon reaching your destination you make another call to dispatch and are given your next leg and so forth…
Day 1: The first day I spent 5 hours in the sim getting used to CRM procedures. I flew half left seat and half from the right. This was fairly easy and demonstrated the reduced workload of having two pilots versus one especially while in IMC shooting an approach. After the sim session it was time to fly!! Since I had already received my multi-comm from ATP the previous week with the same instructor we didn’t need to spend a lot of time on maneuvers. We went up, I performed all the same maneuvers performed on my checkride the previous week, and then we shot multiple instrument approaches to get me up to speed on ATP’s airline call outs (Gear down, stabilized, 100 to go, minimums, etc…). Overall it was a great day and I felt like my instrument skills were getting a good workout.
Day 2: We only flew for about 2.5 hours the previous day and I needed 10 with my instructor. Since my maneuvers and everything else were pretty good my instructor and I flew a cross country. We flew from Manassas down to Wilmington, NC and back.
Day 3: Since I only required one more hour and it was New Year’s Eve this was a short day. My instructor and I flew another guy going for his MEI to his checkride to a neighboring airport. By the time we got back I had my 10 hours with an instructor and was ready to be released for my 25 hour cross countries!!
Day 4: We had New Year’s Day off so I reported back 8 am Friday morning. I called dispatch and found out my partner and I were going to Wilmington, NC again. Once we got to NC we found out we were going to Jacksonville, FL!! Once we got to FL we were sure we would be spending the night there but much to our surprise we were next told to go to Atlanta, GA!! We got to GA around 10 pm. ATP had already arranged for a hotel once we got there. Our hotel was very nice and I was surprised ATP arranged for such nice accommodations.
Day 5: We arrived back at the airport and found out we were going to Raleigh, NC. Once we got to NC we were dispatched to Trenton, NJ. After arriving in NJ we were finally told to report back to Manassas. We were both glad to have finished our round-robin tour of the east coast!!
Day 6: I received a new partner for this trip and was told to fly to Lexington, NC. Upon reaching NC we were assigned back to Atlanta, GA. At this point I had as much Seminole time as I could handle and was burned out. We were relieved to find out we were going back to Manassas that night. Even better news was receiving direct Manassas out of Atlanta and a 185 knt ground speed home!!!
I completed the 35 hours in 6 days instead of the advertised 7 days. I have absolutely no complaints from my experience and would recommend the program to anyone. I now have about 45 hours of multi time. After completing my CFII/MEI with ATP next week I will have about 55 hours MT. I know I need another 100 or so. I’m not sure if I’ll buy more ASAP’s or check out Ari-Ben’s time building program for half the price. I hope this is good gouge for anyone considering the ASAP program. I’ve spent some time with both career pilots and instructors for ATP so I feel qualified to answer any questions you may have for ATP in general.
The ASAP program is designed for low time multi engine pilots to meet minimum insurance time requirements. I’ll need a few more ASAPs to meet insurance reqs but it was a good start anyway. The first 10 hours are spent with an instructor going over the multi-comm maneuvers and instrument approaches. They want to be sure you are performing at the multi-comm level before turning you lose in one of their planes. The next 25 hours are spent with another student (career pilot or another ASAP student) flying cross countries. You call a dispatcher before each flight and they tell you where to go. Once you’ve checked the weather, planned the flight, and preflighted the airplane you call dispatch again and they release you for flight. Upon reaching your destination you make another call to dispatch and are given your next leg and so forth…
Day 1: The first day I spent 5 hours in the sim getting used to CRM procedures. I flew half left seat and half from the right. This was fairly easy and demonstrated the reduced workload of having two pilots versus one especially while in IMC shooting an approach. After the sim session it was time to fly!! Since I had already received my multi-comm from ATP the previous week with the same instructor we didn’t need to spend a lot of time on maneuvers. We went up, I performed all the same maneuvers performed on my checkride the previous week, and then we shot multiple instrument approaches to get me up to speed on ATP’s airline call outs (Gear down, stabilized, 100 to go, minimums, etc…). Overall it was a great day and I felt like my instrument skills were getting a good workout.
Day 2: We only flew for about 2.5 hours the previous day and I needed 10 with my instructor. Since my maneuvers and everything else were pretty good my instructor and I flew a cross country. We flew from Manassas down to Wilmington, NC and back.
Day 3: Since I only required one more hour and it was New Year’s Eve this was a short day. My instructor and I flew another guy going for his MEI to his checkride to a neighboring airport. By the time we got back I had my 10 hours with an instructor and was ready to be released for my 25 hour cross countries!!
Day 4: We had New Year’s Day off so I reported back 8 am Friday morning. I called dispatch and found out my partner and I were going to Wilmington, NC again. Once we got to NC we found out we were going to Jacksonville, FL!! Once we got to FL we were sure we would be spending the night there but much to our surprise we were next told to go to Atlanta, GA!! We got to GA around 10 pm. ATP had already arranged for a hotel once we got there. Our hotel was very nice and I was surprised ATP arranged for such nice accommodations.
Day 5: We arrived back at the airport and found out we were going to Raleigh, NC. Once we got to NC we were dispatched to Trenton, NJ. After arriving in NJ we were finally told to report back to Manassas. We were both glad to have finished our round-robin tour of the east coast!!
Day 6: I received a new partner for this trip and was told to fly to Lexington, NC. Upon reaching NC we were assigned back to Atlanta, GA. At this point I had as much Seminole time as I could handle and was burned out. We were relieved to find out we were going back to Manassas that night. Even better news was receiving direct Manassas out of Atlanta and a 185 knt ground speed home!!!
I completed the 35 hours in 6 days instead of the advertised 7 days. I have absolutely no complaints from my experience and would recommend the program to anyone. I now have about 45 hours of multi time. After completing my CFII/MEI with ATP next week I will have about 55 hours MT. I know I need another 100 or so. I’m not sure if I’ll buy more ASAP’s or check out Ari-Ben’s time building program for half the price. I hope this is good gouge for anyone considering the ASAP program. I’ve spent some time with both career pilots and instructors for ATP so I feel qualified to answer any questions you may have for ATP in general.