PPL before ATP

SkyHawg

SkyHawg

Well-Known Member
Today I decided to complete my PPL before I attend ATP. I was planning on going to ATP in Setember or October to get my private PL and the go through the career program. That's 2-3 months away. I went out to a couple local FBO's and got to talking and discovered I could save anywhere from $2000-$2500 dollars and shave 2-3 months off the completion time at ATP.

So today I went up for my first official lesson. I go on vacation July 7-16 and hope to be soloing before I go!

Also I checked the local FBO program to get their commerical, instrument, and CFI ratings. They do as little flying as they can in multi-engine planes. At ATP most all the commericial ratings are in multi-engines. At this FBO rates for multi-engines $230(forgot the plane) an hour for 190 hours is over $40k and that doesn't include instruction.

BTW that's not where I am taking my PPL. They don't have enough demand for Multi-engine.

UPS here I come!
 
You want to go to UPS but you want to fly as little as you can in multi-engine airplanes? And ATP has a fixed rate on its PPL program, the regular flight schools dont. The prices they quoted you are averages, you'll end up spending as much or more on your PPL at ATP then you will anywhere else.
 
Yeah, you will not get a better deal on the private pilot license than you will at ATP.

If I were you I would do the Private at ATP but before I got there I would go to your local FBO and learn to fly a older model 172 (M,N, or P model) to the point where I soloed already and felt comfortable flying the plane by myself. That will make sure that you know this flying thing is for you too before you drop huge amounts on it at ATP. Also make sure you get the written done before you get there or you will have a hectic first week at ATP. If you do what I mentioned above you will breeze through your private program down in JAX and be ready for whatever they throw at you.

Good luck with whatever you do! I have been there too at one point, have fun!
 
I went up here to UND to get my ppl as well as take some classes, I know made a big change and am doing ATP's program this fall, but yeah you can save more money by doing ATP's program. I myself will need to build time with them around 15-20 xc hours.
 
Well the only reason I am doing it is because I will be 2-3 months ahead of the game, and the Wet rates for Cessna 150, Cessna 172, and Tomahawk are $60 an hour. This is a small town airport where my dad got his PPL and it has no landing fees.
 
$60 an hour wet is a pretty good rate - just remember you need 85 hours total time minimum, and of that at least 25 must be PIC cross country time to enter the Career pilot program. The price of ATP's private program includes getting your PPL and flight time to get you to 85 hours with the 25 hours PIC cross country.
 
Yep those 85 hours is reason getting my PPL won't be half as much as ATP. Those extra 25 hours.

I am going to use the extra money buy me the computer I wanted and a bose X aviator.

I had the hugest headache yesterday with the headphones I used.

Also I decided I am going to Stuart instead of Jacksonville. I will get to go to Jacksonville if I get hired as a CFI.
 
Actually they will tell you where you will be instructing. You get to pick where you want but you may not get it...You may want to do a lil more research on all of this.
 
SkyHawg said:
Yep those 85 hours is reason getting my PPL won't be half as much as ATP. Those extra 25 hours.

I am going to use the extra money buy me the computer I wanted and a bose X aviator.

I had the hugest headache yesterday with the headphones I used.

Also I decided I am going to Stuart instead of Jacksonville. I will get to go to Jacksonville if I get hired as a CFI.
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Dude, either way you need those extra 25 hrs whether you train at ATP for your private or not. Its a requirement for the ACPP.

I would highly suggest you get your Private at ATP if you intend on doing the ACPP. Not only will it be cheaper (trust me, local FBO's love to quote low rates and end up extending your lessons so that you pay more - been there done that), but also you will be familiar with ATP and our procedures. It will make you better prepared for the ACPP because even your private training is very regimented and strict on procedures. Not to mention ATP's maintenance on the aircraft is great. All of the airplanes are standardized as well as instructor training. After you obtain your PPL, you will cross country with an instructor on IFR flight plans and learn the IFR environment before you even start the ACPP. On my PPL cross countries I flew from Jax to Dallas, Houston, VA, NC, ATL and Ft. Lauderdale. Its a great learning experience and its cheap flight time.

I'd think about ;)
 
Airdale said:
Dude, either way you need those extra 25 hrs whether you train at ATP for your private or not. Its a requirement for the ACPP.

I would highly suggest you get your Private at ATP if you intend on doing the ACPP. Not only will it be cheaper (trust me, local FBO's love to quote low rates and end up extending your lessons so that you pay more - been there done that), but also you will be familiar with ATP and our procedures. It will make you better prepared for the ACPP because even your private training is very regimented and strict on procedures. Not to mention ATP's maintenance on the aircraft is great. All of the airplanes are standardized as well as instructor training. After you obtain your PPL, you will cross country with an instructor on IFR flight plans and learn the IFR environment before you even start the ACPP. On my PPL cross countries I flew from Jax to Dallas, Houston, VA, NC, ATL and Ft. Lauderdale. Its a great learning experience and its cheap flight time.

I'd think about ;)
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Thanks for the info. I was unaware of how much flying you did in the PP program at ATP in terms of XC flying. You've given me something to think about. I may have to reconsider starting my training at a local FBO here in Naples, FL as oppose to just going through the PP & ACP Programs @ ATP.

Thanks again. Blue skies.


atpwannabe
 
My instructor did his CFI training at ATP. He has been instructing me on how ATP does things. One thing he does stress is that ATP is much more rigid that local FBO's are. If I thought for a second I would be left holding the check I wouldn't work with these guys but I really like them. The only reason I am doing my PPL training now is I can get it done before I leave for Florida, otherwise I would have done it all at ATP. I wish I could leave today but I can't.

Today I finished my second day up and it was in a 172. I did some stalls, 60 degree turns, some free falls (I love these!), sudden upward movement to simulate G's (still learning my terminology), steady turns, elevating while turning, descending while turning and several landings. I am up to 2.5 hours.

Might solo by next week! Did I mention I only have to be taught once? Well we'll see if that holds up.
 
Airdale said:
Dude, either way you need those extra 25 hrs whether you train at ATP for your private or not. Its a requirement for the ACPP...

...After you obtain your PPL, you will cross country with an instructor on IFR flight plans and learn the IFR environment before you even start the ACPP. On my PPL cross countries I flew from Jax to Dallas, Houston, VA, NC, ATL and Ft. Lauderdale. Its a great learning experience and its cheap flight time.

I'd think about ;)
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Airdale:

Just to make clear, after completing my PPL @ ATP...I will XC w/an instructor doing IFR flight planning in a ASEL (with stops at some of the destinations listed above) before I start the ACP Program which is mostly, if not all multi-engine? Right?:confused:

Is this done to get me to the required 85 hours or is this something else?

atp
 
How many XC flight hours could one anticipate on accruing during their entire training @ ATP? I'm talking PPL to CFII. Would it be enough to meet the minimums of some 135 ops?

atp
 
It varies, check the site they give you an estimate...And no, when you graduate you wont have enough hours for any kind of employment besides being a CFI
 
atpwannabe said:
How many XC flight hours could one anticipate on accruing during their entire training @ ATP? I'm talking PPL to CFII. Would it be enough to meet the minimums of some 135 ops?

atp
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I'm not sure total time, but it will be upwards of 130, possibly even 150 hrs.

The X/C time you get in the PPL program is to meet the 85hr TT requirement and the 25hr x/c PIC requirement. During my PPL training, I flew 35 x/c PIC hours. You are given 85hrs total in the PPL program though, so how quickly you get your license determines how much PIC x/c you'll get. As far as 135 mins, I highly doubt you'll get anywhere close to those. ;)
 
Day 3: Went up and did some slow flight. Also slow flight while turning and keeping steady speed. Practice using rudder to keep the plane steady. Practiced a few different stalls. Still learning terminology.

Being that I work nights, today I was a little loopy. I was a little discouraged that I was not able to focus as well I should and I could of.

3.6 Hours TT.
 
Day 4: Today we went up in the 172. Taxi'd and took off all my myself (instructor in the right seat). Went through emergency procedure flying down to a farm field less than 10 feet off the ground without landing. Ran through several types of stalls. Worked on some slow flight. Then did 3 touch and goes landing the last one by myself.

5 hours TT.
 
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