OK..so here's my situation...I already hold a PPL and meet the minimums for the CPP (160 hrs. total)...The thing is I haven't flow since 1991...
I have been doing the office job thing since then...I have always wanted to get back to flying and do it for a living, but it never seemed like the right time...Finally, after much discussion with the wife, we both realized that if I don't take the leap soon, I will just be limiting my seniority and basically giving up a dream! So, on to my questions:
1. Given that I haven't flown recently, I will need to complete a flight review and get current before starting the program...can/should this be done through ATP? Or, would it be best to do it somewhere else and come in ready to go?
2. I have seen a few posts by people indicating that getting all of the writtens taken care of is a good idea before starting. What is the best way to approach this? Enroll, and do it with ATP study materials before starting to fly?... Buy the KING or SPORTY's courses?... Take a crash weekend course for each one?... How have those of you with experience dealing with this approached it?
3. I live in the North Atlanta suburbs. Therefore, it shouldn't be too tough to just commute in to the airport. BUT, given the firehose pace of training and flying, is that realistic? Do you need to be staying with other students in student housing to get through? Heck, do I need to do it at a different location for that purpose?
4. Are the facilities and aircraft in Atlanta comparable to other training locations?
5. What about getting ACTUAL IFR? Do you get significantly more by training in Riverside or some other location?
6. I am considering ALL of my options at this point. That includes visits to a number of other flight academies/FBOs (other local programs on Monday, Sierra Academy on Tuesday, and Flight Safety and Pan Am on Wednesday). I have a tour for Comair scheduled in about a month. Can anybody give me a comparison of ATP with any of these places?
Any light you could shed on these questions or anything else you think may be relevant to my situation would be greatly appreciated!
P.S. I just found JetCareers.com. So far, it's the best site I've found for straight talk on a number of flying subjects. Thanks Doug!
Scott

1. Given that I haven't flown recently, I will need to complete a flight review and get current before starting the program...can/should this be done through ATP? Or, would it be best to do it somewhere else and come in ready to go?
2. I have seen a few posts by people indicating that getting all of the writtens taken care of is a good idea before starting. What is the best way to approach this? Enroll, and do it with ATP study materials before starting to fly?... Buy the KING or SPORTY's courses?... Take a crash weekend course for each one?... How have those of you with experience dealing with this approached it?
3. I live in the North Atlanta suburbs. Therefore, it shouldn't be too tough to just commute in to the airport. BUT, given the firehose pace of training and flying, is that realistic? Do you need to be staying with other students in student housing to get through? Heck, do I need to do it at a different location for that purpose?
4. Are the facilities and aircraft in Atlanta comparable to other training locations?
5. What about getting ACTUAL IFR? Do you get significantly more by training in Riverside or some other location?
6. I am considering ALL of my options at this point. That includes visits to a number of other flight academies/FBOs (other local programs on Monday, Sierra Academy on Tuesday, and Flight Safety and Pan Am on Wednesday). I have a tour for Comair scheduled in about a month. Can anybody give me a comparison of ATP with any of these places?
Any light you could shed on these questions or anything else you think may be relevant to my situation would be greatly appreciated!
P.S. I just found JetCareers.com. So far, it's the best site I've found for straight talk on a number of flying subjects. Thanks Doug!
Scott