Skymates VS ATP CFI program

AV8TOR

AV8TOR

New Member
Currently I'm at ATP finishing up my CPL, I go for my checkride Thursday (weather permitting) but I'm having serious doubts about finishing up the CFI portion thru ATP.

ATP is a great school, and the instructors that I have came across are very knowledgeable. The thing that I don't like is that it's a lot of reading and studying on your own and you have to take all the tests before you even get to start your cross countries, and the CFI packet...forgetaboutit...(i'm doing the 10 month program along with finishing up my MBA full time)

Granted I don't want to be spoon fed this info, I really didn't know that ATP was 'on your own' training. It was a big wake up for me, coming from a Part 141 school. I can read something 5 times in a row, but I still need it explained to me. I'm not dumb because I'm attending University of Dallas working on my MBA. But I honestly don't think I'm ready for CFI school, I feel that I'm being rushed to just pass the checkride. Granted there is nothing wrong with that. But I also want to understand what I'm going to be teaching. I know you won't know it all as a brand new CFI, and it will come from experience, but when I was studying for the writtens for the AGI & COM....there were parts I had no idea what they were talking about. I'm concerned because from what I've heard from people that already went thru CFI course. I've heard stories now that the FAA gives the checkrides and out of 5 people that took their initial only 1 passed.

It may just be a fear that I'm having, but I honestly don't see myself as an instructor. I've posted in the past that I'm looking at the 'direct route' building my time up. But I having doubts AND don't want to be out all that $$$. It would be great to instruct because not only are you teaching but you are learning as well, and your getting a lot of good experience.

The questions that I have how long does the CFI course take thru Skymates? How is the training is it one on one or class of students? This spring break I'm going to head out to Arlington to take a look at the school and just see what they have to say.

I would like to see what people have to say about the CFI course thru Skymates, and does anyone know if it differs from ATP? Has anyone else that has gone thru the CFI course felt the same way????

thanks for your input,

~av8
 
I'm by no means an authority on either school, but my understanding is that ATP's CFI course has a LOT more classroom instruction than its pro course. Both schools' programs have been blogged fairly thoroughly here, and there are graduates of both who can answer your questions.

FWIW, I'm in the same boat, and still undecided. SkyMates' training is likely a bit more thorough, but the opportunity for subsequent employment is probably a bit better with ATP, even for someone who did only their CFI program.
 
Without a doubt, you really can't beat out ATP with their training all done in multi engines, and unlike FBO's, they bring the students to you, and what I think is really great they have really good bridge programs with AE, PSA, Xjet etc.

But from what I'm seeing is that ATP is good for students that are single. there are a few family guys n gals, that do the program. But I don't know how they can survive on $1000/month, I know it's just a stepping stone but I talked with my wife, and I don't see how we can budget me taking a big paycut. She works as well as a school teacher. And I'm all about sacrifice but I still got to help out bringing in the $$$, kids are great to have, but they don't run cheap, diapers formula, daycare....yikes!!!!

Does anyone know is Skymates working on any bridge programs withone?
 
Beware of bridge programs. As the tpoic has been thoroughly discussed in other threads, I won't beat that particular dead horse but to say this: they are much better marketing tools than they are career tools.
I did my CFI's at ATP and taught CFI's at Skymates. I'd go to Skymates.
 
The CFI program is gonna take longer than ATP. For all three ratings you looking at a month and a half. Thats a safe high estimate. Keep in mind we have to go through the FSDO, that is what takes the longest is the initial rating (CFII). The MEI and the CFI take about a week combined. As far as which one is better ATP or Skymates I cant answer that honestly for you. If you have any more questions on our program just give me a call. Ask for Ryan
 
Ditto what Ryan said. If you bust your butt, double up on some lessons, study with some of the other CFI students (which happens a LOT) and get lucky with the FSDO, then you can get it done fairly quickly. I think I got mine done in about 5 weeks, and JH was about the same amount. That being said, we more or less lived at the airport. Ryan's estimate is, as he said, a "safe high estimate."

It can be done either one-on-one (if you can find space in the instructor schedule, you guys are flying like MAD now!) or in a classroom setting. Just remember that the more studying you do on your own, the cheaper the cost is gonna be.

Just another note from the post-CFI side of things: the self-study doesn't stop there. I'd say 70-80% of the stuff I've had to learn in ground school at Pinnacle has been on my own or with my sim partner. They don't spoon feed it to you up here, and that fire hose is on high pressure. You'll get a good overview of the systems and time to asks questions on stuff you're not sure of. But, if you don't read the chapter the night before, you'll probably be a step or two behind. Memory items and limitations are ALL self study. Same goes for the profiles and call-outs. They expect you to have those down cold by the time you get to the CPTs (cockpit procedures trainer), and the best way to do that is after hours at the training center with your sim partner.
 
I don't mind getting an overview of learning something, that way I can have some idea of what's going on, then read up on my own, no problem.

As far as the timeframe to complete the CFI course no problem with me at all. That way I can take 6 weeks to actually learn the stuff and understand it completely.

For my commerical training, i honestly don't think I had an actual lesson, After I got my IR, they said pretty much you are on your own, knock out all the writtens, which I did, then I was off to my 75 hours of x-try. Now that I just finished up a couple days ago, there like Ok finish up your CFI Packet turn it in so we can schedule your check ride. Then dispatch can give me a school date. I'm like what? I've got to go back and review all the technical stuff as far as what the CPL can and can not do etc....

I guess it's just me I like the structure setting,
 
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