Why ATP?

Aviator737

Aviator737

New Member
It seems there've been a lotta guys signing onto ATP recently. I'm curious what made you choose ATP over the vast number of other flight schools? In particular, why did you choose ATP over the relatively similar Ari-Ben Aviator, which operates a similar operation, but for about $10,000 less?

I'm honestly curious, not bashing, because I am and have been seriously looking at ATP for a while now.
 
Just had this gut feeling with ATP. After touring DCA ($$$), FSI & ERAU CAPT (is crap), ATP just felt like the place to be. The XC portion sounds exciting operating in a 121 environment flying to their many locations throughout the country. I also thought the apts were really nice and the raise in price caused me to enroll sooner than later. so, i start in a few weeks.
 
I know I didn't sign up recently, but I did put a huge amount of research into it, much like you all did (or are doing)... but when I made the decision, it was based on 4 main factors:

1. Time of Program - The 90+/- days was a huge selling point to me. Eleven months from my start date I am pushing 700 hours with just shy of 500 multi and working for a great company. There are other flight school programs that I looked at that I would still be in training at this point.
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I'm mid-30's and felt that if I was going to do this, then I needed to do it quickly to get a head start on all the other mid-life career changers out there!
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2. The equipment - Training in highly maintained twins with the Garmin 430's from coast to coast was a great benefit.

3. The location - Close to home... lot's of locations to choose from, not just one or two. I have a wife and child so this was important to me.

4. The "potential" opportunity to Instruct. Another biggie. At the time I was researching places like Pan-Am, DCA, etc., I was hearing of very long instructor wait lists... that may have changed now. ATP made it very clear that there are no promises that you will even be considered for hiring... but with ATP having 22 locations, I felt pretty confident that if I buckled down during the program and worked hard that I could get hired by them to instruct in at least 1 of those locations.

Be sure and visit each place as well before you sign up for any flight school... It's well worth it. I've heard the guys at Ari-Ben are pretty cool and very accommadating so get out there and check them out as well as any one else you are looking into. You are about to make a huge decision that will most likely affect the rest of your life, and most likely your financial well-being. Make it an informed decision.
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Hope that helps, and good luck in your decsion!

Bob
 
Captain Bob, from your experience going through the program, how many of your ATP peers got hired on as an instructor after completing the program? Were there some guys who clearly wanted the job, but didn't get it?
 
I had actually never heard much about Ari-Ben until just reciently. I have been reading over the websites and reading some posts in the Ari-Ben forum and I think I have come to some conclutions on why ATP is more expensive but personally I think it's better.

Part of it is the cost of operating the company. As far as I can tell they are only located in Ft. Pierce, FL. ATP, on the other hand, has 22 locations across the country making them more accessable to the student. ATP employs more flight instructors, maintanance personel, etc.. to keep these planes airworthy and flying ALL the time.

Mostly it comes down to the aircraft it's self. Ari-Ben advertizes 9 Beechcraft Duchess' with all sorts off little toys in it. ATP has 70+ Aircraft which are both older and new. But each series is standardized with Garmin GPS 430 and dual VOR.

Anyway... I'm really happy with the decision I made, it was much less expensive than the school I started out at. It looks like a good school ( ofcourse it looks just like ATP) I would have to ask more people about thier experiences and do more research or even go to the school to find out what I think. I feel I have gotten exactly what I was told I was gonna get.
 
Captain Bob

This is why nobody bashes ATP, because it has employees that tell others to do this

[ QUOTE ]
Be sure and visit each place as well before you sign up for any flight school... It's well worth it. I've heard the guys at Ari-Ben are pretty cool and very accommadating so get out there and check them out as well as any one else you are looking into. You are about to make a huge decision that will most likely affect the rest of your life, and most likely your financial well-being. Make it an informed decision.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have yet to see an ATP grad to be unhappy with their training. The students aren't lied to and given false promises. And when you Captain Bob come to a site like this, you tell everyone to look at other schools and make sure it is right for you. You told this guy to check out Ari Ben Aviator too, what kind of person from the opposing school say that? I'll tell you, a very mature individual who knows that not one school can fit everyone's needs. This speaks very highly of ATP and its students.

Keep up the good attitude, it will take you wherever you want to be.
 
All of the reasons mentioned above are also why I am starting at ATP next month. I think one thing that really got me listening to ATP that was not mentioned was the fact that they do not have a bridge program. It seems like every other school has one and in my opinion they are a joke! I work for an airline right now and have made numerous contacts that have led me to believe this. I could be wrong but I seriously doubt it.

ATP's straightforwardness to sell you what you need and none of the extra stuff is what got me in the door and when I saw how the program worked and talked to other students who went through their programs the deal was sealed for me.

Cant wait to get it going!
 
Hey captianBOB

Thats amazing that you have already 700TT in only 11 months.

My problem with ATP is learning all that needs to be learned in only 3 months. If I were to go to ATP I would only have one month off to study as much as possible. I know that wouldn't be enough time to get all the writtens done but is there even time to study in the 90 day program?

From what I read in the forums it seems that If you finish the program under the 90 days you have a better chance of getting hired, any truth to that?
 
I was also looking into Ari-Ben, however, I submitted an application to them and they never got back to me. I faxed and emailed the app and the owner was too busy to get back to me.

I also had a buddy down there that wasn't very happy with the training atmosphere and the lack of professionalism of the staff. I guess this is a busy time of year for them now and they may have too many students to successfully handle the work load.

ATP has been very professional and extremely organized throughout my entire application and interview process. That in itself goes a long way as far as I'm concerned. They have a very good reputation in the industry and I felt they were the right choice for me.
 
I went to ATP in Manassas, Virginia in Feb 04 for the 5 day commercial, multi, instrument course. I could not have been more happy with my instructor named Dillon Midello, or the way ATP got me ready for the checkride. I checked out many of the schools offering this trainning and one thing that turned me away from other schools was the " gauranteed rating " bit. I didn't want to be rubber stamped, I wanted to be taught and tested correctly.

I chose to return to ATP in Manassas and train for the CFII/MEI 15 hour 5 day course. I again was taught the way I should be taught and will no doubt pass the checkride which is scheduled for wednesday, June 23rd. I could not have been more happy with my trainning. I told my instructor that after I pass the checkrides, I will write a letter to the Company and tell them about my good experience at ATP.
 
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Captain Bob, from your experience going through the program, how many of your ATP peers got hired on as an instructor after completing the program? Were there some guys who clearly wanted the job, but didn't get it?

[/ QUOTE ] Aviator737, I would guess that just under half got hired.. (there was about 8 Career Pilots at the DFW location in varying stages when I attended last summer.) I do know that two had jobs lined up at their own FBO back home after getting their ratings, and one of them was... well... he was Chip... we'll leave it at that.
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So really only about one or two of the 8 that wanted to work for ATP didn't get hired. My flight partner in the program is now my co-worker in Dallas on the short-programs!

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Thats amazing that you have already 700TT in only 11 months.


[/ QUOTE ] "pushing 700"... read 650... 700 by the end of the month if all keeps going as scheduled!
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My problem with ATP is learning all that needs to be learned in only 3 months. If I were to go to ATP I would only have one month off to study as much as possible. I know that wouldn't be enough time to get all the writtens done but is there even time to study in the 90 day program?


[/ QUOTE ] I took a month off prior to starting as well... Studied for my Instrument and II, took them on my first day, took the CAX (Commercial) within the first two weeks, followed by the FIA (Flight Instructor Airplane), two weeks later, and finally the FOI the following day. You have plenty of time to study, but you'll have even more if you get the writtens done prior to starting...

Remember, it is an immersion program. You are flying, talking about flying, learning about flying, watching people fly, wishing you could fly more, and finally learning more about flying every day up to 6-7 days a week.
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For example: I took 4 years of spanish in high school... I can barely get by... "Donde esta el bano?" However, I have a friend who spent the summer in Mexico "immersed" in the culture and language
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14 years ago... and he still speaks it fluently as a result. Individual results may vary!
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From what I read in the forums it seems that If you finish the program under the 90 days you have a better chance of getting hired, any truth to that?

[/ QUOTE ] To my knowledge, there is no truth to that statement. The 90 days is a target goal. I finished just past the 90 days. The two biggest things that factor in to that time frame are weather delays and personal time off from the program. I've seen people on both sides of the 90 day time frame hired fairly equally. But I'd say there is no preference given to quick program finishers. Mostly it has to do with your attitude, how teachable you were ...says a lot about the type of instructor you become., did you get along well with others, and did you finish assignments and study as instructed.

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Keep up the good attitude, it will take you wherever you want to be.

[/ QUOTE ] Hey lruppert... Thanks! That just made my day!
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Bob
 
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Mostly it has to do with your attitude, how teachable you were ...says a lot about the type of instructor you become., did you get along well with others, and did you finish assignments and study as instructed.



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So would you say that the 2 people who didn't get hired had a poor attitude towards things?

I just read on ATP's website that due to the increasing number of ATP CFI's getting hired by regionals if you due your CFI ratings with ATP you will be considered a job.

Is that just marketing BS by ATP to try to get people to do there CFI ratings with ATP? Im sure ATP is not understaffed with CFI's but do you have a better chance to get hired on now with the current hiring going on at the regionals?
 
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So would you say that the 2 people who didn't get hired had a poor attitude towards things?


[/ QUOTE ] Hi Rich. There may be partial truth in that statement. But they are looking at the whole package, and attitude is certainly a big factor. Overall though, I don't know the exact reasons why they were not hired.

There are people who decide that simply because they paid $30k-$50k for flight training, whether it be at Ari-Ben, ATP, DCA, Pan-AM, etc... that they are "entitled" to pass, because they paid good money. However, many times these folks tend not to put as much effort into their own personal training and studying and just assume that they will get their ratings because they "paid" for them. Many flight instructors know what I'm talking about and have seen variations of this even at the smaller FBO's. Attitude, goes a long way... realize that you are responsible for your training no matter where you go, what you do, or how much you pay for a program. Of course that doesn't take the onus off of the instructor to give you the tools, resources, and knowledge that you need. But I think you will find that most pilots agree that it will always come down to... you.

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Is that just marketing BS by ATP to try to get people to do there CFI ratings with ATP? Im sure ATP is not understaffed with CFI's but do you have a better chance to get hired on now with the current hiring going on at the regionals?

[/ QUOTE ] I guess my answer to that question would be quite simply... Supply & Demand. When I got hired they were being much more selective... airlines weren't hiring at the rate they are now and they had the ability to be more selective, and they were not hiring anyone who did not complete their long programs... However, as things have changed slightly in the industry and there is a greater upturn, hiring has not only been acclerated at the regionals but also at flight schools due to more and more instructors leaving for the airlines... So... Yes, it is true that they have started interviewing and hiring out of the CFI training program. As far as the Marketing BS... ATP is pretty straightforward... hopefully you've experienced that by reading here on JC, talking with the company at the 800 number and maybe even scheduled a free tour at any of their locations. Take the opportunity to read the other forums here in JC, visit other flight schools, and chat with students from each of them... You will have to decide for yourself, and filter out more than just potential "marketing BS" before you make your decision.

Good Luck!

Bob
 
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The two biggest things that factor in to that time frame are weather delays and personal time off from the program.

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personal time? so would you say that if I had a wedding to attend for 2 days during my 90 day program that I could go?
 
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The two biggest things that factor in to that time frame are weather delays and personal time off from the program.

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personal time? so would you say that if I had a wedding to attend for 2 days during my 90 day program that I could go?

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Only if it's your wedding.
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WATCH OUT FOR TOUGH CHECKRIDES THAT PUSH YOU TO YOUR LIMITS OF PILOTAGE AND JUDGEMENT AND LEAVE YOU SWEATING ON THE GROUND THINKING YOU'VE CRAPPED THE BIG ONE UNTIL he pats you on the back and says "congrats, you're a muti engine pilot!"

Especially if the FAA sits in your ride
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don't worry it went well it was just very tough for the level of the ride...

Thank god for my instructor here or it would not have been passed at all...
 
Eric,

Work with your instructor regarding the dates... you should have no problem getting 2 days off for something like that, and it most likely will not affect your timeframe at all.

The personal time I was referring to is people that take a week or more break due to pre-planned family vacations, one guy got married and went on honeymoon for a week during his training, you can get sick for a week or so, or you may have some personal or family business that you need to attend to. Those are the types of things that, besides weather, can delay your time.

PS: Brendan... Congrats! It sounds like a wild ride... Start a new thread and tell us all about it, maybe others will chime in... I love to hear stories like that!

Bob
 
Getting time off isn't a problem if you communicate with your instructor. In the private pilot program I took off for 3 days to go to a wedding. And about three weeks ago I took off for two days to attend my formal college graduation.

Smokey
 
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