Why ATP?

ATP has changed greatly in the past year (at least from what I read on these posts). I attended the ACPP program back in the summer of 2002 and it was not as great of an experience as people say it is. They wanted to cut costs so badly they did not provide us cross country motels but rather stay in other ACPP apartments in those cities. If you are a short-term customer (meaning ATP, MEI add-on, etc...) it is the best place to train and yes they only charge you exactly what they say - which are the benefits.

If you have a job lined up as a CFI somewhere else (i.e. back at yoru FBO) then the ACPP is good to get your ratings quickly and get a job. Because if you do not have a contact at a FBO or do not get a job at ATP you are left out to dry....as a few of my training partners were.
Working for ATP is overrated...they lead you to believe this Seminole multi-engine flying is so valuable.....the Seminole is a light trainer....that uses a carbuertor...big deal...that is not real multi-engine flying...so you are just as good as flying a Piper Cherokee and better off flying a Mooney - you will realize at your FBO if they have a twin like a Cessna 414 or etc.. how much more complex it is than flying a seminole or if you flew a cessna 182 full of skydivers you probably learn more than flying a seminole for ATP.

If your are looking to go to the airlines go to a program that gives you a solid ground school and flight training. At ATP, it is part 61, and there ground is designed around their supplement and what it takes to pass the checkride; whereas having classes on meterology, aerodynamics, and so on will be more beneficial to a student later on down the line.

Just my two cents. I am a new poster..but I have been through ATP when the same program costed $32,995 - at one point it only costed $29,995!!
 
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...that is not real multi-engine flying...so you are just as good as flying a Piper Cherokee and better off flying a Mooney

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You are entitled to your opinion, but I suspect there's more to your story than you are telling us as there is a hint of angst in your post.

How exactly does one do real multiengine flying? Fly the FBO's 414 on occasion, or fly a Seminole *every day* with a student who may or may not try to kill you today?
 
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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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I can attest that it is NOT "BS" I was talking to the owner of ATP the other day in the office and we were talking about our CFI "shortage" and he told me that before too long they will be considering CFI's that have never done a rating at ATP (prerequisite is 500 dual given)!

Now.... when/if it comes to that... I don't know!
 
Glad to see you back on here, JJ. I need to talk to you and will be giving you a call soon, if that's okay. I need some contact information from you!

Joe
 
Things are really moving at ATP now. Most of the people who were instructors last year (when I did the program) are now flying for the regionals, and people who I flew with as students are now starting to be hired. It's an exciting time.
 
The only complaint I have heard so far is that the instructors tend to leave too fast for the students to get used to. I guess one of the students in a recent PPL class went through 4 instructors in the two months she was there. The first 3 went to regionals or moved into CFIing the twin program to fill for other instructors that got hired by regionals. Kinda sucks a bit as a PPL but it is good that you get to fly with different people as you can learn alot more like that I think.

I think I may be starting this thing at the right time... Keep my fingers crossed!
 
Hey Tim:
That happened to me at McAir during my PPL. My first instructor got me about half way through when he left to fly corporate. I started flying with a new instructor and found it to be a great experience. Each instructor had a different approach to it and overall I think I learned a lot more that way.

Maybe I will see you in JAX on one of my x-c trips. I'm headed to ATP Dallas on Saturady to start my training. good luck with yours.
eric
 
CFI Program at ATP

Three checkrides in 14 days.... that seems absolutely insane to me. Especially since the CFI checkride is the "biggest/hardest checkride of your life!" Has anyone here done the CFI academy at ATP? I am considering it, but I wanted to know how to prepare. I heard that if you do their CFI academy you have to go there ready for your ride or you're behind the curve. Is this true?

I am definately going to the FLL location this winter to knock out my Commercial AMEL, and I will probably do my initial CFI here in Ohio at a local FBO, but I will most likely choose ATP for my CFII, and MEI add ons. Any info is appreciated.
 
Re: CFI Program at ATP

[ QUOTE ]
Three checkrides in 14 days.... that seems absolutely insane to me. Especially since the CFI checkride is the "biggest/hardest checkride of your life!" Has anyone here done the CFI academy at ATP? I am considering it, but I wanted to know how to prepare. I heard that if you do their CFI academy you have to go there ready for your ride or you're behind the curve. Is this true?

I am definately going to the FLL location this winter to knock out my Commercial AMEL, and I will probably do my initial CFI here in Ohio at a local FBO, but I will most likely choose ATP for my CFII, and MEI add ons. Any info is appreciated.

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All the career pilots go through the 14 day instructor course, along with anyone who wants to just do the 14 day CFI program. You do need to come pretty prepared, flying proficiently visually and on instruments, and knowing the ATP procedures (you get a supplement in the mail). The bulk of the course is preparing for the oral for your initial.

If you knock out the inital CFI locally, you can do the MEI/II program which is just 5 days at any of ATP's locations
 
Re: CFI Program at ATP

I did the CFI total program in mid June. After you register you get a big box full of all the training materials as well as a CFI Pretest. The pretest is about 30 pages long and you're expected to complete it before you arrive for training. The test covers a ton of material, it's got everything from weather to foi. Just going through the test before the training brought my knowledge up considerably. Once I arrived, the class went through the test, question by question, in great detail, cross referencing PTS, Regs, Airplane Flying handbook...etc. You will be ready for the oral. It works because it kind of a data dump, law of recency thing. All this info has just been presented and you go immediately and spill it to the examiner.

Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.

Justin
 
Re: CFI Program at ATP

Tim and Junior...seems that is hapening to me at Mc Air also. My instructor is finishing up school and I have not been up for over a month. Mainly due to my job and money, but once I do try for a lesson on the weekends its hit or miss, combine these factors with the monsoon season in colorado and it's pretty hard to get motivated.....so time to do something about this /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif. Once I finish up my PPL I think its gonna be off to ATP also.

Anyone know what airport the Seattle location is at? I have family up there and could stay with them for cheap. Does ATP lower the price if you don't go with their housing? Or is it their way or the hwy! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Re: CFI Program at ATP

I am one of the Seattle instructors. We fly out of the Tacoma Narrows Airport. Give us a call or stop by to see us.
 
Re: CFI Program at ATP

Nope, no price break for not using ATP's housing. I called and asked the same question. Same price, housing or not.
Good Luck.
 
Re: CFI Program at ATP

Soonermurph, have you had any interviews w/ regionals yet? What about the other guy you were with in Salem? Just curious. You guys must have lots of hours.
 
Re: CFI Program at ATP

Cool, that is right next to federal way. What appartments you get up there? Might as well take that up if there is no price difference.
 
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