Quote:
Originally Posted by RichardT-CA-109
Thanks so much. Oh, I sent you a post yesterday with some questions...disregard them; you've already answered them.
Rich
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No problem Rich...
For others interested... here's the post that Rich is referring to.
Is now the right time?? + other questions...
Also... I wanted to touch on the "Pilot Mill" comment.
No doubt... ATP is a pilot mill in many regards. But... is a mill a bad thing? What happens in a mill? Typically, you have an efficient process that has been proven to be successful over a period of time.
Nike makes a darn good shoe... in a mill-like process. So does Apple with their I-Pod... So does LL Bean with their hunting boots... Carmakers with their assembly lines... Colleges with their syllabi and curriculum for specific degree plans to produce successful graduates... Airline ground schools also have a "mill-like" system/process for producing professional line pilots...
A place like ATP has taken 20+ years to perfect their process and make changes along the way as necessary to continuously meet the demands of the aviation industry.
They didn't just pop up over night and say... "Hey... get yer ratings here! One stop shopping!"
Regarding the personal/impersonal touch of the CFI's employed by ATP... the best way to get a feel for them is to actually visit a location and make the decision yourself. What you see and hear in other anonymous aviation forums can many times come from folks who have absolutely no experience with the schools they are referencing... and instead just want to tell you what was the best way for "them" the learn.
Personally, I've always been an advocate of having folks like yourself decide for yourselves what route works best for your personal situation. If it's an aviation acadamy (ATP/DCA/Pan-Am/etc)... great. If it's your local FBO... cool. If it's an Aeronautical University... more power to you. But... the key is to actually research these places "real time" and decide for yourself the best course that meets the individual needs for you and your family.
I'll support you whatever you choose.
Bob