Thinking of attending ATP school in FL

[PauliusC-CT-409]

Hi Chris,

My name is Paul (real first name Paulius) and I’m originally from Lithuania, I came to Connecticut, U.S. when I was 18 and now I’m 28. I’m a big fan of big airplanes and my dream is to fly Boeing 777. My brother is a pilot in Europe and he flies B737 as you do (my brother worked 2 years for expressjet and than moved to Europe, his name Jerry Cerniauskas). I currently hold a private pilot license with a total of 66 hours of flight time. I received a private pilot license here in CT while attending local flight school. I am looking at ATP 90 day Fast Track program and I am really interested into it. I’d like to ask you a few questions about ATP school and this 90 day fast track program. First, I am not a citizen of the U.S., however, I am a permanent resident of U.S. (I have a green card) and I live in CT. I called ATP in the past year and I was told that I have to be a U.S. citizen in order to be admitted to the ATP school. Couple of days ago I spoke to Adam from ATP and he told me that being a permanent resident is fine for the admission to ATP school. Do you know what the true answer to this is?
In your opinion, would you recommend 90 day Fast Track program to anyone and is it really doable?
I passed TSA background check before attending local flight school; do you think I’ll have to do it again for TPA school? I know that I’ll have to pay TSA fee for every rating that I will apply for.

I enjoyed reading your story about flying Boston Celtics!

Thank you in advance for any information that you might provide to me and have safe landings!

Paul

[Continental Chris]

Paul,

Welcome to the forums and thanks for posting! I do not remember meeting your brother at XJT, but I might have seen him around. In the recent past ATP did not accept international students, however they now do as long as the student is a permenant resident and has a good command of the english language. As far as the additional background check is concerned, I will call on Monday and ask as I am not sure myself.

I would recommend the 90 day fast track to somebody who is hard working, a good studier, and who can work long days while maintaining a positive attitude. If you are willing to really buckle down and work hard then the 90 day program might just be the program for you. As far as the program being doable is concerned, I finished the program in exactly 90 days, paid exactly the amount of money I was quoted, and received exactly the number of flight hours that I was told. The program certainly worked for me.

Thanks for the comment on the Celtics story, that was a REALLY long day at work, but it was fun. If you do not mind me asking, what kind of job are you doing now? Feel free to ask any questions that you have here in the forums, I will do my best to answer them. I look forward to working with you as you explore this new career option.

Chris

[PauliusC-CT-409]

Hi Chris,
Thank you for a quick reply, but my job and work around the house kept me pretty busy. Speaking of job, answer to your question, I work at ING financial services co with retirement plans 401k, 403b and 457, all day in the office and staring at monitor at least 8 hours a day. I work here 4 years already and I see that I’m not an office person for sure. There is no single day that I would not lift my head up to see what kind of airplane is flying. I would really love to fly for airlines and that's why I’m seriously looking into ATP school.

Here is my situation. I own a house here in CT and my main finance for the program would be money that I get when I sell the house. I think money that I’ll get for the house should be enough to pay for the program. But before I sell the house I’d like to see if ATP will accept me. I’d like to do my medical exam and background check first. Do you think it's a good plan to have prepared all paperwork part and everything else and leave house sale as a last piece to deal with? When house is sold, I’d like to move to FL and attend one of ATP schools in Daytona Beach or Jacksonville. I know there are ATP schools in other cities, which one would you recommend?

I’m also a little concerned how fast I’ll be able to get a job as an instructor at ATP or other schools after finishing the 90day program and what is the main ATP criteria when they are looking for instructors?

Again, thank you for your help Chris and have safe landings.

Paul

[Continental Chris]

Paul,

I think that it is a great idea to take care of everything possible before selling your house. I would definetly save that for last as it is a huge decision to make. Make sure that you have the medical and background check complete before you even think of listing the house. All of the ATP schools are pretty similar. The training will be the same no matter which one you go to. I like Jacksonville because it is close to ATP's main headquarters.

Being hired at ATP as an instructor depends on many things. First of all they have to need new instructors. Right now things are slow so there is not a huge demand for new instructors. When things speed up there will most likely be a large demand as the old instructors leave to go to the airlines. ATP will look at your performance in the program as one of the main factors when you apply for the job. Everything from the way you dressed and your attitude to your checkride pass rate will be used to evaluate you. Think of the 90 day program as a 90 day interview. How soon do you think you might start ATP?

Chris

[PauliusC-CT-409]

Hi Chris,
As always, thank you for your time on answering my questions. I am planning to start ATP around late August if selling house goes well. Also I will set up an appointment at Daytona Beach ATP for the interview at the end of June, since I’ll be in FL for 1 week around that area. Any Pros or Cons about ATP at Daytona Beach or Richmond VA? I’m thinking of attending ATP either at Daytona Beach FL or Richmond VA.
Thank you for your help Chris and have safe landings!

Paul

[Continental Chris]

Paul,

That is great that you are planning on starting so quickly. I think that setting up an appointment is a great idea at either location, or both. I do not really see and pros or cons to either location. In the late summer and fall they should both have excellent flying weather, which is what is most important. I think that you will be well served at either location. Let me know what you chose please.

Chris