Considering ATP

[TommyH-CO-509]

I currently hold a private license but I'm not current. I haven't flown regularly since 2002. I have always loved flying and took a lesson a few days ago to make sure I still do, and yes I do. I'm 36 and moving away from construction. I've owned my own construcion company for years and with the economy and physical demands have decided it's time for a career change. I'm planning to get CFI cert. and hopefully instruct or continue towards flying commercially. I don't have any specific pilot job goals in mind at this time.

I'm having a hard time deciding between ATP and a local FBO. ATP will cost between $10K and $15K more than a local Cessna Pilot Center and I'll have to be away from my family for 3 months, however I'll have access to a better loan, much more multi engine time and a faster pace. What are your thoughts on the value of these ATP benefits?

What is the typical daily schedule at ATP? How many hours per day are you in training; flying or ground school? How many days per week? I don't have a problem with working hard I just would like to know what to expect.

Thanks for your time and any insight you have is appreciated.

Tommy

[Continental Chris]

Tommy,

Welcome to the forums and thanks for posting! Once you have flown it never seems to get out of you blood, does it? My step father works in construction so I definetly understand some of the rigors that the job entails.

I got my private license at an FBO and did everything else at ATP. I chose to go with ATP because my experience at the local FBO was horrible. Planes were always broken, the instructor wasn't available all of the time, and the price kept going up. I liked that ATP offerd a quick time frame, fixed price, and plenty of multi time. Multi engine time is one of the most valueable and hardest to get things. Airlines REALLY like to see lots of multi time when you apply for a job. You mentioned that the local FBO cost $15k less than ATP, but was that price based on a fixed cost or on an estimate of hours? Those "estimates" are almost always way under what most people use.

If you do the 90 day program the typical day at ATP consists of flying (airplane or simulator) for about half the day and ground work for the other half. YOur evenings will be filled with self study and preparing for all of your written tests and checkrides. You can plan on doing something seven days a week, but you will get the occasional day off. Usually days off come on bad weather days.

Again, welcome to the forums! Please feel free to ask any questions that you might have. I look forward to working with you as you explore this new career option!

Chris

[Continental Chris]

Tommy:

Here is a list of questions that you might consider asking any flight school that you talk to:

Questions for the school:
1) Do you have set pricing?
2) Do you have a set time frame?
3) How much multi time is gauranteed in the program?
4) Is that multi time received as a student, or received later down the road when working as a Instructor?
5) How many students?
6) How many Instructors?
7) Student / Instructor ratio?
8) How many aircraft?
9) Do they own their aircraft or are they on lease back?
10) Are their mechanics company employees?

Questions to ask the prospective flight school's current and previous students:
1) Did you pay the price you were quoted?
2) Will they give you an exact quote on pricing, or will they only tap dance around a ballpark price?
3) Did you finish in the time frame you were quoted?
4) What was the quality of the instruction you received?
5) What was the quality of the aircraft, were they often broke?
6) Did you have to wait for aircraft to be fixed for longer time frames?
7) where did you fly to on your XCs?