Introduction

[ChrisS-WY-1208]

Hello Dan, congratulations on your new position at Hertz. That has got to be very exciting. My name is Chris Smith, I'm living in Gillette Wyoming. Like many pilots, i've had the aviation bug since i can remember. I don't have any family members that fly except me. I am 25 years old currently working in the coal mines operating the biggest machinary known to man. I have done so for about 5 years now. It is unforunate that I waited so late to begin persuing my aviation career, but reading your success story it makes me feel better about it. Earlier this month I received my private pilot certificate and I feel like it the biggest accomplishment of my entire life, all I do is sleep, dream, and learn aviation (and fishing)! I have checked out many schools and have even been accepted to Spartin school of aeronautics in Tulsa, but feel that my home is ATP. I think I'm going to like their fast paced curriculum at a decent price. I'm choosing to go for the Airline Career Pilot Program with the Turbine intership and have a tour schuled on July 21 at Arlington. My ultimate goal is not the majors however, I dream to do do what your doing Dan. I want to fly corporate very bad, so I think your the perfect coach for me. I look foward to hearing from you.

Chris

[Corporate Dan]

Hello Chris. Welcome to the forum! It sounds like you are well on your way to fulfilling your dream of flying professionally with all of the research you have done and setting up an ATP tour. You have not missed the boat by a long shot being 25 either but I know the feeling of thinking things should have started earlier. That said, I believe things happen for a reason. If I had started earlier myself then who knows - I could have been majorly affected by 9/11 and the big downturn and other factors as well. By starting when I did I was able to get to where I am now pretty quickly. So that was my "things happen for a reason for each of us" experience. I am sure there is something in the universe that has you starting now. Congrats on your private too! That was one of the happiest days of my life having passed that checkride. February 13, 2003. I'll never forget it. So it is a great event in many of our lives as pilots. Back to ATP - you sound like a perfect candidate for the airline training program being someone who is so intense about aviation. You are going to love it if you choose to train there. I am sure of that. The addition of the Turbine training program with Gulfstream is a great opportunity as well.
Definitely let me know if you have any specific questions about anything at all and let me know how your progress is going with choosing a school and training programs as things happen. You are at a very exciting time of your life right now with starting to train for your certificates and learning everything about aviation and flying!

Talk to you soon.

Dan

[ChrisS-WY-1208]

Hello Dan, sorry it has been a while since i've posted. I wanted to give you an update on my status. My student loan was approved and I'm on my way to start training July 27. I should be getting my books in the mail very soon. I can't express how excited I am to finally begin training in a field that has been my dream since childhood. I must confess, as each day passes though, I begin to be more and more nervous. I chose the fastrack career pilot program with Gulfstream internship, so I know that I'm going to get a lot thrown in my face in a small amount of time. Dan I believe you did the fast track program as well, what can you tell me about the pace. I'm looking foward to learning very quickly, but is it so insane that it will want to make my head explode?

[Corporate Dan]

Hi Chris. I don't think you have to worry about the pace. ATP pretty much has the training down to a science. It is a lot of info in a short amount of time but it's nothing you can't handle if you are disciplined and will study. It is different than training at a local FBO as at a place like that you are maybe flying and doing ground school maybe twice a week. Here you will be fully immersed in your flight training so you will have a high level of retention and won't have to relearn things after not seeing the material for a week. So don't sweat it and just be ready to learn. You are at a very exciting time. I remember the anticipation when I was starting ATP. One other thing. ATP's style of training is like the training you will later get at an airline. And that training is like sipping from a fire hose. But you will see that going through ATP's training will really help you down the line. That's what I had experienced.


Talk to you soon.

Dan