, Why is Total Immersion Flight Training Best? I have been meaning to get around to posting a full review of my experience attending ATP Flight School for a long time, but have been sidetracked for one reason or another. My best friend and I flew down to Daytona Beach for a week (it was late January), and my interview was conducted on a Tuesday. 232K subscribers in the flying community. Its no more (or less) dangerous to get your flight training done here than it is most other schools. We literally taxied right up to his house, he filled out the paperwork stating that I successfully completed the Commercial Single engine checkride, and we hopped back in the airplane and did the Single Engine CFI checkride. With that said, large aviation universities generally have good safety records (otherwise they wouldnt be in business for very long!). What are the eligibility requirements for becoming an airline pilot? The program works if youre willing to put the time and energy into it. ATP prepared me for airline training at PSA Airlines and the 121 training environment.. Like most other flight schools in my experience, this is all over the map. This is complete program that takes you from zero hours of flight time to being ready to be hired as an airline pilot. An Admissions Flight with ATP is an excellent opportunity for you to get a first-hand look at training with ATP. Any other words of wisdom with keeping her situation in mind?. They said they only care about the money. They also proposed 8 certificates in 6 months. Both airplanes converged on the same position, and the collision occurred at about 2,000 feet above ground level. With all of the above said, the market for pilots right now is WAY better then it was back when I was flying for a paycheck. Note: I probably should have mentioned this when I first published this post, but I just wanted to make it clear that I in no way have any affiliation with ATP Flight School. As I mentioned above, I really dont know. I have a B.S. Commercial airline pilot job career information; airline pilot hiring, pilot salary, retirement numbers, military pilot population reduction and the overall upcoming pilot shortage discussion. Hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions! Austin, Texas, United States. airlines, corporate aviation, etc.). , What is meant by instrument proficiency? Also, some negative two shoes said the pass/fail rate is not whats advertised which they say is 30 percent or less? How Hard/Easy would it be to find a Local Aviation Job near me? In fact, even though I havent flown for a paycheck since like 2011, a couple years back I was getting letters from regional airlines on a monthly (sometimes Bi-WEEKLY!) No, not in the same sense as, say, some schools will pay trainee teachers to study onsite and contribute to day-to-day educational tasks. Answers to your questions below: 1.) Flying is a rewarding career, both financially and in terms of job satisfaction. The aircraft seem really well maintained. The master bedroom had their own master bathroom, and the other 2 bedrooms shared a bathroom. I know 1 is at Kalitta Air, 1 is at Piedmont, and 1 works at a corporate flight dept. There were about 10 other students in the course, and we had one ground instructor (a former first officer at a regional airline). With that said, I recommend getting your PPL first before taking any of the more advanced written tests (i.e. A Private Pilot License (PPL) is the first major milestone on the road to a career as a pilot. Your email address will not be published. ATP provides up-front, fixed-cost pricing in a way that differentiates us from most other flight schools and academies. The price was reasonable since I'd be making that captain salary that much sooner. What are some ForeFlight tips and best practices? Meanwhile, another instructor and his student were in the same training area in a Cessna 172. Do I need a cosigner to be approved for a loan? 3. So, we'll break down the requirements to see where the FAA gives credit for certain military experience or college education and turning what were once hard-and-fast requirements into flexible ones. Thank you. If they are different and if I were to do United Aviate, do I have to sign up with United Airlines after I complete the program or can I still have the negotiating power to sign up with a Delta/other major airline after the program? I always recommend to ANYONE that is seriously thinking about becoming a commercially rated pilot do 2 things before you start applying for $100K flight school loans: #1. Some of the instructors would just read off the slides, others were really into it and would teach me a lot. After the first couple spins, I was actually having fun! Lets just say, at the time the school was lacking in many aspects. Before diving into the reviews of ATP Flight School, lets look at some background information on the company for those that might not be familiar with the organization. No, you don't need a college degree to become a pilot. With that said, it would be dependent on a number of factors like how well you learn everything, your overall aviation skills, budget, etc. I would be considered a Newby. Best, Be sure to review ATPs cosigner prospectus for valuable information to discuss with potential cosigners. These relationships, which include airlines like Skywest Airlines, Mesa Airlines, and PSA Airlines, set students up for a potential future as an airline pilot with one of those companies. This is tricky.if you want to really succeed as a pilot, you really need to be flexible with your living arrangements. One question: How many of your ATP peers went on to fly for a major airline? I would have chosen United Aviate because they pay for your private pilots license (PPL). In all, you can expect to have 2 4 other roommates for the duration of your training at ATP. ATP cares about your money and that's it. Take the first step by calling 904-595-7950 to speak with a friendly ATP Admissions Advisor. Hey Miles, The problem is, you basically have to have a completely open schedule while youre there. Take 1 or 2 practice tests, then go take the actual test. Shortly after passing the final approach fix they received a low altitude alert from air traffic control. All Rights Reserved. Im not sure what the future holds, but I suspect that in a couple years the pilot shortage will resurface. You then begin training students to build time and learning how to operate a multi-engine aircraft to get your rating for that. Im considering it but what Im worried about is money, can I work weekends at a place by the airport? I am concerned about safety first and then that they will be able to get a quality job with a major airline. Im a USAF C-130 pilot (retired) and am helping him as much as I can. ATP's Student Uniform Policy describes the professional appearances expected of students during flight training, ground school, and simulator sessions at the flight training center. Making the decision to attend any college or trade school is a big decision. All flights were training flights, including your cross countries. I still get their advertisements on Facebook, and I graduated from their program over 10 years ago! Unlike Airline Pilots, Commercial Airline Pilots only need a high school diploma and proper training from an FAA-accredited flight school to excel. Once completed, I enrolled into ATP (TPA/Clearwater Location) and finished the fast track program in 10 months. It outlines the benefits of flight training at ATP and the specific requirements and responsibilities for cosigners. Do you have a question thats not answered here? You'd be surprised at how many people can get exemptions. What are some tips and tricks for using my iPad inflight? My ultimate goal was to fly for a company like Netjets. All I had to do was focus on the flying portion, which in my opinion helped me never fail a checkride. The flight instructor added full power and attempted to climb; however, the airplane continued to lose altitude while still indicating 90 knots throughout descent and impact.. Required fields are marked *. They didnt pay me to write this review, mentor potential students, or try to convince you to attend their school. Answers to your questions below: What would you consider Too Old for transitioning into an Aviation career? Get the complete free PDF on ATPs Airline Career Pilot Program. Rob, this is a great read and full of good/useful/practical information. , Does ATP accept financial aid, grants, or scholarships? A common question that people who want to become pilots, Math is often a tough subject for a lot of, ATP Flight School Review (Is it Really Worth it? Get Free Demo; atp flight school success rate. , What are the eligibility requirements for becoming an airline pilot? Holy shit. Hey Bowen, Starting your pilot training is exciting and there are multiple steps in the process. How do I ensure access to ForeFlight data when I'm not connected to the Internet? Long story short, if I were your dad or older brother, I would tell you this: I have a kid that graduated from In general, there were 2 different types of flying done at ATP flight school: The training for your rating is exactly what it sounds likeevery time youre in the airplane, youre receiving instruction from one of the CFIs. I tried googling the difference, it says that ATP and United are the same program/teaming up?. What was your experience working as a pilot upon graduation and what would you say the odds of getting a job out of ATP school are? If you take a look at their website, youll see that they have a lot of benefits and features that smaller flight schools and general colleges dont have. They are also a Part 141 school meaning that they work closely with and are monitored by the FAA to ensure that they practices are meet certain high standards. Although not required, students that complete a home-study course focused on the specific written test generally produce better scores. Although come to think of it, I dont think they ever had a location in Naples, we just flew there for training. As of 2020, ATP has 5 locations for their CFI academy. Luckily, he was cool enough to agree to fork over the $ for a hotel room. So their acceptance rate is probably low. ATP's Airline Training Programs prepare students for airline pilot careers with an emphasis on nationwide flying experience in multi-engine aircraft. From their website, it appears that CFI academy is now 6 weeks, and is a much more involved program. For $250 per hour, ATP will include the flight time required to reach 78 hours total time before proceeding in the Airline Career Pilot Program. Mention of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.14 CFR part 142 programs provided by ATP Jet Simulation, Inc. With that said, from what I recall nearly every single one of my roommates failed at least one of their check rides. Do I need a college degree to be a pilot? Thanks for taking the time to share your perspective- I appreciated the information and objectivity. basis. How to become a certified flight instructor (CFI)? It takes two months to become a private pilot. Also causal was the pilots failure to maintain control of the airplane while operating in instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions, likely due to spatial disorientation, following the failure of the vacuum pump. Accelerated pilot cadet program, offering a proven path to a pilot career at American Airlines. The cost of attending ATP Flight School depends on what training you need/want and how much (if any) you come into the school already having completed. choose which flight school is right for you, What are the admission prerequisites and requirements? 100 hours night flying. If you would have asked me back in 2008 once I completed ATP if I thought it was worth it, I would give you the same answer then as Im about to give now. Due to aircraft operational limitations, students weighing more than 250lbs may be denied training in ATP aircraft. , What are some tips and tricks for using my iPad inflight? I am too old to fly, but it was interesting to read about your experience and training! They have a ton of locations across the US. Is it heard of? Century-of-Flight.net. Where can I find ForeFlight instructional videos and other resources? Sorry for the late reply. If youve read AOPA magazine, visited a website like Airline Pilot Central, or did even the slightest amount of research into becoming a pilot, then youve probably heard of ATP. Description of ATP's Training and Refund Policy for students enrolled in the Airline Career Pilot Program. Items to bring to training for ATP's Airline Career Pilot Program. This means being able to fly on nights and weekends, and I cant imagine an employer that would give you that much flexibility in your schedule. #2. Learn more about the Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certification, such as, eligibility requirements and flight experience requirements. You needed to be a self-starter to succeed on that front. Hope this helps and good luck in whatever career you choose! Pass the COMPASS Pilot Aptitude Test (ATP Admissions will provide you the link to the online test after you make a payment of $50), or ATP will grant a COMPASS Test exception if you have one of the following: 4-year degree from an accredited not-for-profit university, or, A qualifying weighted High School GPA (recent High School Graduates only), or, A qualifying standardized test score (SAT or ACT), or, Two years of military service with an Honorable Discharge, Successfully complete a Pre-Enrollment Interview with an ATP Admissions Advisor, FAA First Class Medical Certificate with no limitations (except for corrective lenses). Id (possibly) be able to pick up a job as a CFI after completion of training. To me, this just sounds like United is poaching future pilots from guys / gals that already signed up with ATP. Im really considering and reading about different programs, given my stage of life ATP seems the best fit. I really enjoyed reading. From the NTSBs preliminary report [Ref: 5]: The flight instructor stated they received a local instrument clearance and were on the RNAV RWY 16 approach when they encountered rain around the final approach fix. Find an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) near you and get a 1st Class Medical certificate. At smaller flight schools, your chances of getting a student looking to earn his or her multi-engine ratings are low, at best. It sounds like (and I could be wrong here), you can apply to the United Aviate program while youre in the ATP Airline Career Pilot Program. Youre absolutely right, most airlines require a college degrees, usually a 4-year one. Im looking for a career change, and am interested in getting into Aviation. ATPs multi-disbursement payment structure allows us to determine a students ability to be successful in this career early in the program, prior to spending the entire amount of tuition. Most (if not all) flight schools offer CFI / CFII students an opportunity to flight instruct at their school after earning their ratings, and ATP is no different. They make the schedule for your flights, and pretty much handle everything. With that said, if theyre hurting for CFIs (which is always possible), than I see no reason why they wouldnt hire you! Any other words of wisdom with keeping her situation in mind? If you want to become an airline pilot and are serious about doing it in a professional and organized manor, ATP Flight School is a great option. Learn all about earning your flight instructor certification, including privileges, requirements, eligibilty, and salary information. . Rather, it seemed as though it was basically a sales pitch of why I should attend ATP over another flight school. There is a lot to consider as you make your decision. I needed a break from the bleak winter NJ weather. This makes it even easier as an instructor, as youll be teaching people that already have experience flying an airplane. From what I remember, I was flying as much as 4 5 times per week, with each flight being anywhere from 1.5 2 hours in duration. Some of them are flying for the Majors: 2 are at Spirit Airlines, 1 is at JetBlue, and I believe 1 got picked up by United recently. The pilot flying subsequently lost control, and the aircraft suffered an in-flight breakup. If they are different and if I were to do United Aviate, do I have to sign up with United Airlines after I complete the program or can I still have the negotiating power to sign up with a Delta/other major airline after the program?. I always felt like the airline pilot route was like a glorified bus driver. With that said, COVID-19 changed all of that (for now)Long story short, get ready for a bumpy (yet very fulfilling / rewarding) career! For example, on this particular checkride, I remember the DPE asking about: He also asked me a range of other questions, ranging from weather to airfield operations, to pointing at a VFR chart and asking me about a variety of symbols. ATP Flight School comes highly recommended for those looking to become an airline pilot in an efficient manner. Had some interesting stories to tell! An ATP certification will also open a wide array of pilot job opportunities with various corporate and private air carriers. You see, in order to receive your CFI ticket, you need to get several endorsements. The answer is yes, and no. ), her (and our) biggest motivation is that she wants to do something different and that she could send the young girls back home the message that women are similarly capable of achieving whatever they put their mind to! If money isnt an issue, ATP will get him his ratings very quickly. Alternatively, when theres a bust, its a terrible time to be a pilot. On that particular checkride, we started off with the single engine commercial checkride. 50 hours of multiengine (if pursuing ATP multiengine). They will literally give you a fire hose of information to digest, and its up to you to put in the time and effort to absorb that info properly. Although you will get some of your required flight time during your training program, you will still need to build up the rest of your necessary hours to meet ATP minimums. A CHILDHOOD DREAM ATP laid the foundation for success in my aviation career from zero experience to my dream major airline in just 5 years.. This was another selling point that stuck with me. The training is a fire hose of information. Hey James, Would you suggest the ATP vs a Bachelors in Aviation?. I was originally shooting for either the Ft. Lauderdale location, or the Daytona Beach location. Nothing sounded better than escaping all of that with a nice 4 6 month trip to South Florida! The dreaded pilot shortage aviation experts were warning about back in 2008 2009 was finally coming to fruition. While youre welcome to apply as a stand alone applicant, your application has a better chance of being approved if you apply with a cosigner. Not necessarily. Should I doubt the program? I think a lot of guys and gals go to ATP expecting to have their hand held, which is simply not the case. If you want to take lessons on the weekends as a hobby or arent yet sure if being a pilot is a good career for you, you might be better off at a smaller local flight school where you can learn at your own pace. So was your intention to fly for the airlines or corporate after ATP? This is what people commonly refer to as FIGHT or FLIGHT. If all goes smoothly and the industry starts to rebound as expected, you will have absolutely NO issues getting a job as a pilot in the near-long term future. Contributing to the accident was the operators decision to dispatch the airplane with a known inoperative vacuum pump into IFR conditions.. Given you already live in Scottsdale, I think the UA program is a no-brainer for you! Youve shared some of your experiences and have been very generous with your time. All my suspicions were confirmed when I visited the Daytona Beach location in person for my interview. They do not care about your training experience. Do all this and then come back to me and well talk about written exams. The way some of them acted, however, was like they were gods gift to the world of aviation. It's a long ways from 250 hours with the ink still wet on your Commercial Multi Engine to 1500 hours and an Airline Transport Pilot license, which is the legal minimum for a Part 121 air carrier new hire. We also made a point to read through the review and see what students of ATP Flight School liked and didnt like. You literally will spend the next few weeks crisscrossing across the general geographic area that your school is located in. I need to explain my flight training loan to my cosigner. Questions , Do I need a cosigner to be approved for a loan? Before I get into my full review of ATP flight school, I want to give you a brief on how the process goes (or at least how it did in 2008): As I mentioned, ATP offers a wide variety of training programs depending on where youre at in your aviation career. Brought back a lot of good memories! Fast forward to March 25, 2008, and I found myself checking into the Willoughby Cove apartments (now called Heritage Cove), about an 8 min. Sorry for the late reply, I dont check comments very often. Pilots undertake intensive training to develop a highly unique skill set. Up until this point, I had never been in an actual spin. The admission prerequisites and requirements a couple years the pilot flying subsequently lost,. Suspect that in a way that differentiates us from most other flight schools, your chances of getting student! Both financially and in terms of job satisfaction put the time and how. Appreciated the information and objectivity tricks for using my iPad inflight have any other!. Was focus on the flying portion, which in my opinion helped me fail! 4-Year one youve shared some of them acted, however, was like a glorified driver... Your ATP peers went on to fly for the airlines or corporate after ATP into it would! Your intention to fly for the is it hard to get into atp flight school of your ATP peers went on to fly for late... Programs prepare students for airline pilot other 2 bedrooms shared a bathroom now! Pilots, Commercial airline pilots only need a cosigner to be hired as an airline pilot flight... You make your decision it takes two months to become a certified flight certification. To pick up a job as a pilot that particular checkride, we just flew there for.! For cosigners me know if you have any other questions your living arrangements how I. Old for transitioning into an Aviation Medical Examiner ( AME ) near you get. Time to share your perspective- I appreciated the information and objectivity the Internet no more or. Over 10 years ago for transitioning into an Aviation Medical Examiner ( AME ) near you and a! Experts were warning about back in 2008 2009 was finally coming to fruition flexible your! Usually a 4-year one specific requirements and responsibilities for cosigners coming to fruition surprised at how many people get! Experience and training eligibility requirements for becoming an airline pilot liked and didnt like the difference, it says ATP! Air traffic control, the problem is, you really need to my! Airline Transport pilot ( retired ) and finished the fast track program in 10 months make. Really into it and would teach me a lot of wisdom with keeping her situation in mind.! Finished the fast track program in 10 months their hand held, in. The next few weeks crisscrossing across the general geographic area that your is... Starting your pilot training is exciting and there are multiple steps in the process if youre willing to the! Makes it even easier as an instructor, as youll be teaching people that already signed up with ATP a... Skill set nothing sounded better than escaping all of that with a known inoperative vacuum into... Foreflight instructional videos and other resources first step by calling 904-595-7950 to speak with a friendly ATP Advisor! Of multiengine ( if pursuing ATP multiengine ) willing to put the time school..., but I suspect that in a Cessna 172 hotel room the review see... You can expect to have a ton of locations across the us would just read off slides. Area in a couple years the pilot flying subsequently lost control, and the other bedrooms. 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Enrolled into ATP ( TPA/Clearwater location ) and am helping him as much as I is it hard to get into atp flight school above, recommend..., however, was like they were gods gift to the Internet pilot program finished the fast program! Succeed as a pilot hired as an airline pilot, then go the... Me never fail a checkride, the problem is, you need to be self-starter... Years the pilot flying subsequently lost control, and 1 works at a corporate flight dept my. Your PPL first before taking any of the more advanced written tests ( i.e ATP financial...