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ATP good or bad?

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RookiePilot

Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2007
Posts
13
I have a flight student that is thinking about leaving his Community college flight program to join ATP after he receives his Private license. They promise up to MEI for $45,000.
Anybody have any advice for him?
 
Does he have talent for flying, likes to study hard, understands concepts well (typically), and is self motivated? If the answer is yes, then he'll succeed. If the answer is no, he'll fail.

ATP is the firehose, and if you can chug it down you will learn a ton. If you can't you are going to drown.
 
ATP, is a meat grinder. I think you do the instructor rating in a week. That's a tad bit fast for most people. ATP usually doesn't work for people who like being spoon fed and having someone hold their hand.

In my experience as an instructor, there is only so much info a student will retain during a lesson (ground or flight). Throwing too much at them can be very a counter productive and frustrating experience.

If your planning on attending a 141 flight school. DO NOT I repeat DO NOT take out a loan and hand it over to the flight school. That is a very dangerous practice. A lot of schools have shut down and took all the money only to resurface and do it again. ATA, TAB, RAA etc.
 
If your planning on attending a 141 flight school. DO NOT I repeat DO NOT take out a loan and hand it over to the flight school. That is a very dangerous practice. A lot of schools have shut down and took all the money only to resurface and do it again. ATA, TAB, RAA etc.

That's good advice. I know a friend who got burned at one of those schools. Went out of business, took everyone's money and ran.
However, ATP is different. They are still doing quite well, have a good reputation, and have training centers all over the country. I would not be too worried about taking out a loan for ATP, Delta Connection Acedemy, Pan Am/Westwind in AZ, and a few others.
Just flew with a First Officer who completed all his training at ATP and then instructed for them. It's designed to prepare you for an airline training program. Lots of information at the same time. If the goal is to earn your ratings at your own pace, ATP is not the place. If the goal is to complete an airline training program at a fast pace, ATP and schools like it are the place to do it.
With all that said, It will require hours of studying each day along with the flying. If the student knows that going in, and understands that it is very fast-paced and difficult at times, they will do okay.
I received my Commercial MEL from ATP and also took my ATP written with them. Most instructors were good and overall it's a good flight training school.

Hope this helps.
 
most of these schools are there to just get you through the test. They dont really teach you anything.

It's sad that all of us experienced pilots are being replaced by low-time, inexperienced non thinkers.

hopefully they will not have too many accidents before they change things.
 
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Does he have talent for flying, likes to study hard, understands concepts well (typically), and is self motivated? If the answer is yes, then he'll succeed. If the answer is no, he'll fail.

ATP is the firehose, and if you can chug it down you will learn a ton. If you can't you are going to drown.


I agree with Jedi.. I did my multi there and never regretted it... good experience but it is a firehose
 
That's good advice. I know a friend who got burned at one of those schools. Went out of business, took everyone's money and ran.
However, ATP is different. They are still doing quite well, have a good reputation, and have training centers all over the country. I would not be too worried about taking out a loan for ATP, Delta Connection Acedemy, Pan Am/Westwind in AZ, and a few others.
Just flew with a First Officer who completed all his training at ATP and then instructed for them. It's designed to prepare you for an airline training program. Lots of information at the same time. If the goal is to earn your ratings at your own pace, ATP is not the place. If the goal is to complete an airline training program at a fast pace, ATP and schools like it are the place to do it.
With all that said, It will require hours of studying each day along with the flying. If the student knows that going in, and understands that it is very fast-paced and difficult at times, they will do okay.
I received my Commercial MEL from ATP and also took my ATP written with them. Most instructors were good and overall it's a good flight training school.

Hope this helps.

Sound or not I still wouldn't plunk down 50k to a flight school so they can put it in there account and collect interest on it. They would also have direct access for billing.

I wonder how many over charges and billing mistakes could occur with 50k over 6 months. I'd be willing to wager there would be many errors and all for the flight school's benefit.
 
Sound or not I still wouldn't plunk down 50k to a flight school so they can put it in there account and collect interest on it. They would also have direct access for billing.

I wonder how many over charges and billing mistakes could occur with 50k over 6 months. I'd be willing to wager there would be many errors and all for the flight school's benefit.
I agree with you. I worked very hard for my ratings and paid as I went for the most part. But sadly, there are too many mommy's and daddy's who will take out or co-sign a $50,000-$100,000 loan for their kids. In this situation, ATP is an okay school if that's what daddy wants to do.
 
ATP, is a meat grinder. I think you do the instructor rating in a week. That's a tad bit fast for most people. ATP usually doesn't work for people who like being spoon fed and having someone hold their hand.

In my experience as an instructor, there is only so much info a student will retain during a lesson (ground or flight). Throwing too much at them can be very a counter productive and frustrating experience.

If your planning on attending a 141 flight school. DO NOT I repeat DO NOT take out a loan and hand it over to the flight school. That is a very dangerous practice. A lot of schools have shut down and took all the money only to resurface and do it again. ATA, TAB, RAA etc.

and JET U!

I was a victim from TAB! pay as you go!

but, ATP has been around for a while!
 
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thanks for all the advice, sounds like everybody likes ATP more or less. I was hesitating to give my endorsement because I also got burned by a flight school (RAA). thankfully my friend is a lawyer and i got the bastards back good.
 

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