Airline Training Academy out of business

[Bouyer]

thanks

Time Builder

Thanks for the teaching

 

[Timebuilder]

You are very welcome.

I spoke with the governor's (Jeb Bush) aide the other day, and this will not go by unnoticed.

One of the remedies in some cases like this is siezure of assets. I'm hoping that can be worked out, and the students may be made whole, or at least partially so.

Good luck to you.

 

[Bouyer]

We have been e-mailing the govenor so maybe that will help
I heard thru the grapevine that it has made its presence known in Washington

 

[flydog]

These people were not MERELY working on their private certificate. They were paying a large sum of money up front to someone that promised to provide them with an instant career in aviation by bypassing the process that makes professional pilots experienced aviators instead of just people that bought a license to fly a plane. No different from PFT except that ATA had contractual arrangements with airlines rather than the students paying the airline directly.

A whore is a whore is a whore no matter how shes dressed up and wether she works at Gulfstream, got her ATP at ATA, or paid for a Metro FO job at Eagle Aviation.

 

[CatYaaak]

...And yes I paid for my tuition every semester too CatYaaak. I just didnt pay for all 4 YEARS AND THE ENTIRE DEGREE up front.

Ah, I see. So in other words you aren't a $3, back-alley whore. Nope, not you...you're a $5 back-alley whore instead.

Well Flydog, you've certainly confirmed by example that the "P" in the word "Pilot" does indeed stand for "Prostitute".

 

[T-Gates]

These people were not MERELY working on their private certificate. They were paying a large sum of money up front to someone that promised to provide them with an instant career in aviation by bypassing the process that makes professional pilots experienced aviators instead of just people that bought a license to fly a plane. No different from PFT except that ATA had contractual arrangements with airlines rather than the students paying the airline directly.

A whore is a whore is a whore no matter how shes dressed up and wether she works at Gulfstream, got her ATP at ATA, or paid for a Metro FO job at Eagle Aviation.

So basically anyone who does differently than you did, whored them self out. I see. Some of theese guys are working on thier CFI, II, and MEI. You just made a gross generalization about a whole pilot group. Anyone who goes to a school who trains pilots and says that you "may" get an airline job is a whore. You are demented.

So to anyone who wants to be a disgruntled Westwind captain who has nothing better to do than call a bunch of people whores who just got gyped out of a collective Millions of dollars and rant and rave about crap all day just PM flydog. He'll tell you how to get on that "Fast Track".

--03M

 

[Robert Cooper]

The ATA situation seems to be similar to The Academy in Lakeland not too long ago. Students came back from (I believe) Winter break to find the school had closed down. Yet anither "pilot mill" goes belly-up and leaves the hopes and aspirations of many students grounded.

A story told far too often.

My name is Robert Cooper. My wife and I own National Aviation at St. Pete-Clearwater Int'l (PIE). National is one of the oldest flight schools in Florida, having been around since 1968, and one of the first Cessna Pilot Centers. We also own the FBO where National is located: Air-1 Aircraft, the newest FBO in the Tampa Bay area. Air-1 houses Challengers, Lear 60's, Citations, Saberliners, and is regularly visited by G-V's, Global's, Falcon's and other corporate aircraft.

We became a Part 141 school in Sept. 2001. Our Part 141 certificate includes Pvt., Inst., Comm. and Multi. We have had many, many students go through our program. Many stay with us after they earn their CFI; others have gone on to the Regionals and beyond.

We were able to help some of The Academy students, and we may be able to help the ATA students as well.

We don't offer "guaranteed" jobs, marketing hype, etc. You don't wear epaulets and cheap shirts and pants while training. We don't blast you through a program on a strict timetable. We do not make impossible, overhyped promises. You won't see expensive, slick magazine ads. You get what you pay for, and nothing less. And we have a sense of humor.

We DO promise you this: When you leave National Aviation, you will be a competant, safe, and confident pilot. You will have trained in well-maintained, newer Cessna, Piper Seminole, and AMD aircraft. After that, the future is up to you. But you WILL go to job interviews with the secure knowledge that your ability will be easily noticed by the interviewee.

If I can be of service to any of you, please contact David Cunningham, Director of Operations, or Tom Jamin, Chief Flight Instructor at 727-531-3545. Or e-mail: [email protected]. Our website is www.national-aviation.com.

It is sad to hear of these situations and the human tragedy they cause. We would like to do a little something to help.

Robert Cooper, President
National Aviation Holdings, Inc.
e-addy: [email protected]

 

[Timebuilder]

Thank you for stepping up to the plate, Robert. I hope you can help some of these kids.

The next time I'm at PIE, I'll try and stop by to say hello.

 

[flydog]

Just to make it official

If you go National Aviation you wont be a whore

And 9103M keep making broad generalizations about something I was very specific about. Those that PFT and go to places like ATA for the get rich quick-pro pilot in 3 month programs make up a very small percentage of the pilot population. Those that did it "like I did" as you put it is over 90% of us that worked for our ratings and learned what it is to be a professional pilot through hard work and experience not through a 90 day crash course in how to wear epaulets.

People that graduate from ATA and go on to the airlines after never having flown a place 6 months earlier are a piss poor substitute for a seasoned professional pilot whose job they took solely because they had the means to write a $50,000 check

And just to clarify I was referring to those that paid in excess of 50k for a zero through hero airline program not those that attended ATA for specific ratings.

 

[Bouyer]

Flydog the moron has figured it out his way is the only way
yea for the jacka$$

 

[turning2]

A few intersting pictures can be found on by clicking on "news" at this link

 

[350DRIVER]

I do not agree that these students went against the norm at ATA and undercut the industry at all. I truly feel for those who are now out alot of money and can only hope they can continue with training somehow..... On the other hand if you really want to talk about a "joke" and "whores" not too far away from there is Gulf Joke Academy where the "whores" are being produced and that is the true joke and PFT scam NOT ATA students. The difference is very evident and that is why most Gulf Joke "whores" will stay in the closest on this board since they truly are the ones that are in the wrong for "buying" a job with their less than average flight skills.

ATA students were NOT buying a job at all, they were merely paying for there training and hoping to latch on to a regional at a lower time. I see absolutely nothing wrong with that at all..

PFT is PFT and most can see a difference-

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[Hovernut]

Scumbags

I just want to say my heart goes out to those of you adversely affected by this situation. I have a couple good friends who were instructing there; they're now scrambling to find other means of employment, and, God Bless ém, trying to help out their students as well.

It's the ultimate kick in the gut to be mid-career with family and savings and invest it in a future you've dreamed of all your life only to have it snatched away in an instant. Please keep the faith as there are many more "good guys" out there to help you towards that dream than there are scumbags like the Williams.' Don't give up on the dream because of them!

Visit the AOPA CFI database to find good instructors, or visit other reputable schools. I came from Comair and completed their program pretty much as advertised...all the way to the right seat of the CRJ. At least they're backed ultimately by Delta, and I didn't have to pay everything up front, though I'm not up to date on their current tuition policies.

God bless you all and I pray your legal battles will prevail.

 

[Kingairrick]

Back on track...

Hovernut is back on track. Good luck and God Bless. Life is not about what happens to you, it is about how you respond to what happens to you. Don't give up. Almost all of the people in this business like to help other pilots make it. Flydog doesn't, but it's OK. We won't help him either when he needs it someday. Anyone who would kick someone when they are down has no soul.

I have to admit, when I first heard the news, my first thought was that I wouldn't have to be number 6 behind the 172 train for the ILS into exec anymore. That was before I realized that real people got hurt. Hopefully someone will represent the student's interests in the liquidation proceedings.

 

[172driver]

I have to admit, when I first heard the news, my first thought was that I wouldn't have to be number 6 behind the 172 train for the ILS into exec anymore.

Oh, come on, we pump it up to 90 for ya when requested.
Comair and Avion will still be there to keep you company, so you'll now be number 5.

Seriously though, we are all rooting for the students and CFI's affected by this. Keep your chin up and fight em. You will win--righteousness is on your side. When you get that money, keep the dream alive.

 

[T-Gates]

You had to go there.........

Posted by 350DRIVER:

The difference is very evident and that is why most Gulf Joke "whores" will stay in the closest on this board since they truly are the ones that are in the wrong for "buying" a job with their less than average flight skills.

You just had to go there. The one thing that really pisses me off. You have no right whatsoever to asess one's flight skills as "less than average" because someone Paid-for-training. Yes, I paid for my training, so I guess I fall into your "whore" category. But don't you dare have nerve to call myself or anyone else who PFT'd poor pilots. Unless you have personally observed an unsafe ex-GIA or current GIA pilot I think you need to take your baseless comments elsewhere. I do not argue that some will never like what I did. Who Cares? But don't start attacking one's skills for the only purpose of cutting them down further. All that shows is insecurity in your own skills.

--03M

 

[350DRIVER]

I was trying to back up the ATA students and show some "support" after a few negative posts were directed towards them, nothing more and nothing less. I refuse to get into a debate with you and hijack this thread and make it a "Gulf Joke" thread ( there are enough threads concerning that)- there is no debate, facts about the program are as clear as day and most can see that oh so clearly. Don't for one second though compare the ATA and GIA program since they are worlds apart and that was a point that should be made very clear. - A few replies did nothing but blast those students and clearly they have their backs against the wall and this is solely what we need to be concerned with and what we can do to possibly help them out.

My heart and thoughts truly go out to these students that are now out alot of money and I can only hope that they find a way to continue on and make their dreams become a reality.

cheers

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[T-Gates]

I wasn't trying to hijack the thread. Just trying to clear something up. But you and I do agree on one thing, that the subject has been beaten to death.

Anyway, I also hope all of the ATA students get back on their feet soon and are able to resove thier financial matters with the management.

Good Luck,

--03M

 

[350DRIVER]

I wasn't trying to hijack the thread. Just trying to clear something up.

I will better word posts in the future. -

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[100LL... Again!]

As professionals in this industry, we should really take it upon ourselves to strongly persuade new pilots who are looking into this career to NEVER pay up front unless it is a reputable university-financed program. Even then, only one semester at a time.

Does FSI demand the whole amount up front?