$$$Airline Tran$port Professional$ Career Pilot Program???$$$

[TRLpilot]

daydreamin, i can relate. i'm 32 with a wife and son and am planning on giving up the office job for a career as a pilot. looks like you've received the standard answers on here of "don't do it!" to "go for it." here's my take...

it's not too late to start. i've been working at an office job for almost 10 years which sometimes seems like forever, then i realize i have about 30 more years of work to do! you still have half your life to live and i say to do it in a way you enjoy.

folks on here talk about how the industry is going down and there are no pensions left and you will probably not make $150k a year. i don't see how that is any different then where i am now, and maybe you too.

i do have some concern, however. it has taken you 4 years and still no private. it's just the first step followed by hills of work to do next (instrument, comm, cfi). you're contemplating biting the bullet and cramming through an atp course. beware, it's going to be a lot of work and it'll just be the beginning. those programs and then the possible job that follows is long hours everyday, and for months. are the wife and kids ready? and then the 2 or more years flying freight at night?

i'm taking a different approach. i already had my private and have been spending the past couple of years building my time and hanging around the fbo. there's a lot that can be learned by listening to old-timers. i'm enjoying the flying that i'm doing and now that i am starting my instrument i feel i'm ready for the next step. i hope to get my instrument and commercial done within the next year and then go straight into working on my cfi-ii. i know some folks say that i'm just getting further behind in line for a good job by waiting but the main thing is i'm not getting in over my head, and am paying as i go. i know someday the time will come when i have to take the leap of faith and quit my 8-5 job but when i do i want to be ready, and hopefully the industry will be in a good upswing, which seems to be showing a little bit of possibility with some hiring starting again.

 

[Jetter2]

They say you don't have time for a part time job in the program, so what do you do for cash to ya know, buy food and stuff?

 

[JB74]

so what do you do for cash to ya know, buy food and stuff?

Realistically, you would need to have that cash on hand going into the program. Add up all your expenses for a month (rent, food, beer, clothes, whatever) and multiply by however many months you plan to be there. That is what you will need to keep your head above water during that time.

 

[s0ldier93]

Hhhhmmmm....

Well. I'm 28, with my PPL and 100.1 hours. One Embry-Riddle (extended campus so no flight included) degree with two miniors. One wife. One 40K/year job as a technician. Over 3 weeks of vacation built up. And some VA benifits left over after the degree.

Instead of quiting the current job, I'm sliding into the flight thing instead. I plan on doing the 10 day IFR thing at my favorite flight school using a bit of vacation. Practicing CPL manuvers after work (did i mention that work was from 6 to 2:30?) until i'm ready for that ride. Then doing the 14 day CFI/CFII/MEI thing at ATP. after that, I can still keep my day job and be an afternoon and weekend CFI until I can completly replace a technician income with a flying one. Since my wife also works, we can afford me to make less if needed.

Anyway, I'm just saying, can you take it a little easier rather than doing it all at once like that?

OK, I'm done.

 

[bobbysamd]

Career changing

daydreamin, i can relate. i'm 32 with a wife and son and am planning on giving up the office job for a career as a pilot. looks like you've received the standard answers on here of "don't do it!" to "go for it." here's my take...

it's not too late to start. i've been working at an office job for almost 10 years which sometimes seems like forever, then i realize i have about 30 more years of work to do! you still have half your life to live and i say to do it in a way you enjoy.

You should read my response to daydreamin. above. Also, take it from someone who knows. Being hired as a pilot is among the toughest endeavors there is. Getting pilot jobs and climbing the aviation career ladder is not as simple as sending in your resumes and deciding which interview to attend. For every one hundred resumes you send you'll be lucky if you get one answer. It's not like applying for office work. I know about that, too.

You, too, need to think it over carefully before you forge ahead.

 

[carafreefly]

I will sing praises for ATP.

I can offer some info on ATP.
I am a Commuter Pilot and had some time off this summer. I decided to get my CFI/II/MEI. I hate to waste time so I looked into ATP. At a few of their locations they are set up to do a 14 day course for these three ratings. Yes, it's one of those things where you don't believe it until you see it, but I gave it a shot and sure enough, on the 13th day I passed my final checkride and flew home on the 14th.
Obviously it was intense, but they have it down to a science and get the job done. One important note: you have to be flexible. You have to go with the flow, you may not know when your checkride is until the day before or the morning of. Things happen quickly and are subject to change last minute. If all the examiners are booked, they will send you to another location to get your rides done. You may airline or you may fly a company plane depending on your program.
It was very different from my other training experiences, but the system they have is like no other, and I would highly recommend it whether you are starting from the beginning or adding on ratings.
I've seen success with both scenarios. I've met a lot of Profesional Airline Pilots who go there to do FE/ATP writtens or checkrides or add on CFI's and everyone has been pleased with their proffesionalism, aircraft, and efficiency.
I was pretty surprised how it all worked out.
Yes, it's a huge chunk of cash if you do the whole program, but seriously worth it. I believe it will save you frustration, time and ultimately money.
Feel free to ask Q's if you want....good luck.

 

[GaleWolf]

Just wanted to point out that there's also a 10-month version of the program, which is aimed towards "career changer" types. This way, you can continue to work for a bit longer while you get all the ratings.

 

[bender]

I'm currently in the 10 month program and I've posted a link to the journal I'm keeping. The guy who posted about his experience with the CFI/CFII/MEI program was absolutely right. The program will be intense and can be hectic at times, such as the few days leading up to my pvt-multi rating. Due to an abnormally high number of aircraft time-outs and maintenance issues there were only a couple seminoles available for training. This meant that my checkride was scheduled on Wed. morning and the first time I stepped in a multi engine aircraft was Mon. afternoon. To be successful at ATP you must be willing to put in a lot of study time outside of the program. It was the only reason I was fully prepared for the checkride.