ALL ATPs?

[mudkow60]

Has anyone completed the ALL ATPs ME Instrument/Commercial add-on program? I am planning on getting both ratings from them next month, and was wondering if anyone had some tips or advice.


Thanks

 

[aucfi]

I did that program last July. Only advice I can offer is what they say. Read the supplement and have it memorized before you get there.

I'm not sure where your doing yours at but I did mine out of RDU and did the check ride at RWI. The oral consists of only the information in that supplement (first 14 pages) and was a no brainer.

Its supposed to be a four day thing but I finished in three days. I flew for three hours each day and took the check ride on the third. Did this mainly because of airplane/instructor availability.

Good luck

au

 

[mudkow60]

Thanks. I am doing mine out of Pensacola, FL. I have flown that ILS lots of time in the helo, so I am familiar with that.


I opted for the 15 hour program, so I can have a little extra twin time to become proficient. Also, for the cost break down, the extra time costs only $100 an hour (with instructor) so I could not beat that deal.

I have started going thru the suppliment, and it seems intreasting.

Thanks again!

 

[Dangerkitty]

Has anyone completed the ALL ATPs ME Instrument/Commercial add-on program? I am planning on getting both ratings from them next month, and was wondering if anyone had some tips or advice.


Thanks

I have been wondering why everyone calls these guys ALL ATPS when infact their name is just ATP. I know the phone number is 1-800-ALL-ATPS but that is it.

When I got my multi there back in 1995 the instructors called it ATP. I know it is really stupid for me to bring it up. It has always preplexed me.

 

[Fuzzy_is_Hungry]

I did my ME add on there a few years back at TTN. I would recommend their program for the ME, but that is it. You don't learn anything there except how to mechanically fly the airplane exactly how they tell you to do it, and thats it. I wasn't impressed at all.

On the lighter side, it was nice to get the ME taken care of in four days!

 

[GoingHot]

I did the ME Commercial Inst add on about 7 years ago in Atlanta (FTY). At the time, I had very little airplane time but the 10-hour program worked out well. You won't find a better deal anywhere. There will be an instructor in the airplane, but don't expect any "instructions". You just go out to the practice area and start going through the maneuvers. Get the little ME book from them ahead of time. They will send it to you, even before you pay your deposit. Know everything in it before you get there, and it will be an enjoyable experience. For the oral, he opened the book and went page by page to the end, asking questions. No surprises. You will need a extra $300 for the ride, (or whatever the examiner charge where you are). I plan to get my ATP there this summer.

The little ME book is excellent. I still carry it in my flight bag, and use it as a refresher from time to time.

 

[mudkow60]

Thanks all.


I am looking forward to it. I have 18 hours of twin time, but that was ages ago when I was in college. It seems like a good organization. I just need the ME Instrument / Comm. for an intreasting job that I am planning on taking when I am done with the military.

Again,

Thanks.

 

[sorenk]

would anybody recommend their entire Program(both)? For someone who's older, 37, and wants to get ratings and twin time up asap? in order to get closer to a Regional job.

 

[svcta]

I have friends who've gone there and friends who have gotten the same ratings on their own in the same amount of time. If you have the time to devote to it, a stable source of A/C rental, and money to spend all at once, you can get the certificates on your own for less $$. Then get a job teaching and build the time yourself while getting paid for it.

I don't know how flight schools are these days, but if I could get a job as an MEI reasonably soon I would do the ratings on my own. NO OFFENSE TO ANYONE intended, but the pilots coming out of ATP are pretty bad as a rule. There's just no way to teach anything more than mechanics in that short a time. That's not their intention, by any means, though. They are a rating mill. And that they do well.

On another note, there's really no rush to get to the regionals at this moment. In my opinion there's probably another year to go before there will be alot of movement there like we say just prior to 9/11.

Go to your flight school and tell them about your goals. If they're worth their salt they(your instructor) will sit down and lay out a program that may work just as well for you as ATP's and could cost you less. Especially if there's someone you could pair up and go through together with.

Multi time is great, and extremely important. But it's worthless without total time. Remember that you may get a couple hundred hours of multi in 3 mos with ATP, but yoiu'll still need another 1000 hours at least before you're competitive with most regional airline applicants. Moral of that story: you've got time to build the multi.

 

[exnavy]

I did my Commercial Multi add on and MEI add on with those guys. Like the previous posters said, all they really teach you is the checkride but its nice to have it done in a couple of days. Good luck with the PNS examiner(initials RP), he is quite thorough(ESPECIALLY with initial CFI applicants) but fair.

 

[TheChief]

HOw much do they want for the comm/multi add on? I found a place that would do it for $1400 in a Seminole and was looking into it.

 

[Atccfi]

I personally trained at ATP and it is just like everyone is saying....a ratings mill.... If you are planning on doing the Career pilot Program, go in there knowing everything you need to for the written tests... You will not learn much while you are there. Figure you might have an instructor that flew a plane for the first time 5months before you sign up..... how much can you truly learn!?!?!?maybe I am just an idiot, but I did not learn much theoretical stucff there. I did learn however how to fly that plane extremely well. I will give them that...or maybe just my instructor. Learn your supplement inside and out and then do it again. The 40 questions on the last 2 pages of the book...be able to spit those answers out frokm route learning.... If you can get hired on as an instructor after you finish, it is a GREAT deal. You will be flying a jet within a year, probably less. PM me if you have any more questions.

 

[psysicx]

If there pilots are so bad wouldn't they wash out of airline training?

 

[wiggsfly]

Just about everyone where I work went there for their me add-on in the last year. The instructor I had was great and the planes were well taken care of (which is more than I can say for most places I looked at). I'll be going back for my MEI when I get the money.

 

[Greaseman]

Mudkow,

I was an instructor at the ATP base in PHX several years ago and taught the course that you are inquiring about. No question that upon arrival to ATP, goal one is for you to pass your checkride. It is nothing short of a rote-level exercise to for you to get the rating in question.

And you know what....it frickin' works! The success rate for the guys that I taught...including over 100 military candidates that were getting their ATP's was well in excess of 90%.

I won't argue with the notion that a sit-down with the local flight school might save you a few bucks, however I DO know that your goal of attaining that rating in the most expeditious manner, on time---on budget, is something that ATP can deliver.

As for the ATP pilots being "pretty bad as a rule"...every last guy, (ATP instructors) from that office went to a regional airline and have been highly successful.

PM me with any questions.

 

[sorenk]

Thanks for info. Wondering the average time it might take to get 300 mulit hours doing MEI if youre ft & devoted?

 

[logansun]

I was an instructor at the ATP base in PHX several years ago and taught the course that you are inquiring about.
As for the ATP pilots being "pretty bad as a rule"...every last guy, (ATP instructors) from that office went to a regional airline and have been highly successful.

I was wondering what the chances of instructing with ATP would be after going through their CPP? I have the inst. ticket. Would you recommend getting my COMM. locally then acquiring the CFI's with them? Are the chances of instructing the same?
Thanks, Logan

 

[Greaseman]

Logan,

The more time that you spend with them, (ATP) the better--ergo get your ratings with them. As far as the chances of instructing with them after your CPP, that was entirely a result of a guys/girls attitude during his/her training. You will make that impression early on in your training.

Best of luck.

 

[logansun]

Logan,

The more time that you spend with them, (ATP) the better--ergo get your ratings with them. As far as the chances of instructing with them after your CPP, that was entirely a result of a guys/girls attitude during his/her training. You will make that impression early on in your training.

Best of luck.

Thought I would pick your brain a minute. I have seen in threads that buying your time through an academy may not look good in an interview, have you ever been so called "blackballed" for this approach when applying for a job? When you finished ATP, did you feel the financial burden was worth it? Did they help you get a job?
I'm 32 now and I decided to start flying a couple years ago, I feel that where I'm going to school at has taken too much time. Did you experience this and then decide to go to ATP?
I'll keep the question to a minimum, thanks for your response in advance. Logan

 

[Greaseman]

Logan,

Start making COMMAND decisions NOW and absolutely forget about being "blackballed" by anyone. When you walk in to a prospective employer with a thousand hours of multi-time, (the average that ATP guys were leaving with several years ago), you will have their attention.

I too started relatively late in the game and heard all the smack about buying jobs, time etc. Forget it, anyone that has that kind of hard-on for how you built time isn't worth YOUR time. Don't worry, you will pay your dues regardless, just don't let anyone else act as your dues "banker".

It is precisely because other flight schools didn't share my sense of urgency that I'm recommending ATP.

Remember, the only reason that guys bite you in the a@s is that they're behind you.

Good luck.

 

[logansun]

sound advice! Thanks

 

[sorenk]

Hmmm, ok heard some not so good things about ATP in particular. I was/am interested in that program myself b/c the dual program seems to really get you started in the Regional direction. but...