ATP Airline Career Program

[bobbysamd]

ATP and other accelerated programs

My concern with them is they push a lot of new material that you must learn in a very short time. It could be too much to absorb. Also, because so much learning takes place in such a short time, how thorough and in-depth is it? There is a great amount of OJT that pilots receive, but to receive it properly the basics must be there.

Frankly, I do not see the need to be trained that quickly. There still aren't that many jobs out there to put your newfound training to use. In any training program, but especially the accelerated variety, you need to put the training to use as soon as possible, or else you will lose it as fast as you got it. It's like cramming for a college mid-term or final. You forget everything you learned right after taking the test.

For the money you're paying, better to go slower and be trained thoroughly and in depth. You'll remember more of what you learned later. The basics from your initial training comprise the foundation for the rest of your flying career.

 

[bender]

Instructors are very frank with potential students at their career pilot interviews. The program isn't for everyone and if you aren't able to keep up you should tell your instructor right away. This is the reason that ATP strongly prefers those candidates with at least 2 years of college experience as it required a good amount of study/dedication, unless you went to the University of Georgia . I can't vouch for how much a former student retains after leaving the program because, as bobby stated, if you don't use it you lose it. I will say that, at the time of the instrument checkride, my instrument knowledge was just as strong as the next instrument candidate from a different school. The program then provided me with 75 hours in the IFR system flying across the eastern half of our nation, which served to reinforce and apply the knowledge I had learned.

 

[kntrdr]

Best thing I ever did was go to ATP. If you want to be an Airline Pilot, there is NO BETTER OPTION!

 

[FlyingBuckI]

I went through the ACPP @ FTY (atlanta) back in '02. As with all training, you get out of it what you put in. I studied almost every afternoon when I finished flying and came out almost 2-3 weeks ahead of schedule -- I had most of my instrument training done before I started. The guy who teaches the CFI initial (Walt) at CRG helped write some of the PTS's if that gives you an idea of his experience. I have no complaints about it what so ever.

As mentioned above, they train for the checkrides, but if you go trough the whole program you'll learn a lot more about multi flying after you get your multi and are flying x-c's.

I'm about to finish my degree at Ohio State and I've been speaking with ATP about working there. Every instructor there has had good things to say. All I can say is they run a good program...

 

[dueguard1]

Completed their CFII/MEI Program , and It was pretty Much The fire hose treatment all the way through...................Though it did allow me to complete all my instructor tickets without all the hassle and extra dollars it would have cost me at my other local 141 Flt. School....................I would recommend you go get an hour or two in a Seminole before you arrive for your first Day of Class..................I was'nt to impressed with the Seminole ( I'll take a Duchess any day!!) but nevertheless I made it through.........ATP will want you to fly their Aircraft THEIR way, before you get signed off for any Checkrides, So make sure You know the correct call outs and Before Landing procedures verbatim when they send You the material............

 

[bobbysamd]

Walt Schamel

The guy who teaches the CFI initial (Walt) at CRG helped write some of the PTS's if that gives you an idea of his experience.

That would be Walt Schamel. He is a retired ASI from the Monroney Center in Oklahoma City. I knew him years ago.

Walt used to train DEs. He was also a Civil Air Patrol member and designed a short version of the DE course for CAP check pilots. I took the course from Walt one year and helped put it on the next year. His training proved to be invaluable.

My opinion of firehose flight training is unchanged, but any training Walt Schamel provides will be top quality.