ATP written

[panampilot]

I'm starting to get ready for interviewing and was wondering what everyone's thoughts are on having your ATP written done prior to interviewing. I know it couldn't hurt but I just got done with the spring semester and am not quite sure I want to start studying all over again on top of knowing my FAR/AIM and other technical questions.

Also, is the ATP written only good for two years like the other written tests? If so, what happens if you don't upgrade in two years and now your written is no longer good?

Thanks for the replies.

 

[LearLove]

your almost at 1000 tt so the ATP is only 500 hours away (like you already didn't know that) as long as you slide that 500 x-country in there. I'd say you'll be there w/in 2 years so study up and take it.

Sounds like you have the whole summer, so take a little brake then get the red Gleim book and dig in. I recommend that you sked the test a month ahead this will give you reason to study. Set a sked like one chapter every 2 days and before you know it you'll have all the questions memorized before you finish reading the question. Also just do the 135 test, it doesn't matter after you get the rating and most likely if you get a 121 interview before you get the rating they won't care which one you took anyway, they just care that you can show them you can study aviation stuff and do well on a test after.

Don't be intimadated by that thick book, most of it is diagrams and other stuff that you will never look at. A bulk of the questions are right from the comm written and the rest (of the non calculation ?'s) are common flying/aerodyanmic knowledge. As for the long weight and balance and x-country questions the 135 test has like 3 aircraft (CE-208, G1159 and BE1900 maybe one other I forgot) with about 10 questions on x-country and w&b on each. You don't need to do the calculations as each is easy to memorize. For example the caravan goes from LAS to LAX. Its CG is this and the time is that just make a story with the answers so when you get a question on the test you'll know the answer. Do this for all 3 or so aircraft, it will save time and also the answers are so close that if you do the calc and round wrong you might picke 1.35 for time enroute instead of 1.4 which was the correct example.

O well gotta go and start a 4 day, hope this helps


PS - just study the book, don't waste $$$ on a course that gives you the same thing on a computer.

 

[DoinTime]

A word to the wise......do your ATP while you still are used to studying. Its not going to be any easier a couple years down the road when you haven't cracked the cover of a book since your initial training. The ATP written is good for two years but if you gain employment with a 121 carrier before it expires it is good forever with a sign off from your local FSDO.

I did mine about three years after I finished school and it was dam hard. The hardest part, after working at a 121 carrier, was having a good knowledge of how irrelevant most of the questions are. Its hard to study stuff that you know for a fact is BS!

 

[Jet_Dreamer]

It is always good to bring as much stuff as possible to an interview to try and sell yourself. the atp test itself is not all that hard. it will take you a week at the most to prepare.

yes it is good for two years. if hired at a 121 operator prior to two years, it will still be good while you are employed.

hope this helps, good luck.

 

[blott]

If I was you, I'd start studying now, and go ahead and take the test. But then again, the test is much easier if you have been flying the line for a while, and have actually been using that info. Who would you hire, if both applicants to your airline were equally qualified, the guy with the ATP written already done?

As far as the two year deal. There is no limit on the ATP written (as long as you are at a 121), just make sure you don't lose the results.

B

 

[LearLove]

O another thing - get it done while you have the extra time. I say this because some guys I upgraded with didn't do it or didn't have the ATP and were scrambeling when the bid for capt was awarded. sometimes the bid can come fast and unexpected and it looked like it $ucked for thoes guys trying to study ahead of time for the upgrade and get the APT written done before upgrade ground school. Better yet get the ATP as soon a possible as it one less thing you need to worry about durring your first upgrade.

 

[mike1mc]

Does the 2-year exemption still apply if you are working for a 135 carrier?

 

[KATL8R26L]

ATP

I went out and bought the book and the test disk may be its over kill, but with the test disk that gliem puts out you can pound question after question , it also gives you data where you are weak in certian areas.

Gliem has all ways brought me higher scores that any other study material.


good luck

 

[EngineOut]

There are about 30 questions with "certificate holder" as an answer option. In every case, that is the correct answer.

As Dointime says, most of the actual questions are irrelevent to actual operations, because the Approved Operations Manual contains the ACTUAL rules the airline must follow.

Weird.

 

[poydras]

What do you guys think about ATP written schools??
It' s worthy the 300 bucks?????????

 

[Five-O Pilot]

About the expiration of the ATP written, I was having a conversation just this morning about mine, which expires in July. We pulled out the FAR's and as far as we can tell, there is no expiration, as long as you are: (1) employed by a 121, 125, or 135 carrier at the time of the practical, and (2) that you completed that company's approved upgrade training program.

Could somebody else confirm this so that I can continue to breathe easy?

5-O

 

[justmeinmsp]

Make sure your POI signs it, to prove you are employeed at an air carrier prior to the expiration.

I used one of the schools and would do it again. It was very painless and quick.

 

[pilotyip]

SEL ATP

Think about taking your SEL ATP after you take the written, it was the easiest check ride I ever took, did it a G- Tiger, fixed gear, fixed pitch. This means you never have to take the written again, you get to put ATP on your resume, and save all of the expense getting your MEL ATP, which really means nothing. The first time you take a type you get your MEL ATP.

 

[Cargoboy]

I had been flying 135 for about 6 months and thought the same thing. The ATP. I bought a Gleim and sat down and set up a schedule and a date to take the test. I studied for about two weeks and took the test the next time I was on a trip. Honestly I could of studied for about a weekend and passed the test. If you are using your skills it is an easy test. Basically a glorified comm and inst. test that you have already taken. The Cross country I just try and meemorized and did what I did to pass them. If you work one of the problems you will see how rediculously long they are and they use methods you don't ever use anymore. So many new things to get the same answer. And the answers were so close if you made one calc error you could easily guess the wrong answer anyways. So put something together that helps you remember them. It seem like it is overwhelming but really it isn't. The W&B I thought were easy. But then again I have to do them everytime I fly for Cargo. I enjoyed some of the weight transfer questions and stopping distance info. So that sunk in to my head real nice.
Get it done and you will thank yourself later on.
I am taking my ATP flight test and 135 mid year check ride at the same time. Get it done for free and I won't ever have to think about it again. Until I become a captain.

 

[Cardinal]

What kind of scores have you guys been getting? Some of the allATPs guys have mentioned easy high 90s. But I'm staring guiltily across the room at a big red Gleim book, and wondering what my competition is. I'm age limited for the practical, so it's likely I'll have to interview with the test report and score in hand.

 

[Sandstorm]

If you have the motivation to study, I would recommend getting the Gleim computer software. I bought the book, but did not have the motivation to read it. It is now sitting on my bookshelf. I felt the computer software was the easiest for me, simply because thats how the test was gonna be and it seemed much faster to go through all the questions. I had the software for about a year and never looked at it. I started studying when everyone started hiring and when i started sending out my resumes. In the end however, I ended up paying for the All ATP course, because I got a sudden interview. Think it was $200-$300. Don't remember. Anyway, having the written done wasn't a requirement for the interview, but it was required before the start of ground school at AWAC. But I paid to get it done because I felt it would have looked better for the interview. If you dont have the motivation to study on your own, and you have the $$ i would recommend the ATP course. They narrow the questions down from the 1500 or so down to like 500 i think. was really easy to study. ended up getting like a high 90. either way, i think it would be a good idea to have it done bfore an interview.

 

[learherkjay]

I just took my ATP written in March and I used Lone Eagle off of the web. The prep cost $175 and the FAA test cost $80. Lone Eagle sends you a guide book and you get 20 hours of an online "prep" course. I studied for a day and a half and got a 98. I would highly suggest spending the money, but I am a military guy and I am not intimately familiar with the FARs. Lone Eagle boils down the FAA database to about 500 questions - similar to All ATPs, but you get to study at home and take the test near your house (at a testing site); instead of travelling to an All ATP site. Look it up www.loneeaglefaaprep.com
Like I said, I put in maybe 8 hours of good study and got a 98. Well worth the $255

 

[Flash]

I'll throw another pitch in for All ATP's. Just call them, pick a date, put forth a minimal amount of prep time, go there and take the test in one day and get it over with! The before test prep is just memorizing answers for the long w&b and cargo problems. Unless you are one of super motivation and can sit down religiously to study Gleim or King or whatever, I believe the ATP school is the way to go.

 

[poydras]

tahnks ya ' ll for the insights

Poydras

 

[panampilot]

I'm seriously thinking about doing the AllATP's test this next week but am having a hard time biting the bullet. How crazy would I be to not even crack the book and just walk in the day of and get it done. The reason I say this is because I don't have the time to study at all. I'm flying my @ss off and I hope to have an interview next month.

So, am I crazy to just walk in with just CFI experience and expect to do well on the test?