ATPflightschools.com

[RFC1873]

Why are they the only flight schools that you have to be a US citizen to train with them? I am not a US citizen but I have a SSN and a green card, every other school I have spoken to said all I have to do is submit a training request on flightschoolcandidates.gov. Anyone know the reason why ATP wont let non US citizens train at their schools?

 

[CaptETWes]

Why are they the only flight schools that you have to be a US citizen to train with them? I am not a US citizen but I have a SSN and a green card, every other school I have spoken to said all I have to do is submit a training request on flightschoolcandidates.gov. Anyone know the reason why ATP wont let non US citizens train at their schools?

My guess is - and this is not meant as derrogatory in any way - that the process of getting TSA approval to train non-US citizens is a huge pain in the rear. It can take months for this process to be completed along with hundreds of dollars, at the students expense of course. I know that an extensive FBI background check is required along with fingerprinting.

So, my theory is that ATP doesn't want to deal with all of that.

 

[SPilot]

My guesses;

#1 I might be talking about a different flight schools here... If you're referring to "ATP" flight school in Jacksonville, FL, I believe the owner of that ATP flight school also is financially behind Phoenix East Aviation and some other flight schools. PEA is an extremely international school. The owner attempts to deliver a good flight training service to the entire area, and may see his schools as one large operation, each focusing on different market segments.

#2 As before mentioned, the beuracracy that comes with foreign students with immigration and TSA approval, requires someone at the school handling all the paperwork. Although the fees are paid by the student, it is still an expense for the school as they actually have to employ a person to manage the communication with the government.

#3 It is a risk if they should end up being the flight school that trained a foreign terrorist, although the responsibility is shared. Some people are more afraid of foreigners than others. Thats just the way it is after 9/11.

#4 Also, looking at atpflightschool.com its easy to see that most of the programs are tailored toward ratings and flight operations that are most usefull to american pilots/people with green card and who are elligible for whatever security checks the major airlines may require. So assuming that most of their customers are americans, it is a bad investment for them to involve themself with a few foreign students, because of the expenses mentioned in #2.

 

[RFC1873]

Does all of this mean that once I finish my training that it is going to be extremely difficult for me to get a job here as a pilot?

 

[Inconceivable]

SPilot--

I had thought that the owner of ATP was a FDX pilot, hence the color scheme.

I also thought that the owner of PEA was an EAL sc@b who also owns the FLL JetCenter. Not to be confused with the EAL sc@b who owns Gulfstream airlines.

RFC--

Yes. Some airlines won't even hire you. Of course, it's not for that reason. That would be illegal.

Best of luck to you, regardless.

 

[bizicmo]

He is or was at fdx from what I heard in the past.

 

[part61]

Yeah the owner of atp is a retired FDX guy, i have flown with him. He gave me my high performence sign off in a CE-500. He is a good guy.

I am pretty sure he has NOTHING to do with Pheonix. he is very busy running ATP. When i was there they did take non U.S. citizens and actually made alot of money from doing their Airline Transport Pilot tickets. hence the name ATP, the original mission for the school was to get FDX gys who were about to upgrade to capt their ATP.

IMHO ATP is a good school they get u done quick but i think that the price is now too high, and it can be done much cheeper at a local FBO. But if u insist on going to a large "name brand" school, ATP wont steal your money, unlike others... from what i have heard.

 

[part61]

He retierd early from FDX cuz he was making $$$$$$ with ATP. Must be nice

 

[part61]

I know that al new hires are requried to work the phones, so it may have been that you just talked to someone who did not know anything.

I would find it unusual that they would turn down all that possible income because of a little paer work, but i could be wrong

Damn T.S.A.!

 

[RFC1873]

I know that al new hires are requried to work the phones, so it may have been that you just talked to someone who did not know anything.

I would find it unusual that they would turn down all that possible income because of a little paer work, but i could be wrong

dang T.S.A.!

It says on the website that you have to be a US citizen. I called to speak to them to see if they could make an exception since I have a SSN and a green card but they said something about it being against TSA regulations for non US citizens to train, which is complete B.S.