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Cheap ATP rating???

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frapper

frapper

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 4, 2006
Posts
58
:confused:

Alright, so here's the deal... I've been stuck at ASA for 5 1/2 years now. If for some reason I am able to upgrade before the mandatory retirement age, I'll probably sit reserve for a good two years. I have several prospects to go to better paying, decent flying jobs, but I need my ATP prior. I've been sitting on this golden egg for WAY too long now, and I think I may just bite the bullet and buy the rating somewhere.

I already have the ATP written completed, but of course I did it over 5 yrs ago when I thought I would upgrade here.

So two questions... do I need to retake the written since I'm not getting the rating at the 121 carrier I worked for when I took it? Also, where's a cheap flight school to get the rating? Preferably somewhere in the Southeastern US...

Thanks in advance!
 
Bad news is yes, you will have to retake the written. You can only use an expired written if you're going through a 121 carrier upgrade program.

Now a question for you. Would you be going to a job in a plane that requires a type rating? Because if so, you can do the ATP along with the type at flightsafety or simuflight, wherever you go.
 
Why

Why is upgrade taking so long? Though pilots would be flying the coup at ASA with Skywest putting you threw the meat grinder...
 
Capt. JD said:
Why is upgrade taking so long? Though pilots would be flying the coup at ASA with Skywest putting you threw the meat grinder...
Click to expand...

The majority of pilots leaving ASA seem to be junior FOs who don't have much to lose by bailing out.

As an FO coming up on 5 years at ASA I'm in the same boat as frapper. I rode the JS on Delta recently and the crew assumed I was a Captain when I told them how long I've been at ASA. They were very surprised that I couldn't at least hold Captain. That, along with their discussions about about retirement account balances and $800+ a day fishing trips made for a depressing ride.
 
frapper said:
Also, where's a cheap flight school to get the rating? Preferably somewhere in the Southeastern US...
Click to expand...

A friend of mine just did his ATP up at Cobb County McCollum (sp?) and I believe it ended up costing somewhere around $1500-$1700. AllATPs only offers the 10 hour ATP course in ATL so you'd have to go to Birmingham to do their "quicky" course. You'll also have to fly to Birmingham for your checkride if you do the 10 hour in ATL.
 
I did mine at the Comair Aceademy in SFB. You'll get a Delta discount since you're ASA....$140 or so per hour instead of $175 or so. You'll do two flights, both one day and the checkride the next or 1 flight one day and the 2nd the next along with the checkride....assuming availbilty of A/C of course. All said and done with was around $1,600 plus Hotel/Food/Rental car. I stayed at the Holiday Inn near by for $60 ( I think) and rented the smallest car I could for cheap....with a Delta disoount too. Several eating places around the Holiday Inn as well. Easiest certificate I ever did, that's for sure.
 
No, you will not have to retake your written. It's very sketchy how the reg is written, but I just trained an ASA FO for his ATP in a BE-76. The examiner did not require him to retake his written, as long as he could prove he was currently employed by a part 121 carrier. The guy I trained was very sharp, it was really quite easy. The airplane is at McCollum, RYY, in northwest atlanta.

This is very do-able. The examiner that we used was very straight forward.

3, maybe 4 flights in the Duchess, then the checkride in Chattanooga. We can get it done for cheaper than allatps.

PM me, I'll be happy to give details.
 
CFI2766 said:
I just trained an ASA FO for his ATP in a BE-76. The examiner did not require him to retake his written, as long as he could prove he was currently employed by a part 121 carrier. The guy I trained was very sharp, it was really quite easy. The airplane is at McCollum, RYY, in northwest atlanta.

This is very do-able. The examiner that we used was very straight forward.

3, maybe 4 flights in the Duchess, then the checkride in Chattanooga. We can get it done for cheaper than allatps.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure you and I are talking about the same guy but you comment about him being "very sharp" does make me wonder.
 
shamrock said:
That includes the Examiner fee?
Click to expand...

Yup....maybe even less. It was around 6 hours flight time, including with the examiner, plus $400-450 for his fee. I think the plane was around $140/hr? $140 x 6 + $450 = $1,290. It's been around a year or so since I did mine, so the exact numbers are a little sketchy. But the ones I just posted are conservative. I can't remember the DE's name right off, which I should be able too. He's very popular in the Central Florida area and everyone pretty much knows who he is....which is why I'm puzzled I can't remember his name right now. You'll get in touch with him and he'll set the whole thing up...he'll have you in and out in no time.
 
I used to instruct a Sheble Aviation in Kingman, AZ and trained ALOT of ATP students. Show up day 1 at 10 am and be done with your check ride by 10 am on day 2. Its like $1800 which includes the examiner fee. If you jumpseat into LAS, and take the free shuttle to HND, somebody can pick you up there and fly you to IGM for your training for free. Go to www.shebleaviation.com to get the contact info. Ask for Val and tell her I told you to call.
 
I just thought of the the DE's name in Florida. I won't post it here, but if you would like to have his name and website address, PM me and I will be happy to give it to you. I highly recommend him along with a certain instructor, if he's still there.
 
Last edited:
frapper said:
:confused:

Alright, so here's the deal... I've been stuck at ASA for 5 1/2 years now. If for some reason I am able to upgrade before the mandatory retirement age, I'll probably sit reserve for a good two years. I have several prospects to go to better paying, decent flying jobs, but I need my ATP prior. I've been sitting on this golden egg for WAY too long now, and I think I may just bite the bullet and buy the rating somewhere.

I already have the ATP written completed, but of course I did it over 5 yrs ago when I thought I would upgrade here.

So two questions... do I need to retake the written since I'm not getting the rating at the 121 carrier I worked for when I took it? Also, where's a cheap flight school to get the rating? Preferably somewhere in the Southeastern US...

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

Damn!...That's whack
 
There is an endorsement any APD at your company can put on your written test score that will extend it through your practical test. Not a problem.
 
I did something similar and went to a D.E. named John Trask in Presque Isle, ME. Its not in the southeast, but fairly easy to get to. No warm up flights, just jump into the Seneca and go. If you fly up the night before, you can be done by noon the following day. I brought a proof of employment letter to show I was currently employed by a 121 carrier. All said and done, it cost me about $1200 including hotel, cab, food, and everything else you might think of. It was very straight forward checkride. No tricks, no BS.
 
I was in the same boat. 5 years at ASA. I took my ATP written again after 6 years, and paid $1295 + $300 examiner at arlington, TX for my ATP. I am know at the fracs and have no regrets. I get more free food than I can eat, keep the hotel + airline points, and fly new equipment. ASA quickly became not worth the effort!
Good luck in your decision.
 
Birddog said:
I did something similar and went to a D.E. named John Trask in Presque Isle, ME. Its not in the southeast, but fairly easy to get to.
Click to expand...

Presque Isle is certainly not in the southeast! Might want to warn everyone about exactly where it is. Presque Isle, Maine, Canada. When you see polar bears playing hockey and "Moose Crossing" signs everywhere you'll know you've arrived. I can't believe there's actually a DE there. Did he drive his snowmobile to the airport to do the checkride?

All said and done, it cost me about $1200 including hotel, cab, food, and everything else you might think of.
Click to expand...

By "everything else you might think of", you mean the thermal underwear, sweater, overcoat, ski mask, electric gloves, and snow goggles, right?

In all seriousness, how did it work with no training flights? Where you very current on the plane or was he a "reasonable" examiner? I'd almost be interested in going back up there, just so when I left I could be glad I never had to go there again.
 
shamrock said:
Presque Isle is certainly not in the southeast! Might want to warn everyone about exactly where it is. Presque Isle, Maine, Canada.
By "everything else you might think of", you mean the thermal underwear, sweater, overcoat, ski mask, electric gloves, and snow goggles, right?
In all seriousness, how did it work with no training flights? Where you very current on the plane or was he a "reasonable" examiner? I'd almost be interested in going back up there, just so when I left I could be glad I never had to go there again.
Click to expand...
WARNING: Presque Isle is way closer to the Arctic Circle than the tropics. Traveling in 3 out of the 4 cardinal directions will take you into Canada.

I did go during the week of summer that they get. As for the price, I mean plane, examiner fee, cab to the hotel from the airport (he picked my up the following morning), breakfast, the works.

Yeah, Presque Isle is a little off the beaten path. I non-reved to Boston and jumpseated up on Colgan (thanks for the ride guys). As for the plane, he mailed me a run down of relevent information (suggested power settings, airspeeds, and limitations) ahead of time. I had about 0 hours in a Seneca prior to the check ride. I was flying the CRJ at the time and made an effort to hand fly as much as I could for about 2 weeks prior to the checkride. The plane does take a little adjusting to, but it is doable. He is also a reasonable examiner, provided you are reasonable as well. He is very experienced and has all the "been there, done that" Tshirts. Don't show up completely unprepared and expect a gimme ride. He will be able to tell quickly.
 
I'm most worried about getting the engines started and fighting the urge to flare at 50 feet.
....cab to the hotel.....
Click to expand...

Lemme guess, the Northeastland? (I think there's maybe 2 hotels in Presque Isle so I have a 50-50 chance of getting it right.)
 
shamrock said:
I'm most worried about getting the engines started and fighting the urge to flare at 50 feet.
Click to expand...
He gave me a little help with the first. For the second, I took a few minutes to sit in the plane and look out over the nose, to help adjust my mental picture. I did end up keeping a little power in and feeling my way down from about 20 feet. Its his personal plane, so he won't let you bend it.

To tell the truth, I don't remember the hotel name. It was recommended to me and it was a small, independent place. Pretty basic, but friendly.
 
BLing said:
I used to instruct a Sheble Aviation in Kingman, AZ and trained ALOT of ATP students. Show up day 1 at 10 am and be done with your check ride by 10 am on day 2. Its like $1800 which includes the examiner fee. If you jumpseat into LAS, and take the free shuttle to HND, somebody can pick you up there and fly you to IGM for your training for free. Go to www.shebleaviation.com to get the contact info. Ask for Val and tell her I told you to call.
Click to expand...

Word on going to Shebles
 

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