Me/mei

[airplane wizard]

I am looking to get my ME and MEI rating soon. Which is better...local FBO or quickie class at ATP?

 

[QuasarZ]

I went to traverseair.com and got my ME with the check ride in 8.3 hours. cost 1295 plus examiner fee. I really enjoyed the instructor, all he does in ME/MEI and sea plane stuff!

 

[Amish RakeFight]

ATP will get you done quick. In terms of quality instruction, well that will differ depending on instructor and location.

Here's a place I would recommend.

www.prairieairservice.com

You'll learn something here from someone who's been doing ME stuff for a long, long time - unlike anyone you'll encounter at ATP.

 

[eagle06]

ive never flown at ATP but have not been impressed with some of its instructor grads I have flown with. It would probably be among the cheepest though.

 

[FlySacto]

Depends on if you want to talk about a "pinked" checkride in an interview. I've heard of too many at the local ATP.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Depends on if you want to talk about a "pinked" checkride in an interview. I've heard of too many at the local ATP.

Heed this folks. I think a lot of people go to "ALLATPS" so they can sleepwalk through ratings - untrue. When I got my ME at one of their locations I witnessed 2 applicants before me get the pink slip - both very cavalier. One was an ATP ride, the other an MEL. Luckily, I passed and got my temp after tie down. Definately no cake walk on my ride.

Although they use the same couple of examiners at each location, it's not a "sure thing" like some feel it is.

You better be prepared before you get down there. They are only there to get you a rating in as short a period of time as possible. This requires that you know the supplement they send you COLD, inside and out. You should also make sure you're proficient all around, including your instrument flying and ground work. Also know what's beyond that supplement too. I got asked stuff that wasn't covered in that little booklet.

 

[andym037]

My vote would be for the local FBO. I've heard very bad things about ATP. However, my advice would be to forgo the MEI alltogether and try for a regional without it. If you still have a few thousand dollars burning a hole in your pocket, just buy a block of ME time. In my experience, the MEI is a waste of money unless you are already working for a flight school who happens to need an MEI. Thats my $.02

 

[Goose Egg]

For the record, the MEI was a crucial element to me building multi time. I finished the Commercial multi in 7 hours. To buy 93 hours of multi time to get that magic 100 would be, well, prohibitively expensive. (93 x $200 = $18,600). I am fortunate enough to work at a flight school that payed for my MEI, but even if they hadn't, it surely would have been cheaper than $18,600. (Incidentally, $18,600 is about 3/4 of what I payed for my private through CFII.) It seems to be that it would be wasting money to not get the MEI, not t'other way around.

In any case, I think you'd be better off flying at an FBO, provided that it was a good situation, i.e. an experienced and skilled instructor, an airplane that is in good shape and reasonably priced, FBO management competent, friendly, professional, etc. This is nothing against ATP per se. I haven't really dealt with them at all, so they may be great for all I know. I just happen to feel that you'll save a lot of money in the long run if you allow proper time to absorb the information in the first place, and there really is no better place than an FBO to do this. Take your time and actually try and learn something.

-Goose

 

[Swass]

Prairie Air Service. They are the best.