Past or present ATP students please help

[skydork]

I am going to attend the ATP pro pilot course and have managed to scrape up enough money to pay for the course, checkrides, etc and since they provide housing, I won't have to worry about that while I'm there. Could any of you that have been through the course give me an idea of how much money I would need to live on while there? Obiously food, laundry, and basic living expenses, but I'm sure there is something I'm not thinking of or am not aware of. According to them, all I need to bring is linen and what I wear. Any insight is appreciated as I am going to be low bugdet for a while. A long, long while since I may have a hard time getting an instructor job when completed based on some of the posts on this board, but what the heck, I love to fly!

Thanks in advance...


BTW, a will be going to ATL

 

[Henrsd28]

Hi SkyDork

Have you taken a look at a school in Fort Pierce Florida Called Ari Ben Aviator. they offer an identical Course to ATP with 200 hours of Multiengine time...NO SIMULATETOR....for $25,000 and that includes Housing

you can go to their webpage via BEAPILOT.COM

 

[skydork]

bump

 

[LR25]

Whats wrong with taking a fraction of that money and finding a CFI at your local airport to get your ratings.

Your not getting a medical degree, you flying airplanes. That piece of paper is good no matter where you get it.

Not trying to sound negative, but I havnt figured out why people spend so much money just to have their rating when they can do it for much less.

With the money you save, you can go rent a twin and have fun biulding your time.

Just a thought.

Good luck in your training.

 

[skydork]

Thanks, but I'm just looking for info about ATP which I'm going to. Everyone's situation is different and I'm not going to go into why this is the best option for me. And about 160/hr for all ratings, mostly multi, housing and a few hours in a citation is pretty good in my book. And before someone jumps all over me let me say I know the citation time won't get me a job or anything, but it'll be dam fun!

 

[list2002]

Hey man, don't worry what everbody says about the course, it is fast paced, fun, and the time building portion is cool because you work with dispatchers and fly all over the place.
Although I wish you wnt to Stuart FL, that's the location where I work, atlanta has some good instructors.
Although the housing at ATlanta may be a bit crowded, the places have washer/dryer, all the things in a kitchen to cook what you need to, and that is basically how you are going to save the most of your money, cook.
I think there is a gym at that place,and maybe a tennis court for some rec stuff that doesn't cost any extra.
But you are basically going to be studying and flying most of the time, so until you're done with the program saving money will just be in the back of your mind... Like you said, it's the long haul afterwards while you're building time and paying the loan back that your belt needs to tighten.
Have fun, you'll be accomplishing a lot very soon.

 

[airjackson]

Just be prepared to eat, sleep, and $hit flying for three months straight.....

Seriously, it is a great program IF you put 110% effort into it. There is very little hand-holding and not much slack should you fall behind. I saw more than one student get dropped from the program when they began faltering and/ or couldn't keep up. As far as costs, you should be able to keep them down if you eat at home every day. You really won't have time to go "out" and waste away money. Don't know much about the ATL location. I was a student / Instructor at the JAX location 1 1/2 years ago. Best investment I ever made. Three months school, six months as an instructor (logging 80-100 hrs seminole time/ month) and gone. Of course, the industry is different now, but you should still have the opportunity to instruct for ATP when you complete the program, assuming you do well and get hired. Good luck and have fun.

 

[NYRANGERS]

You may also make some very valuable connections at ATP. I never went there but networking is everything in this business.