When to get ATP, now or later?

[skywiz]

Currently at almost 1400 hrs tt and in the military. I still have a 5 years left before my commitement is up so by that time I will probably have around 2500 hrs.

My question is should I go ahead and get the ATP once I hit 1500 hrs or wait until I decide to get out of the military (if I do get out)? (could be 5 years from now)

Thanks.

 

[Way2Broke]

Get it when you have the cash, and the time to pass the written. Do NOT take the written and let it expire. Oh and make sure to take the practical in a plane you are current in. The ATP oral is all systems, and you better know them.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Agreed!

 

[RedDogC130]

I would get ASAP and put it behind you. As you get older and lazier, you won't do it and then an opportunity comes along and you wish you had it. You are smarter and a better flier now than you will be so get it while you are good. Get my drift.

 

[ElCid88]

I would get it now.

 

[trashhauler]

Everyone I've known (including me) waited until about a year before leaving the military. It's a waste of time to apply to the airlines without an ATP, and you really won't get an interview any earlier than 4-6 months before you can start a civillian job.

It's up to you, if you have the time now to do it and the interest, it won't hurt. If you would rather wait, no problem there either. If you fail, you have more time to fix it and more time to put it behind you if you do it now.

I don't know any military guys that have failed though. Our flight schools are pretty intense and I didn't think the ATP flying/ground eval was that tough. It does take a little time to study the written question bank.

Good Luck

 

[pilotyip]

See if when you have the written if you can get the check ride in your mil airplane, actual airplane or sim. Then you will have an ATP with a MEL and a type. I know it has been done in the past.

 

[152SIC]

Don't worry about the ATP.

Stay in the military, take the retirement and then get a real job in the civilian world.


I wish someone had told me that years ago!!

 

[pilotyip]

Staying in the military is not a sure thing; in fact t is one of the more insecure jobs out there. Over the history of the military, it has been subject to political expediency and whims. Right now it is probably a secure job, 7 years ago it was not, and no one knows what it will be in 5 years. Military officers need a plan B as much as pilots do. Ask anyone who trained for Korea, Vietnam, or lived through the "Peace Dividend" at the end of the Cold War.

 

[MarineGrunt]

See if when you have the written if you can get the check ride in your mil airplane, actual airplane or sim. Then you will have an ATP with a MEL and a type. I know it has been done in the past.

Yip - Any idea how this is done? I have my ATP written and will probably do my AC upgrade in a year or so. Do I just find a DE and take him on the jet for the checkride? Thanks for any info.

 

[NJA bound]

Yip - Any idea how this is done? I have my ATP written and will probably do my AC upgrade in a year or so. Do I just find a DE and take him on the jet for the checkride? Thanks for any info.

Try your training dept., or ask your fellow squadron pilots. If that doesn't work pop in and see the skipper, should know. If that doesn't work email the base skipper, should definately know. If all of that fails call the FSDO.

If that doesn't work than call 800jetcrew, higher power aviation in Dallas, GI Bill covers 60% of the $7400. hat and you get a free ATP and B737 Type rating, 1 hour oral is a cakewalk, 73 systems are simple and the sim is easy to fly.

 

[GasPasser]

Here's a nugget for you. Rather than getting the quick ATP in a small 2-eng prop plane or the like, and then later deciding you want to be competitive for SWA and have to go out and get the 737 type - wait to do the ATP until you have time to do the 737 type. If you have done your ATP written you'll get a free ATP. That ought to save you grand or so. I wish I had known!

 

[pilotyip]

If you really want a quick cheap ATP, do your check in a SEL, easiest checkride I ever took. No SE apporaches, no SE go around. One forced power off landing, a hold and four approches. Piece of cake. As far a getting your ATP in a military airplane. We had a reservist who was a Fed, and he would ride along on a normal PPC check ride in the P-3 and give the ATP and the type in the L-188. This was 1980.

 

[iflyjets4food]

If you really want a quick cheap ATP, do your check in a SEL, easiest checkride I ever took. No SE apporaches, no SE go around. One forced power off landing, a hold and four approches. Piece of cake. As far a getting your ATP in a military airplane. We had a reservist who was a Fed, and he would ride along on a normal PPC check ride in the P-3 and give the ATP and the type in the L-188. This was 1980.

Does it have to be a complex airplane? This sounds like an easy way to get the ATP completed before my ATP written expires, then just add on the multi-engine ATP when I go do something at flightsafety.

 

[pilotyip]

I did my SEL ATP in Grumman Tiger back in 1977. The inspector could not renew my CFI because it was not a complex airplane, so we rented a C-172 RG and made one landing. That got my CFI renewed. You would have to check the latest ATP PTS to see if a complex airplane is needed for the SEL ATP.

 

[BWatz]

The SE ATP does not have to be done in a complex. I have a friend that did his is a DA40.

 

[iflyjets4food]

Ok, so I can get a 172 and do it. Now, where does one do a SE ATP checkride?

 

[BWatz]

I live in the Atlanta area and pretty much all of examiners that I have used do the ATP ride. (SE or ME) You could use the FAA and escape the $300 fee.

 

[DrProc]

That's all good and dandy about getting a SEL ATP, but which airlines fly a single engine airplane?

 

[pilotyip]

With the SEL ATP you never have to take the written again and you cna legally put ATP on your resume. A MEL ATP is good for maybe Cape Air and one other airline. Plus the MEL is harder and more expensive.

 

[iflyjets4food]

My only purpose for getting the SE ATP would be to not let my written expire, which it will in 2 months. I'm not due a PC before then, so there won't be any way for me to get the ATP without paying for it before the written expires. Then I can get my ME ATP whenever I do a PC because I won't have to re-take the written. Besides, isn't it annoying to have your certificate say ME ATP and SE Commercial. I just want it all to say ATP, so I'd probably do a SE ride anyway to make it so.