ATP vs. ..somewhere else

[dmb911]

Okay, Assuming you have the choice (I do)which would you do? 1. Get your CFI/II/MEI at ATP for 6,000$ and wait around for a job (possibly short or long time) and not know where you're going to be based/how far you will have to move/etc. (These could all go really well or really bad). 2. Other school (AirSafety) that cost over twice the price (15,000$) but offers a much nicer fleet, definate final location, much more money as a Flight Instructor,etc.
It seems ATP has a pretty good reputation on this forum, which is why i'm considering it and the price is incomparable. As i understand you can only make around 800$ with ATP a month? Is this correct?
Does anybody know the likelyness of being hired after completion 50%?90%?
How do you choose your location for where you'll be instructing?
Is Raleigh or Norfolk popular?
What is this i hear about not having to solo students? How do they get their solo requirements?

I'm most interested in bank for buck and job oppurtunity afterwards. Location/Salary/Fleet/frequency of flying/etc. are considerations as well.
Any opinions/thoughts/ideas are greatly appreciated.

[GaTechKid]

Don't choose ATP for the possiblity to get hired afterwards because the chances of being picked up from just doing the CFI program aren't that great. The only instructors who solo students are in the private program at JAX or PHX. The rest of your questions have already been answered in previous posts.

[Fly777bigBIRD]

well assume that you read the ATP thread and seen alot of good reputation, then you should go there....for me, i would go to flight safety b/c of their level-d sim

[buckeye402]

I have instructed elsewhere and ATP. I love it here. You get a lot of multi time and you get to deal with a wide variety of students. To someone who else just getting into a twin, to someone who has over 1500 hours and is getting an ATP cert. You can actually learn a lot from someone getting an ATP cert. As far as location, the first thing they ask you when you go for new hire training is what location do you want. You can wait it out at headquarters for your location or go to the first available location and maybe get the location you wanted later. $800 isn't much but you have no utility bills or rent. Plus you can get added bonuses for your CFI performance. Sometimes $500-1000 on top of the 800. I had the same questions before I came here, and I don't regret coming here one bit.

[buckeye402]

Oh also I did the CFI program only. I did not do the Airline Career Pilot Program. 3 out 4 of us in my new hire class only did the CFI program.

[Adam2006]

I originally planned on going there, and learned several things in my research. First, like anywhere their is no guarantee of any position after going through any program. Second, as an instructor you usually start answering phones in Jacksonville, until you get any location, or the one you are holding out for. I would assume they would hire someone who gave them $45k over $6k, all other things being equal.

The beauty of Atp is there reputation, they seem to deliver what they promise. My advice to you, should you choose them....go for the instructor ratings alone, without the assumption of getting hired. Good luck, and keep us updated.

[Pfly]

1. Get your CFI/II/MEI at ATP for 6,000$ and wait around for a job (possibly short or long time) and not know where you're going to be based/how far you will have to move/etc. (These could all go really well or really bad).

When you get hired at ATP you are put on a seniority list similair to that of the Airlines (by date of hire, then by age) and you can choose which locations you wish to instruct at.

As i understand you can only make around 800$ with ATP a month? Is this correct?

As stated earlier, the base salary is $1000, $200 of which is held back if you choose to stay in their housing (utilities included). There are performance bonuses as well for each student you've signed off who passes a checkride the first time.

Does anybody know the likelyness of being hired after completion 50%?90%?

Depends on your performance and attitude throughout the program. There is no bias against hiring the Total Instructors.

What is this i hear about not having to solo students? How do they get their solo requirements?

Only John or Rich in JAX, Dave in PHX, or Kris in DFW can sign off initial solo's for private students. The instructors in Private Pilot Programs do the solo cross country training and sign off's.

I would assume they would hire someone who gave them $45k over $6k, all other things being equal.

Not really true. Career Pilot student's are preferred but not because of the cost of their program. They bring more than 120 multi hours and a solid knowledge of ATP's policies and procedures with them vs the 15 or so hours a Total Instructor has. Having said that, there are plenty of instructors out there who have 'only' gone through the CFI program. And if they're out there, they're good, regardless of the multi time they had.



Hope this helps, and good luck wherever it is you choose to go!

[CaptainChris87]

do ATP, I hear many good positive comments about it, I even know a few UNDies who did did not continue with their program and did ATP's. but it IS fast paced and a LOT of studying, cost wise I do think 44,599 is expensive I rememebr reading their ad a few years back it was for 37,000.

[dmb911]

Seems there is an overwhelming response to ATP, and good things to say about it. From what i can tell, being hired there is simply a waiting game? I'm not really picky on base but have a few in mind that i would like. I've also heard that Instructors don't solo students, can someone verify this? Anybody been through the CFI course by itself? I'm thinking this might be my better choice, the more info the better.

[Pfly]

Originally Posted by dmb911

Seems there is an overwhelming response to ATP, and good things to say about it. From what i can tell, being hired there is simply a waiting game? I'm not really picky on base but have a few in mind that i would like. I've also heard that Instructors don't solo students, can someone verify this? Anybody been through the CFI course by itself? I'm thinking this might be my better choice, the more info the better.

Dude. Look 2 posts up.