List PROS and CONS about ATP HERE! :)

[Ducky]

Alright I have ready many threads that are not in the subject about the topic but in the case of how good/bad the school is.

Please list the experiences you have at ATP in this format.

PROS:
-
-
-

CONS:
-
-
-

Location:
-

Management:
-Good/Bad/Depends?

Financing:
-Which loan did you went through? (Wachovia,SLM, etc..)

It will make it easier for all of us who wanted to know.

[turbomax97]

PROS:
- Good aircraft/ reliable maintenance - You'll hear a lot of whining about maintenance - but keep in mind that at the bigger locations - the airplanes are due for 100 hours every couple of weeks! It's not so much that things are breaking more on ATP's planes so much, as they just fly a lot more. At my location for example, this last week we were averaging 8 hours of flight every single day on that one poor plane....
- I got exactly what I paid for - nothing more, nothing less
- I've had the ability to network with pilots from nearly every airline company in the U.S. as an instructor.
- I've built up a good ratio of multi time - I should have an ATP this summer, and all but 100 of my hours are multi...

CONS:
- The head maintenance guy was an irritable character, he has since lightened up, maybe because I'm no longer a student?
- The training I got really depended on the instructor more so than ATP. It wasn't until I became an instructor for them that I knew that they had a syllabus - several of my instructors just didn't want to use it. It's actually a great syllabus with tons of info. Unfortunately, a few of my instructors were more concerned with their upcoming interview and getting the flight time they needed than training. This was definately not an issue with the majority of the CFI's though.


Location:
- Dallas/ FT. Worth, Jacksonville

Management:

- Good at Dallas and Jacksonville- the manager really does a stand up job of keeping things flowing smoothly - definately does a lot of running around behind the scenes - but it's nice not have to deal with a lot of the day to day issues. I work at a smaller location, and so all the day to day ops are on me and the other guy I work with.

- In general, ATP has a low tolerance for B.S. - I think especially moreso now that there's a mass influx of students. They would rather put a student through that is dead set on getting through, than waste their time babysitting. Lots of people come to ATP expecting a certificate in exchange for the cost of training; people don't like putting effort in

Financing:
- I started off with SLM, which had a SUPER high interest rate - Think close to 13%. At the time, SLM rates were high because they were the only company ATP used. I believe they use several now so rates are lower. I ended up refinancing for less than half that interest rate with Citi.

I financed about 50 grand which I thought was astronomical. I think with the private now, you're going to spend about 65 grand.... It's not a bad idea to figure out an alternate way of getting the cash.

[v1valarob]

Originally Posted by turbomax97

The training I got really depended on the instructor more so than ATP. It wasn't until I became an instructor for them that I knew that they had a syllabus - several of my instructors just didn't want to use it. It's actually a great syllabus with tons of info. Unfortunately, a few of my instructors were more concerned with their upcoming interview and getting the flight time they needed than training. This was definately not an issue with the majority of the CFI's though.

That is so true! Even though I didnt get through standardization, I still got my binder with the ATP syllabus, and I was amazed and how much information they give the CFI to teach.




-Rob

[SIUav8er]

Originally Posted by v1valarob

That is so true! Even though I didnt get through standardization, I still got my binder with the ATP syllabus, and I was amazed and how much information they give the CFI to teach.
-Rob

The old sylabus that I recieved during standz was so poorly written and disorganized, I never used it. When I started I tried to follow it, but the thing was so poorly laid out, it just didnt make sense.

[v1valarob]

Originally Posted by SIUav8er

The old sylabus that I recieved during standz was so poorly written and disorganized, I never used it. When I started I tried to follow it, but the thing was so poorly laid out, it just didnt make sense.

I figure it has been changed. The one I got was kind of confusing in how the lessons where to be taught, but if you just skim through it the information is really good.

-Rob

[SIUav8er]

hey, you still coming down next week Rob?

[v1valarob]

Originally Posted by SIUav8er

hey, you still coming down next week Rob?

Yup yup. This time next Saturday Nick and I will be in recovery mode, and 4 hours later we will be in a Cessna headed towards the ole' RAL.

-Rob