Going to ATP Long Beach

[dpgtime]

I have decided to go to the Long Beach location starting next month sometime. Just looking for any comments from pilots that have attended and can give me a sense of the instructors and If that is a better location than KRAL.

[guywhoflies]

Honestly don't know any people on here who have been through LGB recently. There are two instructors at that location, I know one of them. He is really cool. RAL has two new instructors who came from another location. Again, I don't think anyone on here has been through RAL since the two new guys showed up. There may be someone who is there currently, I'm not sure. Good luck where ever you go.

[Scanman]

I am one of the "two new instructors" from ATP Jax to transfer to Riverside. This is a fantastic location with top notch instruction (can't sell myself short lol).. but seriously we live and breathe aviation here at KRAL and hope to share that passion with incoming students.

[Captain_Bob]

Originally Posted by Scanman

...but seriously we live and breathe aviation here at KRAL and hope to share that passion with incoming students.

But... what about the rumors that all big school instructors don't care about their students and provide sub-par instruction?

[Scanman]

Originally Posted by Captain_Bob

But... what about the rumors that all big school instructors don't care about their students and provide sub-par instruction?

That has not been my experience with ATP as a student or as an instructor.

[dpgtime]

Thanks for the insight on ATP. I know KRAL very well. My CFI has all her students fly from home base KVNY to KRAL for their checkrides. Did my Private ride there with a Thomas Hamm fellow....Awesome DE!!! Very fair and makes one feel comfortable. On another note, flew to Hemet the other day, should have stopped in and said Howdy. Nothing in Hemet but a nice Cafe and the worlds largest collection of actively driven F150's...

[Scanman]

Originally Posted by dpgtime

Did my Private ride there with a Thomas Hamm fellow....Awesome DE!!! Very fair and makes one feel comfortable...

Tom is great, just met him recently as he did a private multi check ride for my student. My student was very pleased with Tom and the manner in which he conducted himself.

[RICHARD5]

Originally Posted by Scanman

I am one of the "two new instructors" from ATP Jax to transfer to Riverside. This is a fantastic location with top notch instruction (can't sell myself short lol).. but seriously we live and breathe aviation here at KRAL and hope to share that passion with incoming students.

Anyone at RAL qualified to instruct for initial CFI?

[DE727UPS]

"Did my Private ride there with a Thomas Hamm fellow....Awesome DE!!! Very fair and makes one feel comfortable."

I concur. He did my overwater line check to HNL and back to release me to the line at a Capt. Very laid back guy. And he's my boss....

[DL31082]

Originally Posted by RICHARD5

Anyone at RAL qualified to instruct for initial CFI?

I doubt it. They would send you to one of the 3 CFI schools. I pretty sure they are either PHX, ATL, or JAX.

[v1valarob]

RAL as a location is awesome. The terrain makes for some interesting approaches. Gotta love doing slow flight and have your DE say hmmm, lets make a turn before we hit the mountain. Or maybe not love? MEAs of 11,000' are fun in a Seminole that can barely make it.

As for the instruction at RAL, I can no longer comment. I think its pretty ####ed up how ATP let go 3 great guys, maybe there is more to the story, but one was my CFI and he was great, the other went through the program just after me and I knew him fairly well and have much respect for him.

[v1valarob]

Originally Posted by DL31082

I doubt it. They would send you to one of the 3 CFI schools. I pretty sure they are either PHX, ATL, or JAX.

Vegas if you go to RAL.

[dpgtime]

I used to make a trip out to RAL for some cross country time from VNY. An update since yesterday....I went to ATP Long Beach yesterday and was very pleased. I met the two instructors and have a great feeling about both. They were very gracious and helpful. The sim was fun, got to do some single engine flying and landings, and did a no vis ILS KLGB. I think LGB is where I'll attend.


P.S. That pic of all you at the table brings back memories of KRAL. That table is where I did my pacing before my Tom Hamm checker. KRAL must have been fun to attend..other than the dilapidated VOR that never works.

[v1valarob]

Originally Posted by dpgtime

P.S. That pic of all you at the table brings back memories of KRAL. That table is where I did my pacing before my Tom Hamm checker. KRAL must have been fun to attend..other than the dilapidated VOR that never works.

Which picture is that? The one outside of the cafe?

[dpgtime]

Si!

[SIUav8er]

Originally Posted by Scanman

I am one of the "two new instructors" from ATP Jax to transfer to Riverside. This is a fantastic location with top notch instruction (can't sell myself short lol).. but seriously we live and breathe aviation here at KRAL and hope to share that passion with incoming students.

youre a scab! lol, just kidding. i just know the guys that all got "let go" and were replaced by you. There was no reason given to the other instructors, just that JK wanted to change things up and bring in new faces to Riverside. Kinda sucks for the 3 instructors that were let go.

[Counselor]

A couple of questions. Even though Long Beach is listed as a "Self-Paced" location only, is it possible to get through in the 90 days there as well? Second, where are students living who attend the Long Beach location?

[NJT916]

Tom is good, but so is Steve over at Cable.

Make sure and go through the VFR corridor over LAX at some point. Oh yeah, and break away for some tri-tip during the week.

75 and sunny in the winter..nice choice.

[minitour]

NJT: love the avatar!

-mini

[vdsteelman]

Originally Posted by v1valarob

RAL as a location is awesome. The terrain makes for some interesting approaches. Gotta love doing slow flight and have your DE say hmmm, lets make a turn before we hit the mountain. Or maybe not love? MEAs of 11,000' are fun in a Seminole that can barely make it.

As for the instruction at RAL, I can no longer comment. I think its pretty ####ed up how ATP let go 3 great guys, maybe there is more to the story, but one was my CFI and he was great, the other went through the program just after me and I knew him fairly well and have much respect for him.

I sure hope you're not talking about Billy as one of the "great guys."

[mshunter]

Originally Posted by Counselor

A couple of questions. Even though Long Beach is listed as a "Self-Paced" location only, is it possible to get through in the 90 days there as well? Second, where are students living who attend the Long Beach location?

#1: It's self paced. If you have the drive, and can get the instructor to go that fast, you can do it in 90 days. I would try and get one of the instrucotrs who has experince with the fast track program.

#2: The students usually live at home. They sometimes (rarely) let the students stay in the appartments with the instructors. But since I have known anyone at ATP, I only know of 1 person who got to do that. Self paced doesn't include housing.

[blee256]

Finishing the Self paced in 90 days is a lofty goal. But I do think 4-5 months is very doable. The reason being, a self paced student has last priority when it comes to planes and checkrides. So you might get pushed back from time to time. let me rephrase that, It WILL happen. Just be patient and understanding of the fact that some people drive/fly from far away to get their ATP or MIFR add-on in 2 or 4 days. So if they have to bump you back to accomodate them, they will.

Good luck. If you want to do it in 90 days, why not just go to the RAL location. They have housing there. It doesnt cost extra. and you spend less time on the taxi way and more in the practice area, which is pretty much just outside RALs class D airspace. They have a mx base there, and the MX guys were great when I was there. Always willing to answer any questions we might have about the plane. In-depth answers that most students and instructors might not know.

RAL is still the greater LA area, which I assume you live in. So if you need to go home, you can just jump in your car and drive there.

If you really want to get it done in 90 days and going to be fully committed to getting it done (not working on the side), go to RAL. Otherwise you might be sitting in the LGB office getting ready to take your Intstrument checkride 90 days after your start date instead of being done had you taken my advice.

[dpgtime]

I plan to do the self paced, just think it is better to pace myself than the 90 day dump. Thanks for the advise!

Darren

[mshunter]

Originally Posted by blee256

Finishing the Self paced in 90 days is a lofty goal. But I do think 4-5 months is very doable. The reason being, a self paced student has last priority when it comes to planes and checkrides. So you might get pushed back from time to time. let me rephrase that, It WILL happen. Just be patient and understanding of the fact that some people drive/fly from far away to get their ATP or MIFR add-on in 2 or 4 days. So if they have to bump you back to accomodate them, they will.

Good luck. If you want to do it in 90 days, why not just go to the RAL location. They have housing there. It doesnt cost extra. and you spend less time on the taxi way and more in the practice area, which is pretty much just outside RALs class D airspace. They have a mx base there, and the MX guys were great when I was there. Always willing to answer any questions we might have about the plane. In-depth answers that most students and instructors might not know.

RAL is still the greater LA area, which I assume you live in. So if you need to go home, you can just jump in your car and drive there.

If you really want to get it done in 90 days and going to be fully committed to getting it done (not working on the side), go to RAL. Otherwise you might be sitting in the LGB office getting ready to take your Intstrument checkride 90 days after your start date instead of being done had you taken my advice.

LGB is only self paced, unless something has recently changed. So you will be prority for airplanes. They also fly mostly '00's at LGB. Don't worry too much about maint. either. The guys at RAL almost refuse to work on the '00's. The only time they will is when they absolutely have to. I brought many Seminoles from PHX to bring back one from LGB on x-countries because they was getting close to it's 100 hr, annual, etc. Not sure about the checkride situation either. I don't know if they use the same examiners at RAL as they do at LGB. I would check into it. I hear they use a guy at RAL that flies for Southwest or UPS (they both sound right, but could be wrong, memory is bad over here). He has a rep. of being very fair. In other words, if you earn your cert., you've earned it, and if you bust your ride, well, it's because you earned it.

Back when I was thinking about going to ATP (2 years ago), I would have gone to LGB had it not been for the commute. They have had a few huys come through and finish the self-paced in 90 days. But it takes a special instructor and a special student.

[blee256]

Originally Posted by dpgtime

I plan to do the self paced, just think it is better to pace myself than the 90 day dump. Thanks for the advise!

Darren

Sorry about that DPG. I confused your psot with counselor. He was the one asking about getting it done in 90 days.

Originally Posted by mshunter

LGB is only self paced, unless something has recently changed. So you will be prority for airplanes. They also fly mostly '00's at LGB. Don't worry too much about maint. either. The guys at RAL almost refuse to work on the '00's. The only time they will is when they absolutely have to. I brought many Seminoles from PHX to bring back one from LGB on x-countries because they was getting close to it's 100 hr, annual, etc. Not sure about the checkride situation either. I don't know if they use the same examiners at RAL as they do at LGB. I would check into it. I hear they use a guy at RAL that flies for Southwest or UPS (they both sound right, but could be wrong, memory is bad over here). He has a rep. of being very fair. In other words, if you earn your cert., you've earned it, and if you bust your ride, well, it's because you earned it.

Back when I was thinking about going to ATP (2 years ago), I would have gone to LGB had it not been for the commute. They have had a few huys come through and finish the self-paced in 90 days. But it takes a special instructor and a special student.

The examiner in RAL flies for UPS. Very fair. When I was at RAL, he was my favorite to use. He is a Great guy!

The 00 models are great for x-countries but I always thought the 79s flew better. The 00s seemed touchier. To each his own I guess. I wouldnt choose a location on whether they flew 00s or 79s tho. RAL was great when i was there, and so was LGB, hopefully that hasnt changed much.

Good luck!