ATP 10 Month/90 Program

[Bluehen]

I am considering either of the 2 at the Manassas Location. My question is how long do you fly each day if you are in the 90 program, and how long do you fly each day if you are in the 10 month program, and also, if you need to give 10 full days in the 10 mo. program, or could you do 20 half days a month.. Any info would be appreciated. The reason I ask is that, as like many others, I need a career change. I am a police officer in Maryland, and b/c I live in baltimore, it would be about an hour to 2 hrs ride to VA for the school. And since I am on 4-12 shift, it would help to know what hours they require so I could train in the morning/afternooin and be back at work that evening. Thanks for any input...

[rhs]

The key to the 10-month program is self-paced. You can fly as much, or as little, as you want (assuming your instructor and a plane is available).

I'm doing the 10-month right now. It might be kind of hard to fly if you're just doing half days just because my average training flight has been 2.5 - 3 hours, plus pre- and post-flight briefings. I'm doing 2 whole and 1 half day a week right now and those half-days are usually spent in the sim unless we're going on a night flight. It might be a good idea to do 1 or 2 half-days a week and then train full time on the weekends (assuming you only work 5 days a week).

Good luck with your decision! ATP is a great place, regardless of which path you choose.

[Bluehen]

Unfortunetly, I work 6 on 2 off rotating days off with a 4 day break every 6 weeks....Is it possible to only do 6 to 8 full days a month and the rest half days?

[rhs]

I'm sure they can make it work. Like I said...it is totally self-paced. That's probably even better than weekends because a lot of the short program guys (multi comm/ATP/MEI) come in on the weekends so scheduling would be easier.

Out of curiosity, where did you get your PPL in Baltimore? Got mine at MTN.

[pscraig]

Speaking for myself in Richmond, I could work with that schedule although the program might take a little longer to finish. It's self paced anyway.

The Manassas and Richmond offices don't do the 2-day ATP ratings anymore, so weekdays or weekends are the same for me in Richmond now. It used to be that everyone tried to do the ATP over a weekend, but with just the long program there seems to be no pattern emerging.

[Bluehen]

Does anyone know of who I would talk to about setting up a schedule like that? Or a phone number, the guy on the 1800 phone said that I absolutely had to do at least 10 full days a month....

[cavu4u]

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone know of who I would talk to about setting up a schedule like that? Or a phone number, the guy on the 1800 phone said that I absolutely had to do at least 10 full days a month....

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe try scheduling a tour of the Manassas ATP facility. I visited the Manassas facility recently and it seemed that schedules were pretty much decided upon between you and your instructor... assuming of course that your intent from the get go is to get done with the program as expeditiously as possible. Regardless, I told them that I work full time during the weekdays and I would primarily be flying during the weekends and that didn't seem to be a problem for them.

Not sure if that helps... hope it did.

[Merlin]

The self paced program needs to be completed in about 10 months. In order to do that, ATP requires that you are able to devote 10 days per month. How those 10 days are scheduled is between you and the instructor and they will try to maximize your time on those days.

Most people who go through the self paced program are able to devote more than 10 days... 10 is the minimum.

Jeremy

[Bluehen]

Thanks. I am going to contact them today about going for a interview. Hopefully I can work something out, otherwise, If I absoltely need to devote 10 full days, I guess Ill have to stick with the local FBO.

[cavu4u]

rossjohna... good luck! I hope you can work something out.

Merlin... forgive me if you already answered this, but do the 10 days need to be full days? I didn't get that impression during my visit to ATP and the website uses the phrase "approximately 10 days a month." I sure hope they don't need to be full days. If so, I might be forced to continue through the FBO route Thanks for your insight, it's very helpful

[rhs]

As I said before, I'm doing the 10-month now. It all depends on what you call a 'full day'. If you look at the 'day in the life of a 90-day guy' post a few days ago, you'll see that some days are go to the airport and fly for 3 hours then head home. Others are really full 8-9 hour days. What constitutes a 'full day' is anyone's guess. All I know is I'm getting my stuff done and am on or ahead of schedule.

[pscraig]

That's a good point. It is difficult to get in 8 hours of instruction in a day, at that point the retention level is getting low and fatigue is taking over for both the student and the instructor. Much of the program is simulator time, and I don't see a problem in spreading out the sim time as long as things happen on schedule. A day we do a long XC could turn into a very long day since we would probably sim before flying, as an example. But the schedule is decided between the student and the instructor as long as the overall timeframe is met. Keep in mind that your instructor likely has other students, and has to work around their schedules as well.

[Falcon262]

I am planning on taking the program next year. I work a 4 on 4 off schedule so I should not have any problem getting ten days in.