FBO <> or Academy ? Whats the best option

[thebot]

Hey guys,

its been a while since i've posted but i've been busy with my training. Anyway, I have a few questions for folks that are about to head off the regional's / or are already there.

Right now from what i've seen and heard the minimums are rather low and I wanted to know if all these hiring partnerships that schools such as ATP and Flight Safety boost still mean anything? (btw i'm not talking about bridge programs) ... but simply the reduced minimums that the schools advertise with regard to their non bridge based program graduates.

I'm currently an instrument pilot with about 140 hours and i'm debating on going to ATP to finish up my training. I know they have hiring partnerships with several airlines and that is attractive to me (know its not a guarantee) but I have faith in my abilities as a pilot and in the interview process. I'm told that i'm a smart, competent, safe and reliable pilot, and I agree with all of my instructors assessments.

So with that said, if I was playing a game of statistics, do atp grads usually get regional jobs with less time compared to a no name FBO? Also, take into the account the current minimums ? How much time is a realistic figure, in hours, are the regionals accepting right now ? Not the one in a million guy who did it with 250 hours.. but lets say on average right now, and are those minimums reduced for applicants from a particular school? I'm not afraid of instructing, I intend on doing it someday, but why instruct when I can secure my seniority number by taking advantage of the reduced minimums (if they exist) by going to atp.

I have the choice of saving 20 thousand dollars if I did the rest of my training at my FBO but I wouldn't get a single hour of multi, unlike ATP where it would be 200 + hours of multi. Also they don't have partnerships etc.. So I would be on my own in terms of applying etc. That 20 grand saved would really be more like 10 after I purchase the needed multi engine time that the regional's like to see. So if your goal was to get to the airlines asap in a non-bridge program what would you do? FBO or academy for commercial multi, CFI, II, etc ?

Thanks in advance guys !

[DE727UPS]

"I'm not afraid of instructing, I intend on doing it someday, but why instruct when I can secure my seniority number by taking advantage of the reduced minimums (if they exist) by going to atp."

Because working as a CFI for a while will make you a more competent RJ crewmember. It's your call. But to answer your question, I think you'd be looking at instructing 3 or 4 months longer to get noticed than if you did ATP.

The websites say seniority is everything. I'll say seniority is nice but it's better to have a more highly qualified RJ F/O than what the "system" is putting out these days. Just my opinion, but I think the bar is too low.

There is a way you can skip CFIing at ATP but I think you have to pay for the RJ course if you do that.

This thread would probably be better off at the ATP forum.