Hello all
So I was looking over the ATP website and I found this Airline Direct Track along with the Career Pilot Program
I was wondering if anyone is familiar with it and is it worth the $170K on top of the 96K for the Career Pilot program.
Thanks for any input on this
Craig,
I have not heard of anybody doing this program yet. I suspect the cost makes it prohibitive for most. I personally think that the better route is the traditional one, get your licenses and then build time via flight instructing. Flight instructing is by far the best way to cement your newly learned skills as a pilot, and get paid to do it. That being said, if you have the money and want to get tot he airlines faster and without the hassle of instructing, then this is a very viable way.
Chris
Craig,
I’m with Chris on this one. While I applaud ATP for giving people more options to build their time, as someone who’s been on hiring boards I’d have ALOT of questions as to why someone had the need to spend a ton of money vs getting paid to build their time. Further did they do it just burning circles in the sky vs building their skills?
Adam
Craig,
I’ve only seen a topic on this thread maybe two times since ATP came out with this program, I am super unfamiliar with regards. I have to ask, is there a reason that you would want to pay the extra ~$80k rather than time building as an instructor? Flight instruction is probably by far the best way to grow and gain skill of their own.
Brady
Its actually 170K + the 96K for the career program. Thats actually insane for only gaining about 8 months of time over going the CFI route. But cost versus the time that you would gain dosent make sense.
I just was reading on the site and came across that program and wanted some opinions on it. Being 47 years old I just figured I would see what the program entailed. But 2 years from the time I graduate being a CFI to gain 1500 hours defiantly seems the way to go. 
Thank you all for your time
Craig,
I think the purpose of the time build program was to make the timeline even more predictable. Hours as a CFI can fluctuate and if you pay for cross country time, the only real variable left is weather. I’m with the others here though, if you have the money, sure. But I think there is a lot to be said for the skills you build through instructing, pipeline, etc.
Hannah
Craig,
I have looked into this program in depth and have even emailed and talked to a personal at ATP about it back in March.
Yes, flight instructing would be a better option but not always the best route for everyone.
This program definitely has its benefits and will be the faster route to the airlines.
As stated online:
“During the Crew Procedures Flights and Line Oriented Flight Training (LOFT) Scenarios, you’ll fly managed crew-style cross-country flights in an airline-oriented environment using standardized operating procedures. LOFT Scenarios transition students from maneuver-oriented flight training to operational flying, which involves the application of skills and procedural knowledge, crew-style coordination, resource management, and all other aspects of flying the line in complex real-world operations. Multiple legs are scheduled and flown daily to replicate airline operations, and each flight is scheduled, managed, and monitored by ATP’s safety-focused Flight Operations team. This training provides a depth of experience with coast-to-coast ATC, terrain, weather, cross-country experience, and proficiency with instrument flying, including departure, en route, arrival, and approach procedures.”
The total cost also includes:
You don’t get this experience while just flying in the pattern over and over again (TOLs), going over maneuvers or short cross country flights to the same three airports (during cross country phase) and the same materials. Nowhere does it say you can’t stay current or keep up/review the materials that you have learned during this program.
The biggest downside to this program other than not getting paid while time building, is that you have to fully finance it yourself. It may have changed since the last time I inquired about it but according to the person I spoke to said ATP doesn’t have a connection with a bank that will fund this and didn’t even know a single person in the program. At least there are some airlines that are participating in the tuition reimbursement program with this!!
The program is only offered at six locations as shown on the website so be prepared to relocate if you’re not already training at or near one of those locations.
Paul
@Paul08 Thanks for the detailed explanation. It is a very interesting program but I dont think I can justify spending 175K on this plus the 96K.
After reading if really seems like you are only saving about 8 months by going this program