I am looking into ATP as an option for a career change. I have a four year degree and a Juris Doctorate. I have 2 kids and wondering what the time commitment for flight school is? I know that it is full time. How many months is that for? Will it always be full time? My husband is fully on board with me making this change but I want to make sure that we fully understand what we are getting ourselves into as I work from home now and run the kids to all their activities and what not…
Andreana,
First off, welcome to the forum. Below I have attached a FAQ link to ATP’s website which is “Typical Day” as a student. I recommend browsing the forum here and FAQs as there are answers for common questions.
For training, you could expect to train five to seven days a week; however, ATP and instructors try to provide you two days off a week, but sometimes restrictions like weather or availability of aircraft on specific days can make it a longer week. At least two days of the week, you will partake in ATP’s Elevate Zoom meetings where you will interact with instructors and students that are in the same phase of program as you are going over various topics related to your phase.
Brady
Andreana,
Brady answered your question perfectly I just want to dovetail on one thing he said. If you saw Brady’s “ATP and instructors try to provide you two days off a week” and thought “that’s cool, that’s 2 days I can be home chillin’ with the family” you might want to think again. Aside from use of those days for weather, those days are for studying. The program is highly accelerated and ATP compresses what usually years into months and to do this there’s a great deal of self-study. Many find the program extremely challenging and it will most definitely require all your time and focus for the 7mos you’re in the program.
Adam
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Thank you so much for your insight! I appreciate the frankness as that is exactly what I was looking for!
Hi Andreana,
Glad to hear your family in onboard with your career change! I started my fast track program in Seattle, WA last July and want to provide a little insight about the timeline I wish I received in the beginning. When you go on your intro flight with your prospective training center, be upfront and ask them how long weather will delay your program end date.
Starting in July 2022 I had the anticipation I would be finishing up in March 2023 (9 months later instead of the advertised 7 months, due to likely winter weather delays). After discussions with my instructors I’ve come to realize a more realistic end date will be Sept or Oct 2023 (an approx. 15 month long program). To be clear, WA is the most difficult region to train in due to weather making my timeline so much longer, but you don’t know what you don’t know until you ask. At that time they can at least give you an average program length for their training center, and then you plan your finances accordingly.
Hope this helps!
Michelle
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Michelle,
Thank you for your feedback. This is fact is the primary reason ATP has stopped accepting students in the SEA area without their PPL. The weather is simply too challenging.
That said the 7mos timeline is still accurate for many locations.
Adam
Hi Adam,
Thank you for clarification of the PPL requirement in this region.
Michelle