Hello I am going to start ATP next year. I am done with high school, but I just don’t have the money to do both flight training and college at the same time. My plan is to get into the regional airlines, and then start college and finish it before I am ready to move on to majors. Is that doable?
Vram,
I will answer while you wait for the mentors. The answer is yes its doable as a lot of people (similar to my situation at 31 and limited time left) get flight training done and then work on their Bachelors degree online while in the Regionals.
With that said based on past posts Chris and Adam tend to suggest doing College first in your position as you are “still in school mode” coming out of HS and it is easier to stay in school mode. Along with that I’m going to assume you are 18 or 19 so by the time you get done ATP and CFI build time you will be 21 or 22 which is still too young for the Regionals so you mind as well get the college out of the way since you’d have to wait anyway and then go to ATP.
Those are just what I’ve seen in the past but by all means wait for Chris, Adam and/or Tory to respond as they are the ones that have the experience on the best route.
Vram,
First and foremost to train with ATP you need either your Private Pilot license, a 2yr degree or equivalent work experience which most high school grads do not possess. Further as Tom said we STRONGLY recommend you finish your education first. ATP’s training program is highly accelerated and very challenging. Completing your education will give you some discipline and experience with self-study as well as something to fall back on in case flying doesn’t work out.
Adam
I also agree that you should complete your degree, then go to flight training. It is simply easier to stay in school mode while you are already in it. I am not sure that I would have been ready to start ATP’s program when I was 20, but a few years later. my maturity had built and I was ready for it.
@Tolento47 - You can be 21 and earn an R-ATP rating and work for a Regional Airline. The ATP rating must be unrestricted to operate as a capt. at the Regional Airline so when a pilot turns 23 the ATP rating becomes unrestricted.
Danielle,
I sit corrected! Thank you so much for chiming in!!!
Vram,
Here is ATP’s current enrollment requirements:
https://atpflightschool.com/airline-career-pilot-program/enrollment.html
I agree with the others—school first, but your call.
Tory
Okay, thanks for the input everyone. I have decided to get an Associate’s degree first. I already have my PPL. Would anyone be able to recommend me a college that I could do online? I live in California. Many thanks!
There are a lot of options out there now. At my company, they partner with EdAssist so you can talk with an educational counselor and find a school that’s right for you. Not sure if you can do that directly with EdAssist or not. I did a lot of googling and researching universities.
I’m currently attending Southern New Hampshire University online (https://www.snhu.edu ). They took a lot of my credits going all the way back to the military (30 years ago)…The courses are 8 weeks long so they go quickly. They have done a really good job how the courses run via Brightspace. Even their library can be accessed online. All of my textbooks have been electronic, so I can just read on my ipad or laptop. It may be more expensive than a community college, however. Last sessions I paid $816 for my class, plus the book. I’ll be done with my bachelor’s the end of April (at age 50)…get your degree while you’re still young…before family and life take over…
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