I am currently looking at beginning my flight training at ATP with a discovery flight scheduled. I was interested in learning how far in advance do most people set a start date in order to complete all the written exams and fulfill the rest of the prerequisites.
3-6mos seems to be the average as you will want to secure the date/location you want, secure financing of needed, get your medical, etc etc etc. Keep in mind while it’s recommended, there’s no requirement to complete the writtens.
I would say at least 3 months for the writtens, you should be able to complete them all within that timeframe given you study daily. Admissions flight is valid for 12 months and the financing agreement is valid for 9 months. All said and done, don’t delay a start date just to complete writtens, seniority and timing is everything.
Around three months is normal. It can take a bit of time to work through the material, plus you will need to secure your FAA medical and the financing for the program.
Enjoy your intro flight! Relax and just imagine yourself in those airplanes for 1500 more hours. If that excites you, you’ve found your field. Also, take the time to stop and talk to current students while you’re there. They are a great resource for you. Please let us know how it goes!