Hi! My name is Kelsey. I am a flight attendant based in Atlanta, GA. I have been looking into pursuing flight school part time at ATP, due to living out of state and prior financial obligations. I asked admissions about the flex track program but they made it seem like it was no longer an option. They said full time was the only option available at the moment. Can anybody give me some clarification if this is still something I can pursue?
Kelsey,
ATP no longer offers the Flex Track program, it has been som time since they last did. They have found that a full time commitment to flight training leads to far better results.
Chris
I have always had the desire to be a commercial pilot. I was just curious what out of pocket cost there is.
Steven,
ATP lists their costs here: Airline Career Pilot Program / ATP Flight School
Kelsey,
Welcome to the forum, unfortunately ATP removed the “Flex Track Program” years ago near the conclusion of COVID. There are three entries at this time to ATP: Zero Time, Credit Solo, and Credit Private.
Are you aware that ATP is offering housing specials to those signing up through the present months? This may be something you could capitalize on and if you could take a LOA from the flight attendant gig, accomplish. I know a few FA’s that went through this avenue.
Brady
Steven,
Brady
Kelsey,
Flight training is a skill that requires repetitive practice to be successful. If you’re really serious about pursuing this career, you’ll need to quit or take an extended leave to pursue flight training. Being in Atlanta, I’m guessing you might be a Delta or Delta Connection Flight Attendant? Have you looked in to the Delta Propel Program?
Hannah
Kelsey
Please don’t let the mentors mentor you down a path that doesn’t fit their idea of what they deem correct or a path that doesn’t fit your needs. That’s not mentorship, it’s bias.
I started at ATP in 2015 under what was then called the “self-paced” program. It allowed me to work a full time job and flight train on my days off. Being married with two young kids at home quitting work wasn’t an option. Could I have gotten my ratings faster and possibly not had to repeat a couple things if I had done a full time course like ATP? Probably. Am I less qualified or at a disadvantage than those giving you advice here? I don’t think so. I was, and still am, really serious about my career in aviation and am currently a pilot for one of the big three (UA/AA/DL). I never was a flight instructor, and oddly enough only have about 300 hours of piston engine time out of my 3,000+ hours. I’m also a huge advocate for ATP when it works for whoever I’m speaking to.
It’s true ATP doesn’t have a self paced or flex program any longer, it’s probably for the best based on how their program is designed. If you really want to attend ATP you will need to most likely quit, or take a LOA, and attend training. I would also suggest you live close to where you train, whether with ATP or not, that way when and if sudden availability opens up to go fly you can jump on it. Otherwise, if you need to keep working to make ends meet I’m sure there is a “mom and pop” school at your local airport or an independent CFI that is more than capable of helping you get your ratings and get you moving in the direction you want to go.
Arthur,
No one here is leading Kelsey or anyone down an incorrect path. In fact, both Hannah and I offered Kelsey an alternate from possibly using an in-house program (i.e., Delta Propel) and even possibly seeing if an LOA is available so if the flying didn’t work out, they could return to the line, including housing specials that are currently happening. Chris simply just stated the flex program is no longer available.
I think you’re misreading this thread and the replies.
Brady
I’m not misreading, this is a direct quote and a bad, blanket statement or “mentorship”. Thousand’s of successful, professional pilots like myself got to where they are by working full time and training when they could. I’m not disagreeing that a full-time program (without distractions like job) as offered by ATP is the best option, I think it is. However, I think there’s a lot of arrogance in the statement that to be serious or possibly successful you have to quit everything and flight. Thousands of university program graduates, military pilots, and self-paced pilots like myself prove that wrong everyday. Kelsey asked about the flex program and to reply saying it wasn’t available and what is available is appropriate and a complete answer.
Kelsey,
As someone who is currently in ATPs full time program, I thought maybe some current insight may be helpful for you. So here is what I have taken from it so far!
First off, its fast paced!!! Which is kind of the point of the fast track program, but with that being said it is 100% something that needs to be pursued full time with no job. As someone in the program who has a wife and child at home as well let me tell you, I have had a LOT of long days, and nights in my short time with ATP so far. The program is structured to keep you moving constantly and you learn new things and build on old things every single day. The program in its current form is 100% not something that is practical, or maybe even possible, to complete while having other obligations.
It is also expensive. As someone who does not have the means to pay for flight school out of pocket, I went through Sallie Mae for assistance. My loan was abundant to say the least. I took out enough to cover all my bases. The program, the fees, living expenses ect. My loan is around $150,000.
With all that being said, the program so far has been extremely rewarding, and regardless of how challenging it is and the amount if work it takes to stay on top of everything, I am having an amazing time and I KNOW im getting the best training out there. The atmosphere among everyone, students and instructors, is amazing in my experience. However it is not something I would recommend doing if you aren’t certain its the path for you. I would absolutely do your research and see what works best for you, and the mentors commenting have given great advice.
I hope what i have shared might shed a little light in the situation for you and what will be the best option for you, and I wish you the best of luck!!!
-Loren
Arthur,
I am glad that you had a good experience going through flight training while working. And you are right, there are many people that do just that. However, years of experience has shown us that most people are not able to juggle work and flight training, something always suffers and usually it is the flight training. We have also seen so many people get sucked into the trap of local flight schools that promise they can deliver, and then fail to do so in any reasonable time frame or manner.
So does one need to quit their job to obtain all their ratings? No, but it will be a much tougher road than what somebody will have if they are able to dedicate themselves to training full time.
Chris
Kelsey,
I talk to UA flight attendants all the time about wanting to transition to the flight deck. The best option is being able to take leave to complete your flight training through any kind of in-house program i.e. United Aviate, Delta propel, Destination 225, etc.
If that isn’t a possibility the second best option would be to quit and pursue accelerated flight training at a program like ATP. I understand it’s a huge risk, but you’re not the first one having these same concerns. Hopefully you can find the support necessary to make it work. However, if that isn’t a possibility, you can pursue a more flexible path flying whenever you can with a local school however, there are just so many ways you could get yourself into a bind either financially or your training proficiency record. That’s why we don’t recommend it if it can be avoided. I’m not saying it can’t be done, but it is a tougher path. You need to find the right school with available instructors. You need to have a pretty flexible schedule and be very disciplined with your budget. Local schools aren’t in the business of making airline pilots. Just keep that in mind.
We’re here to help you find the most direct path to your goal and keep you clear of the headaches lots of aspiring pilots face!
Hannah
Arthur,
I’m glad you made it to AA through a flexible path. Good on you. But ATP decided to discontinue the Flex Track program because students weren’t being as successful than with the fast paced program. Consistent flight events typically lend to more successful training. It’s just that simple. The fact that you’re pushing a flexible path is fine but you had the protections and track record of ATP behind you. Since that no longer exists, the path you’re recommending for Kelsey will be incredibly different and will be far more difficult. That’s why none of us mentors would recommend it unless there was no other option.
Also, I want to point something out. The path you took worked, but it didn’t come without a cost: time. With time, comes opportunities in hiring, lost seniority and earning potential. You started ATP in 2016 and got to your dream airline March of 2023. I started ATP fast track Jan 2019, instructed at ATP, COVID and still started with United Feb 2023. Three years of lost seniority is the cost of flexibility.
Hannah
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