Anyone recently graduate from ATP and not able to obtain an ATP CFI position at the same location you trained at? How long did you wait for that position? I’ve heard 3 months is not outside of normal and was just wanting to hear some experiences of graduates. Honestly it’s one of the parts i’m most worried about. After being out of work and in school for 7 months I want to get back making some sort of income for my family and I don’t want to have to go get a job doing anything BUT flying, after all that is what we all want to be doing right? I live in the DFW area so maybe that increases my chances of finding some sort of flying job but I honestly have no idea. I have saved up and am ready for this but living off of savings doesn’t usually last forever and I want to fly.
Hopefully someone who recently completed the program will chime in but many grads do not get a position at the location they trained at. There is absolutely no guarantee you will either and frankly you won’t know until it’s your time. Fortunately we’re in a worldwide pilot shortage and there are plenty of jobs to be found in most areas. Hopefully you’ll luck out and your first choice will be available but I wouldn’t count on it. I would be aware you may have to either relocate or if that’s not a possibility look for a position at another school.
ATP has several large training centers in the DFW area, so that should really help. Of course there are no guarantees, but I would not think it would be long.
Also remember that if staying close to home is important to you, you can always apply to other flight schools in the area as well.
Brandon,
You sound very concerned about not having a CFI job after graduating the program. Just because a job at ATP isn’t necessarily in your control, you have the ability to apply other places so that you do have a job as soon as you’re done. Jobs are out there, you just have to decide what you’re willing to accept in terms of employment. Local school close to home but not ATP. Or wait for ATP but maybe commute to another location or wait for the ATP location you attended but take the financial hit and not flying until that happens. You have choices. It wouldn’t be a bad thing to have a local CFI job lined up and have a choice whether to take that or wait for an ATP location.
-Hannah
Thank you to all of our pilot mentors for the valuable insight and information you put out here on this forums and for always answering my questions promptly. I promised I am not just asking them to ask them. I’m in the process of getting my eye prescription tweaked to give me the ability to pass my medical exam and once I’m cleared for that, hopefully a start date for first week of June. I just like to have my expectations in check so when things don’t go exactly how we planned (as if they ever do) I’m ready for it.
You would not be able to participate in any of the programs that the airlines have agreed to offer for ATP CFI’s. It will depend on what, if any, programs the alternative school has. The airlines refer to these as “partner schools.”
That’s the point of the “pathway” and one of the benefits of training and instructing for ATP. ATP actually pioneered airline partnerships and I would encourage you (and all) to work as hard a possible to ensure you have those opportunities.
I posted this anecdote in another thread but I just went to ATP Indoc in February. There were three people from KLGB in my class, one was one the waitlist for 6 months, the other two about 6 days. Another friend from the same location finished 1week after those two and has been on the waitlist since.
The point is demand changes frequently and you can’t be quite sure when it might be your turn. As the mentors said, you have a better shot if there are multiple training centers you can commute to, and you can work at another school while waiting for ATP.
I graduated the program December 28th, received a phone call the following week, went through Indoc, & began instructing at the same location I trained at on January 17th. So, just 3 weeks later for me. I will say though, that does seem to be rare. I just happened to be lucky enough that a position was open that quickly.