Hello, I’m a sophomore in High School, and have always wanted to be a comical pilot, I’ve been looking more and more at options to peruse this after high school and the ATP program is very interesting. Next year I will have the opportunity to enroll in an aviation program which if I complete I will have my commercial multi engine, and instrument ratings all before I graduate High School. Now as for ATP I’ve seen how you can get in with a PPL already, but if there a pipeline if you have everything listed above? Would a more traditional collage method be better in that case? If I want to do ATP is it worth spending the money in high school to do this, or should I wait till afterwards? If waiting would be the best option is there anything ai can do to make myself more appealing? I’m sure a program like this is fairly competitive. Sorry, I know there are a lot of questions up there, I couldn’t find anything about entering with multiple ratings, so hopefully someone can atleast point me in the right way. Thanks!
Simon,
Starting with the easy question, ATP only credits a PPL, nothing more. So, if your goal is to attend ATP then you should wait.
If this program you mention will get you to commercial multi and instrument then that could be interesting. Can you tell us more about the program?
Keep in mind that eventually you’ll need a four year degree plus a way to build 1500 hours. Do you have a plan for either of those objectives?
Tory
Simon,
ATP has 2 programs. One for pilots with zero licenses and ratings and one for pilots who have their Privates. Anything you hold above that would simply be repeated without the need for a checkride. Frankly if you already had your Commercial, Instrument and Multi there would be no point in going to ATP.
The question is what will you do after that? To fly for an airline you need 1500hrs and be 21yo. There aren’t many flying jobs for 18yo with their CPLs and 250hrs. The most common route is flight instructing so you would need to earn your CFIs (not too difficult) but you’ll also need to figure college in there.
Personally I’m a fan of going straight from HS to college as you’re still in school mode. If you could obtain all your ratings, pick up your CFIs over the summer and then do college and maybe find a part time instruction gig I think that would be very efficient but there’s many routes to choose.
What I am curious about is that is a fair amount of flight training to get done while still in HS. I’d make certain you have all the details.
Adam
All I really know is what it says in the course catalog for my school, which is limited at best, the list above is what that says a student should have by the time they graduate high school. I’ll try to find out more, but generally you spend half of your school day at a local community college to do ground school, and do the flying on weekends/after school is my understanding.
That’s sort of the big question. This program is a good starting point is sounds like, but doesn’t eliminate much at all after high school. So out of curiosity does ATP replace college? For the last few days I’ve been reasurching I kinda figured it did, but I’m not sure where that idea came fr9m, so that could be wrong.
As I said above, that’s just what it says in the course list for my school, I’ll try to find someone who actually does it to ask…
I should also note that when I typed the original post out I forgot a “,” between commercial and multi engine. The course book again simply says “Each Student who completes the program will have received a minimum of a commercial pilots certificate with a multi-engine land, and instrument landing” so if that changes the calculation at all sorry I didn’t make that clear at first.
Simon,
No ATP doesn’t replace college. It’s a flight school. Again if you go with the HS program you should forget ATP.
What you need to do is investigate other local flight schools where you could earn your CFIs and possibly work to build time.
Adam
Ok, thanks a lot. Glad to get that sorted out. 
Is there someone who you can talk to at your school about this program? I’m sure they will be able to help provide a clearer picture for you if you decide to enroll in that program.
One point that Adam already pointed out is what will you do after that program? To fly for an airline you need 1500 hrs and be at least 21. We all recommend instructing. So, you need to figure out that piece of the puzzle as you continue your research. Or you can put flight training on hold, attend college first and then enroll at ATP after college.
Tory
Simon,
What school district is this? I would like to review the course catalog myself. My uncle teaches a similar program for Nassau County on Long Island, but it only gets students through a private license.
Chris