Daniel,
This topic has been covered in a recent thread:
https://airlinepilot.life/t/no-more-guaranteed-instructor-job/26508/28
Tory
I just read up on the other thread and I like what you said to the one person. You said if you get started now when this is all over youāll be ahead of others. The CFI job at ATP seems really nice but Iād have no problem teaching at a mom and pop. The industry is crappy right now, but I think that some people could take advantage of that if they get their training done now. I want to fly my entire life and donāt really want to waste time doing something I hate so I think I am going to head to atp right away, get my ratings, and try and beat others out for the instructor job, and if not Iāll work at another airport. I have no problem moving around either so I think that I will have more options with that. Thanks for the help.
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Daniel,
With that attitude you will do well and get ahead of the pack. You will be a Captain someday while the people who wait for things to improve will be your First Officers.
Chris
Iām confused, from what I understand:
-ATP is no longer guaranteeing a flight instructors job
-ATP is no longer providing ground school
-ATP is no longer helping with housing for instructors
-ATP is no longer giving a base pay to instructors for ground schooling
-So why are we paying the same rate if ATP policies have changed
Please correct me if Iām wrong.
Garrett,
Correct. How can they? The economy tanked. If they gave everyone a job there wouldnāt be enough flying to go around for everyone. They are still hiring CFIs. Itās just more competitive now.
Not true unless something changed overnight? Whereād you see that? Ground school has always been provided. You canāt become a pilot without it. The format has evolved overtime. It has always relied heavily on self-study modules. King Schools training videos are now central to ATPās ground school curriculum. Instructors are also expected and required to conduct ground school with their students as well.
This is true. Again, this is a reflection of the current times.
Correct, but Instructors are still being paid for ground. How much does a Flight Instructor earn?
ATP is unable to reduce the cost of the program. But what they have been able to do is offer the ATP-CTP course at no additional cost ($3,795 value) https://atpflightschool.com/airline-career-pilot-program/atp-certification-training-program.html. You will also start to see ATP offer individual ratings. So soon students will have more options.
Tory
Garrett,
ATP is providing ground school. Much of it has moved to an online format, but ground school is still very much a part of training.
As for the other changes to the program, theses were made for several reasons.
The guaranteed flight instructor job went away because there has been a slow down in hiring at the regional airlines, thus ATP did not need to hire as many instructors. If they were to continue to guarantee a job, it would mean that there would be instructors not getting nearly the hours that they required. ATP is still hiring plenty of instructors, there is just a little more discretion in who they hire and I think that is a good thing.
ATP got into the housing market when the program was 90 days long and instructors only instructed for a few months before going to the airlines. At the time it was very hard for students and instructors to secure short term housing. Now the program is much longer and thanks to the 1,500 hour rule, pilots instruct for longer before going to the airlines. It is easier to secure longer term housing and VRBO, Air BnB, etc have made this much easier. ATP is a flight school, not a housing company.
ATP continues to pay instructors $15 per hour for ground instruction. https://atpflightschool.com/airline-career-pilot-program/certificated-flight-instructor-job.html
All of this was done to best meet the needs of todayās students. Sure, all of the old programs could have continued, but at a much higher price. Instead, ATP was able to keep the price of the program the same while also offering the ATP-CTP as part of the program, for no additional price. This is real value to the students as it will make them much more qualified for the airlines.
Chris
Garrett,
The others have covered this well. The bottomline is ATP is doing their best to adapt to the current environment. The free ATP-CTP cert is huge, theyāre still hiring instructors but the bar has been raised (work hard youāll get one).
What hasnāt changed is ATPs reputation, itās quality of instruction and their airline relationships. The fact remains thereās still no better route to airlines.
Adam
Hey Iām curious about that Adam? So seeing as I canāt get a leg up by doing the 100 hr multi, since Iām in the 25 hr program and am starting CFI soon. I assume that doing the FREE ATP-CTP course would be one way to also get a leg up on the competition? That being said when would a good time to do that course be? Would like after I complete my MEI but before I start instructing he an ideal time? Or would one want to wait till they get closer to applying or starting with a regional?
Josh,
Well seeing as the ATP CTP is now part of the ACPP curriculum (https://atpflightschool.com/airline-career-pilot-program/flight-training-timeline.html) it would be the last thing that you completed as part of the ACPP. If you donāt complete the ATP CTP course as part of the ACPP, ATP offers the course to ATP Alumni for $2,795 ($1,000 off of regular price). So, I would take it as per the syllabus.
Tory
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I wonder how then that works for me since Iām basically having to come back to complete my CFI as an alumni
Call ATP tomorrow and find out.