I am planning to attend ATP hopefully sometime in the next year and I have an admissions flight coming up at the Mesa Gateway Location. However, I have next to no aviation knowledge, I’m making the transition from the events industry. I’m a little concerned about the pace of the course and having to cram all that info and jargon in so quickly. I believe I learn quickly but don’t want to overwhelm myself. I see a lot of cases where people become pilots because family was or they grew up at the airport. There is a pretty reputable CFI at my local airport whose pricing is pretty comparable to the difference between starting ATP at zero time and starting with PPL. So I was thinking about going this route so I can learn all the basics and maneuvers at a more relaxed pace while staying home to save up money when I do relocate and won’t have time to work a job. The only thought I have going this direction is if I get used to habits and processes with my local CFI then transition to ATP and learn they operate in a completely different way. Basically I fell it would be better to learn ATP’s way from the very start than try to adapt. Does anyone have advice or insight who got their PPL local first?
Robert,
This question gets asked frequently and while your thoughts are sound on both sides, there’s one thing you’re missing. Getting your PPL locally doesn’t work more than it does.
Successful flight training depends greatly on consistency. This is why the military, the airlines (and ATP) train their pilots full-time. Many people (myself included) try going to their local flight school and fall into the same scenario. You fly one week and it’s great. The next week the weather craps out. The next the instructor isn’t available. The next the plane is out for maintenance. The next you’ve got a party, work, get sick etc etc etc. Next thing you know you haven’t flown for a month and you’ve lost all the gains you made and you find yourself spending much more money and time then you anticipated or budgeted for. It just doesn’t work.
Honestly the only time we recommend training locally is if you’re not 100% sure this is for you. In that’s case then sure, take some lessons, maybe solo, maybe (if it’s going well) continue to your PPL but the odds are not in your favor (also keep in mind to get credit for your PPL towards ATPs program you’ll need at least 78hrs of flight time. Make sure you figure that into your math).
Ultimately it’s your call but if you’re sure this is what you want to do, I start with the top program in the country Day 1.
Adam
Robert,
Next to no aviation knowledge was a normal when covid numbers hit an all-time high with student certificates and individuals wanting to become a pilot… it’s okay! ATP’s course is designed around taking “an off the street” individual to acquiring all the related certificates that you can use to become successful and build time towards your flying career. You’re taking the first and appropriate step of completing an introductory flight.
While it may seem more affordable or cost effective to go the route with a local CFI, those routes can end up costing you way more in the long run. Like Chris (who I imagine will join shortly), received my Private Pilot License outside of ATP, what I thought was a short journey, ended up being 13-months. When I arrived to ATP, my journey was exactly 220 days, start-finish… if I would’ve entered in Zero Time, I probably would have been out flying in the airlines right at the peak of hiring post covid.
I vote, see where you stand post admissions flight and feeling, you will know if it’s something you will be able to do. If the journey and career seem feasible and tangible, go for it!
Brady
Thank you for the responses Adam and Brady. Since you mentioned this is a commonly asked question I went ahead and read through every thread regarding the topic and believe I have a good grip on the pros and cons.
Thinking about it now, my local ‘school’ is one gentleman and his Cessna. Like you said Adam, and has been repeated before by Tory, Chris, Brady, etc, there are far too many factors in this situation that could continually delay my training and rack up the costs. This was a key point in every single thread that the local schools don’t hold up to the advertised price point or timeline like ATP does.
I find it rather intriguing that majority of the mentors on here did receive their PPL outside of ATP, it is nice to see that your positions come from personal experience and not bias for the school.
To be honest though, I do fall into the outlying category you mention and am not 100% sure that this is the path for me yet. I have been thinking about going this route for the last year and a half and on paper, I am sold. I desire more than anything to travel (so why not get paid to do so) and set myself up with a reliable career path and benefits. But obviously it is a massive financial commitment and will take my full attention for the next year, so I have some hesitation to uproot myself from the life that I lead now. But at the same time, I don’t want to delay too much longer. I know seniority is everything and if I’m going to become a pilot, I want to immerse myself wholly into that world via ATP. My mom asked why I couldn’t go to flight school closer to home and the answer is that I want to remove myself from any distractions and focus on my education in a controlled environment.
I’ve been talking about my intention to go to flight school for a while and every time I do, I receive nothing but encouragement. I want to stop talking about it and be about it but for some reason, I’m anxious. I’m hoping that my admissions flight and tour will sell me.
Maybe I will wander my local airport and see if any private pilots would be kind enough to give me some hands on experience too.
Cheers,
Robby
Robby,
I in no way want to sound negative, but there are a few things to think about here.
If travel is what you want to do, get a job that pays well and travel on your off days. Yes, we “travel” for work, but there are a lot of short overnights in cities that you do not want to be in. True, I have seen many of the major cities of the world thanks to this job, but I have also done a ton of overnights in airport hotels.
I highly doubt that you will find any pilots that will give you hands on experience. Flying is expensive and people are not going to take some guy that is wandering the airport up with them, that is akin to giving a hitch hiker a ride.
If the admissions flight does not help you determine if this is the right course for you, I would encourage you to goto your local school and take several more lessons. perhaps going as far to solo the airplane. At that point, you should know either way where you stand.
Chris