I completed 30 hours in a Cessna 152 in 2013 and figure finishing my PPL would cost <$5k. From what I see, if I Start From Zero in ATP’s Airline Career Pilot Program the cost is $97k and if I start with a PPL credit the price is $76k - a $21k difference. It seems I would save substantially by finishing my PPL before entering ATP. Is there anything I should be aware of? Any reason why this wouldn’t be a good idea? Maybe there are some concerns here, maybe its just an easy math problem, I just want to see if there’s anything to learn here. Thanks
The mentors will chime in, but I see two factors to consider. I believe you need 80 hours to get credit for PPL at ATP, so you would need 50 more. That might be a bit more expensive than $5k from what I’ve seen shopping around. The second is time. At ATP you should get your PPL in 2 -3 month or so, probably less with your previous experience and flight time. How long will it take to get 50 hours at local place? Is the delay worth it?
Your plan will work, just might take longer and not save as much money as you think.
As Mike said above, to get credit for your PPL you’ll need at least 78hrs so it’s most definitely going to cost you more than $5k.
Further, again, how long is going to take you? Most people take well over a year to complete their PPLs training locally part time (if they finish at all). I mean you got 30hrs 10 years ago, so you really won’t be “finishing” so much as starting over.
I assume you have a good reason (there are many) to be trusting your career training to ATP. Is saving a few dollars more important than starting your training on the right foot and getting to the airlines that much faster?
Fun fact, it took me 13 months to complete my Private Pilot License at a local flight school rather than attending an ATP location. Attending ATP Credit Private you MUST have at least 78 hours total time, 8 of which are XC PIC. This is because ATP builds their program around those numbers after students complete their Private phase.
The cost of flying in 2013 is much different than the cost of flying today, in 2023. If you’re saying to finish your PPL in 2013 was around $5,000, it would be at least $6,500 today (inflation about 30%).
I think you should attend ATP Zero Time and start fresh, using the knowledge and skills (including hours) that you gathered in 2013 forward. I had a student that attended ATP in the 30 hours and they were one of my best students. Sometimes going back to the basics wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Plus it would give you an opportunity to get acquainted to ATP standards and procedures.
