Starting with private

Hello, does anyone know what starting ATP with a private pilot license is like? I expect that before I start, I will have finished my private pilot training.

Alan,

Not sure I understand your what you’re asking? Of course if you start ATP WITH your Private you’ll need to have your Private training completed otherwise you would not be starting your training WITH your Private.

Further you’ll need at least 78hrs of flight time. At that point you’ll begin your Instrument training immediately.

Adam

Sorry for the confusion. I meant, how would the onboard process be? Would I still start in a class with people who all have their private pilot licenses, how does that work?

Alan,

Yes, a few of us do know what it’s like starting ATP with a Private Pilot’s License is like. I started my journey with ATP in 2020 as a Credit Private and after two years was hired and flying for a regional airline. I recommend checking out a long, but valuable and in detail thread I did throughout my training at ATP and a summary of timeline:

I recommend checking the prerequisites for coming in Credit Private in the meantime as well:

Brady

Alan,

I hammy private when I came to ATP. There was a bit of adjustment for me in learning to do things the “ATP way” as opposed to how my local flight school had taught me. That being said, it did not take long to adjust.

You will be matched with your peers, people that already have a PPL. They might have gotten it at ATP or someplace else, but you will all be in the phase of your training.

Chris

Alan,

Each location has select start dates a few times a month. In your first day class there could be a mix of zero time or credit private students you will go through the program at a similar timeline with.

Along with those peers, you could line up with the timeline of a student who started zero time a month or so ahead of you so now you’re both starting instrument training that the same time. Does that answer your question?

Hannah