Hi All
Do the students at ATP have free time during the week? This might sound childish but can I bring my video games? Will I have time to play? Also, Is there a gym or anything of the sort on the campus? I wish to stay in good health while at the program.
Please let me know.
Thank you
Mikael,
You will not have time to play video games. If you do, you’re not working hard enough. This isn’t like college. This is full-time and accelerated. If you think you’re caught up, there’s always time to jump ahead and study for the next flight, the next rating.
There are no gyms and there are no campuses. ATP has Training Centers, not campuses. The Training Centers are equipped with the resources that you need to learn and study.
If you stay in student housing, there MIGHT be a small gym in the apartment complex. Otherwise, there are some pretty affordable gym memberships out there. That said, I like to stay fit too and I tried to exercise as much as possible while in the program. It wasn’t easy. While health and wellness is important, my workouts suffered. I became even busier as an Instructor. It wasn’t until I had made it to the regionals when I really got my routine back.
Last bit of advice, push ups, pull ups, sits ups, body weight squats and cardio can be done just about anywhere and work really well. I’m up to 100 push-ups in 20 minutes. Just sayin. There are also a plethora of body weight and resistance band exercises on YouTube. The free Orange Theory YouTube workouts are killer.
Tory
I also thought ATP was campus-like before joining. When I first came there, to my surprise it wasn’t like I expected at all, it’s more like a small office. 1 small room for a single engine sim, 1 small room for a multi engine sim, 2 classrooms for students to study, a few tables and chairs, a front desk, and that’s about it.
I had more free time in my ppl phase than I did in my instrument phase. This is because in ppl, if weather was bad, you had a lot of extra free time. I probably had more free time because I got the writtens out of the way as well before hand.
In instrument phase, my checkride date is approx 1 month from when I just got my ppl. So there is a lot of info to learn in 1 month, and not only that, but even on bad-weather days you have to sim. So you’re occupied no matter what. Add to that a 1,200 question bank in sheppard you have to know, and you’re even more screwed.
So yeah, I say come in with writtens already done and you’ll have somewhat of more free time.
Moe,
I mean, maybe? If you didn’t have weather delays you could have also gotten ahead of the program. Right? Nothing that says you can’t get ahead if conditions permit.
Tory
Thats right, I guess if you’re in an area with always-good weather, and you fly 7 days a week, you can certainly get your ppl well in advance of the stated 3 month time frame, cutting your “free” time. Either way, there is nothing called free time at atp, use your time wisely and study!
There we go 
that’s more like it haha
Mikael,
Leave the video games at home. This is an incredibly accelerated program, any spare time you have should be spent studying. Now there will of course be some down time, but make sure to use it wisely.
Chris
Mikael,
Not to pile on with the rest but if you’re thinking about down time and video games you really aren’t understanding the program. ATP accelerates what normally takes years into months. This is not to rush you and kick you out but to prepare you for the rigors of airline training. Would you ask United or Delta if you could bring your XBox or more important would that even be a thought in your head?
You’re looking at spending a considerable amount of money into this and your performance can affect your entire career. Frankly there should be other things of greater concern.
Adam