Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate

[nunya]

Paul Bertorelli being a smart ass.

[flyusaf83]

Just finished my ATP at Tulsa Community College. It was a really easy experience. I did one prep flight on Thursday and the eval today (Saturday). Total of 4.4 hours in the Seminole between the 2 flights. Total cost was just under $2k. Some other guys who have gone there have done one or two more prep flights just to feel more ready. They are really flexible. They give tons of gouge for the program when you get scheduled. If you show up knowing all the GK, you should be ready with one or two prep flights.

Highly recommend TCC.

Edited March 29, 2015 by flyusaf83

[jango220]

Just finished my ATP at Tulsa Community College.

How easy was it to schedule dates? Lots of openings or something you have to lead turn 6-9 months?

[flyusaf83]

How easy was it to schedule dates? Lots of openings or something you have to lead turn 6-9 months?

I scheduled 2 months out. They are getting a lot of dudes scheduled because of the change, probably like most places. I would schedule sooner rather than later.

[BFM this]

July of next year is going to be a bad time to have a light twin go in for an annual

[brabus]

I have the rest of this year left to get the practical done before my test expires, but the more I think about it, the more I have no desire to spend $1.5K+ on a rating I have absolutely zero desire to use (and is as useful as my TUI masters). Sure, there are some REMOTE possibilities that could drive me to airlines, but I think they're very unlikely. That said, with the amount of hiring going on and likely to continue over the next 5+ years, am I screwed without an ATP in the eyes of the airlines if on a very long shot I am forced to look for work there? I know the easy answer is just spend the money and do it, but I'd say there's about a 95% chance it'd be a complete waste of money and could be much better spent elsewhere. Is anyone getting hired with just an expired written or none at all?

[Vetter]

You will not get called without an ATP by a major right now. Period dot. I don't know what the future holds, but I see that requirement never going away. Now, you may get hired by a regional...

[Royal]

You will not get called without an ATP by a major right now. Period dot. I don't know what the future holds, but I see that requirement never going away. Now, you may get hired by a regional...

My buddy just got interviewed and hired by a Legacy without his ATP; he had the written done, but that was it.

[Vetter]

I stand corrected. What Legacy?

[HuggyU2]

I believe it is a poor idea not to get your ATP.

It is a professional credential.

Professional pilots should have these type of credentials.

There are many other flying jobs out there besides the airlines where having an ATP will help.

Plus... $1500 really isn't that much money in the big scheme of things.

And maybe you'll actually enjoy the flying to get the ATP.

Edited May 14, 2015 by Huggyu2

[Royal]

I stand corrected. What Legacy?

Delta, surprisingly.

[Danger41]

Anybody used Sky Warriors in Pensacola?

[brabus]

Heard good things about them from several friends who have been there. If I end up doing the ATP, that's who I'll probably use.

[Herk Driver]

Anybody used Sky Warriors in Pensacola?

Used Downtown Aviation. All previous comments about them are pretty much valid. $1500, 2 flights and a half day of GT made this an easy choice for me. Just show up prepared and having studied. Edited May 14, 2015 by Herk Driver

[TheCubDriver]

You will not get called without an ATP by a major right now. Period dot. I don't know what the future holds, but I see that requirement never going away. Now, you may get hired by a regional...

I believe it is a poor idea not to get your ATP.

It is a professional credential.

Professional pilots should have these type of credentials.

There are many other flying jobs out there besides the airlines where having an ATP will help.

Plus... $1500 really isn't that much money in the big scheme of things.

And maybe you'll actually enjoy the flying to get the ATP.

Well put Huggy!

Truth is to fly part 121 for a major or regional airline you have to have to hold a current ATP certificate with a first class medical. That being said, you only really need to have the minimum qualifications (per the FAA, restricted or unrestricted) complete before you take your type rating checkride for the airline. The requirements that the general public see that airlines require are set up by an HR department. You're always going to hear of someone that "jumped the line" and got an interview because the knew someone in management without having an ATP. They still will have to meet the min FAA requirements for ATP. In the coming year the only way that all part 121 carriers are going to be able to get guys with ATPs are those who got them while at another airline.

Not that I don't agree with Huggy about the ATP being a great professional credential. Those same HR people are going to be looking at guys with 3,000hr+ mil guys and no ATP next year if they haven't already.

It's all kinda like getting a pilot slot in the Air Force. There are guys that have zero hrs and ratings while some are seasoned airlines guys with 2,000hrs+. Both get hired and are Lieutenants in the beginning.

[xaarman]

I researched Sky Warrior on here and around, kind of had a negative impression.

Called four times (over 3 months out) and they took down my number and would call me back to schedule. I called 1 month out, and 2 weeks out and they still said they were working on it, but would call me back. Finally called again and said their local examiner needs to give two checkrides with the FAA in the back seat, but would call me back when they had a lead on the other examiners. I asked the lead instructor who does ATP to call me back, never did.

I never got a single call back, so I'll go to DT Aviation/Tulsa CC.

Edited May 14, 2015 by xaarman

[sputnik]

I kind of hate it when people tell me how to spend my money. That said, I tend to agree with Huggy. Unless you are 100% positive you won't ever need it, you are closing a door that will be a lot harder to reopen.. There may be options later down the road, but I guarantee you they will be significantly more painful and/or expensive.

Delta for as long as I've been looking has only required a current written. I doubt many folks get hired without a full ATP, but clearly it's possible. Since your written is going to expire soon, that fact is irrelevant. I don't know of any major that will hire without the written, as I understand it (?) the written is the part that is about to get difficult.

I had no intention of going to the airlines....and here I am. Hell, even Butters is apparently going to give it a shot. If you're going to close that door, make sure you do it eyes open.

[ViperStud]

I believe it is a poor idea not to get your ATP.

It is a professional credential.

Professional pilots should have these type of credentials.

There are many other flying jobs out there besides the airlines where having an ATP will help.

Plus... $1500 really isn't that much money in the big scheme of things.

And maybe you'll actually enjoy the flying to get the ATP.

Shack. Forget all the obvious benefits - retired buddy of mine had a chance encounter with the chief pilot of a flight department after he retired. That turned into an informal interview and next thing he knew, he was flying for one of the big casinos in Vegas.

Chance favors the prepared mind - always put yourself in the position where you are prepared for that unexpected fork in the road. Having options is always a good thing.

[Learjetter]

..,

It is a professional credential.

Professional pilots should have these type of credentials...

Which is why the AF should send you to get yours on their dime, like they promised us in 1996...

[ViperStud]

What is this 1996 promise you speak of? Unless I'm missing something related to that, I think they're pretty fair about it. We get to log lots of time in complex aircraft and are paid to do it. We get training that is generally considered to be far superior to the civilian counterpart (I've been through a civilian type as well, I know what I'm talking about). The AF has created a system whereby they are allowed to certify us to fly without going through all the FAA hassle - so why should they then have to go back and get everyone FAA certified?

There are several airframes in the inventory that they need to send us to civ training for (because there is no equivalent AF training yet, if ever), so they do it. You want a free type/ATP, pursue one of those deals.

[Dupe]

Currently, none of the majors have an ATP Certification Training Program (CTP) to be able to sit for the ATP.

It'll be interesting to watch as guys pony up for that $5K course.

Edited May 15, 2015 by Dupe

[Learjetter]

Back in the mid-90s, the AF was (gasp!) having issues with rated retention, on the heels of the "feet on the ramp policy" which administratively GROUNDED any pilot who didn't take the bonus. The AMC/CC issued a series of "aircrew retention" NOTAMS--one of which PROMISED that the AF would get FAA -designated examiners for each MDS (think the OG Stan/Eval)...and set up certified testing centers at each base. When you did your first recurring IP check (assuming you had your hours) your flight doc would give you your Class I, and OG would test you, and your check ride would count as your practical...and the OG Stan/Eval guy would write you your ticket.

Then they reneged on the whole deal, stopped getting Flt docs their AME cert, stopped the OG designated examiner program, stopped the whole program...and started the "global ready aircraft commander" program instead.

But they did permit FAA examiners to ride on USAF aircraft, so a bunch of folks got their ATP that way...

[RASH]

Do you know of folks who completed the flight portion with an FAA Examiner on board? That was always the hurdle no one could clear...

[Tonka]

Well there was this one guy... He tried that, but was getting a recurring instrument/qual at the same time (2 evaluators, 1 AF, 1 FAA) i don't think the AF evaluator was to keen on having another evaluator on board... Gave the dude a Q3 for whatever reason and the FAA evaluator had no choice but to follow suit, even though he really wasn't familiar with the aircraft.

[propflux]

I got mine on a C-12 out of Andrews -- done at the same time as an annual IP checkride. FAA evaluator gave the ground eval and then sat in the back for the checkride -- pretty much the same requirements as the AF check.