Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
N0dak wrote:I can't speak for ATP flight training but I did go through a university program. While my training wasn't conducted at the pace of ATP, it was similarly structured and regimented. While it was beneficial in some ways, looking back on it, I feel like I missed out on the opportunity to enjoy my training. Once I passed one hurdle, it was time to move on to the next. For example, I never got the chance to take my family flying or do a $100 hamburger after my PPL. With that said, airplanes were taken care of and the instructors while new, were just fine.
A big thing to consider is you're going to pay a lot of extra money for an identical certificate to the pilots trained at the school on the other side of the field. If paying for the training is not an issue, you could easily get through your training relatively quickly elsewhere and pocket the difference. As much as schools like to talk about job placements and plaster pictures of regional jets all over their website, airlines aren't really concerned. I was formerly an instructor at a regional airline, and I was never concerned with where they did their training. Your certificate just checks a box on your application. Your attitude and willingness to learn means a lot more.
I'm happy to discuss more if you have more questions.