Okay so I am trying to find something and i can't! Maybe someone out there knows a place so I am putting some feelers out!

I am looking for any Part 141 VA approved Multi ATP course on the west coast! I found one so far in Akron, Ohio. I really don't feel like going all the way to Ohio! Does anyone know any company on the west coast that has them? I am talking AZ, WA, OR, ID, UT, CA. Or does anyone know of a inexpensive VA approved Type rating (cause I can get an ATP with that easily!) I would love suggestions. I was going to start working on my CFI course but I really don't have time, and the school I would have to go through is...well it sucks! Any info would be great! Thanks

When you say "VA approved" I assume that you are looking for a school that the post 9/11 GI bill will pay for. Is that correct? My friends in Cali that used the GI bill for their ATP flew to Dallas/Fort Worth and went to Higher Power. You'll get a 737 type rating and ATP for around 10 grand and you can use your GI bill.

Most people, myself included, just pay out of pocket and save the GI bill for the kids. There's a fellow hornet guy in Hanford, CA that has a part 61 school and only does ATP's (hard deck aviation). I got mine there last year for around three grand.

If you decide to pay out of pocket and don't mind traveling, check out downtown aviation in Memphis, TN. Several buddies out here on the east coast have gone there now with good reviews. Around $1,500 plus your travel expenses. Downtownaviation.com

Lastly, I think All ATP's is part 141 and they're everywhere. You might want to check with them.

Why do you want a 141 school? Due to VA requirements? Also, if I got my dates right, the ATP just got a LOT more expensive.....full motion sim required??

MTV

I've already dug into my VA benefits for my commercial multi & single. The kids will have tuition a different way!

Yes I want to use my GI bill benefits, it's around $11,000 this year. But the school has to have a part 141 VA approved course. I don't mind traveling but it has to make it worth wild to me. I would like a place that has a 25hr multi course cause I need just that to be qualified!

I took the ATP written before 31 July 2014 so I am good to go for 2 years. Hence I am trying to work on it now! Thanks guys!

Bryan, when I looked into using the VA at schools not in my state, I found I couldn't. You can only use the VA benefit in the state you live in, unless there's been a change recently. It's been about 20 months since I tried.

As of the first of August, the requirements for ATP changed. They now require substantial and complex certified ground training and substantial simulator training, including training in a full motion simulator.

According to AOPA article yesterday, the ONLY school currently certified to provide training to meet the new ATP standards is Embty Riddle. They have a CRJ full motion sim and a twelve hour ground school program.

Bring LOTS of money. The days of knocking out an ATP for a thousand bucks cause it would look good on your resume are done.

Shoulda done it in July....

MTV

MTV. Anyone who took the written before July 31st has two years to complete the practical under the old rules.

What he said ^^^^

I know this isn't an airline pilot forum but nonetheless I'll make an observation like it is.

This Embry Riddle program is only available to degree track students who have done all their flight training there.

If you are a pilot in this country right now and you didn't sit for and pass the ATP written prior to July 31st you simply can't take it at this point in time, there are NO certified programs in existence yet, crazy!

Meanwhile the regional airlines are hiring at an unprecedented rate, and the pool of qualified applicants is dwindling fast. These next five years are going to be really weird for the entry level jobs in the airline biz, I'll be watching curiously.

piperpainter wrote:What he said ^^^^

Ummm, you didn't mention in your initial post that you'd already completed the written....

Good luck finding a place that fits your criteria.

MTV

Try mazzei flying in Fresno. I know they accommodated my friends helo VA training.

I used post-911 VA benefits to get 737 type + ATP at Higher Power, used basically a full year's benefits. You can possibly attend PTDY if you can sell your command on the concept that the training will have direct relevance to your mil flying (the CRM aspect alone should cover that).

HP is a very professional outfit and the training is well worth the cost in benefits. I didn't particularly care about the type, I just wanted the ATP. This was the way to get it using VA.

You'd have to look at the course prerequisites if you don't already have multi, I don't know if they'd give that to you with the type or not. Worth giving them a call to discuss training options too, they offer a variety of types and are well versed in using VA benefits.

Vick wrote:I used post-911 VA benefits to get 737 type + ATP at Higher Power, used basically a full year's benefits. You can possibly attend PTDY if you can sell your command on the concept that the training will have direct relevance to your mil flying (the CRM aspect alone should cover that).

HP is a very professional outfit and the training is well worth the cost in benefits. I didn't particularly care about the type, I just wanted the ATP. This was the way to get it using VA.

You'd have to look at the course prerequisites if you don't already have multi, I don't know if they'd give that to you with the type or not. Worth giving them a call to discuss training options too, they offer a variety of types and are well versed in using VA benefits.

Vick,
I live in the Fort Worth area and have been kicking around doing the Higher Power 737 type + ATP using my GI Bill. What was your take on the course? Was it the typical military style "firehose" method of instruction? I have heard rumors that HP will front the money for the course and just get reimbursed by the VA? Is this true, that would be nice so I don't have to come out of pocket $10 grand. Any other gouge about the program?

bighead wrote:

Vick wrote:I used post-911 VA benefits to get 737 type + ATP at Higher Power, used basically a full year's benefits. You can possibly attend PTDY if you can sell your command on the concept that the training will have direct relevance to your mil flying (the CRM aspect alone should cover that).

HP is a very professional outfit and the training is well worth the cost in benefits. I didn't particularly care about the type, I just wanted the ATP. This was the way to get it using VA.

You'd have to look at the course prerequisites if you don't already have multi, I don't know if they'd give that to you with the type or not. Worth giving them a call to discuss training options too, they offer a variety of types and are well versed in using VA benefits.

Vick,
I live in the Fort Worth area and have been kicking around doing the Higher Power 737 type + ATP using my GI Bill. What was your take on the course? Was it the typical military style "firehose" method of instruction? I have heard rumors that HP will front the money for the course and just get reimbursed by the VA? Is this true, that would be nice so I don't have to come out of pocket $10 grand. Any other gouge about the program?

I can't comment about the VA aspect, but I can say that I've had many friends go through Higher Power's 737 type rating course and all were very impressed with the course and the instructors. Very positive experience, and they all walked away with the type rating in their pocket.

Bighead - Excellent course overall. Ground school was pretty intense and the oral was a solid 3 hr grilling, they definitely made you work for it. That said the material was well structured and there was plenty of time dedicated to review, you couldn't help but have it beat into you. Sims weren't that bad once you got acclimated to the systems & FMS, all of which was new to me. By the third event I started to get the hang of it.

From what I understand HP used to just take your deposit and letter of VA eligibility when you reserved a seat, then received the balance directly from the VA. Due to VA latency they now want the balance from you on day 1, so you will go out of pocket on the full cost until the VA reimburses you. Not surprisingly my paperwork got hung up - after about a half dozen phone calls and resubmittal of documentation I finally received my reimbursement about four months later.

Regardless, I don't regret going the route I did keeping in mind that I had the benefits to spend. Vastly better training than what some of my peers received from local outfits in sketchy little twins, but then many of them were paying out of pocket.

I got mine via ATP at St Charles Du Page - excellent instructor, and my DPE was Leslie Henninger, who was also excellent.

Vick,
Do you know of anyone that's used the PTDY for a type rating? Trying to get it by my CC right now. Thanks!

If all you want is the ATP, call Cobra Kai in Wichita Falls, Tx. Great program in a Baron.

We've been approving PTDY at my base for the ATP training... good luck with your leadership!