Flight Training TimelineStart From Zero Time or With Credit for Private
With ATP's fast track, total immersion pilot training, you will complete the Airline Career Pilot Program with all the certification you need for employment as a professional pilot in just nine months.
Flex Track Option Available: For working professionals, college students and those who need schedule flexibility.
Choose Your Starting Point
The first step towards becoming an airline pilot is earning your Private Pilot Certificate.
Private Pilot
The first step towards becoming a commercial pilot is earning your single-engine Private Pilot Certificate. Keeping your end goal in mind — ATP's philosophy is to deliver airline-style training and flight experience at the very onset of a pilot's training career. This is accomplished through standardized operating procedures and training students to a high level of proficiency. In your primary training stage, you'll learn the fundamentals of flight and accomplish your first solo.
- Private Pilot Online Training Resources
- King Schools Courseware
- Single-Engine Flight Instruction & Briefings
- Single-Engine Solo Flights
Private Pilot (with single-engine privileges)
Some Time Away from Primary Training Center May Be Required
To keep your training on time, the single-engine private pilot checkride may be scheduled at a location other than your primary training center. In such cases, travel will be required and ATP will coordinate transportation and housing as necessary.
Typical Training DayRequires up to 7 days per week, must be flexible
As directed by your flight instructor and the program outline, each day you will participate in guided independent study (online modules, reading, research, "chair flying", etc.), ATP Elevate webinars, group study (with students in similar stages of training), and/or flight lessons with related briefings. In addition, some days include FTD lessons, individual ground lessons and/or group ground lessons.
Learn more about required availability.
Once you're a private pilot, the next step is to earn a multi-engine rating and begin training in the Piper Seminole.
Once you're a private pilot, the next step is to earn a multi-engine rating and begin training in the Piper Seminole.
Multi-Engine Rating
Add multi-engine privileges to your private pilot certificate, allowing you to fly larger complex aircraft. While the principles of flight remain the same, learning to fly the multi-engine Piper Seminole will involve new concepts such as multi-engine aerodynamics, emergency operations, and more sophisticated systems.
- Multi-Engine Online Training Resources
- Multi-Engine Flight Instruction & Briefings
Multi-Engine Rating
Some Time Away from Primary Training Center May Be Required
To keep your training on time, the multi-engine rating checkride may be scheduled at a location other than your primary training center. In such cases, travel will be required and ATP will coordinate transportation and housing as necessary.
Typical Training DayRequires up to 7 days per week, must be flexible
As directed by your flight instructor and the program outline, each day you will participate in guided independent study (online modules, reading, research, "chair flying", etc.), ATP Elevate webinars, group study (with students in similar stages of training), and/or flight lessons with related briefings. In addition, some days include FTD lessons, individual ground lessons and/or group ground lessons.
Learn more about required availability.
Add an instrument rating to your private pilot certificate, which will allow you to fly in all kinds of weather.
Add an instrument rating to your private pilot certificate, which will allow you to fly in all kinds of weather.
Instrument Rating
Airlines conduct flights under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), allowing them to fly in less than ideal weather conditions. Accordingly, these pilots must have an Instrument Rating. During this stage, students conduct flights under simulated instrument conditions and learn IFR procedures such as approaches, holds, arrival and departure procedures, and emergency operations.
Not unlike other stages of the program, students are trained using standard operating procedures, flows, and callouts. This practice not only increases safety and consistency, but will prepare students for flying in the airline environment.
- Instrument Online Training Resources
- Instrument Single-Engine Flight Instruction & Briefings
- Instrument Multi-Engine Flight Instruction & Briefings
- Scenario-Based FTD Training
- Crew Procedures & LOFT FTD Training
Instrument Rating
Some Time Away from Primary Training Center May Be Required
To keep your training on time, the instrument rating checkride may be scheduled at a location other than your primary training center. In such cases, travel will be required and ATP will coordinate transportation and housing as necessary.
Typical Training DayRequires up to 7 days per week, must be flexible
As directed by your flight instructor and the program outline, each day you will participate in guided independent study (online modules, reading, research, "chair flying", etc.), ATP Elevate webinars, group study (with students in similar stages of training), and/or flight lessons with related briefings. In addition, some days include FTD lessons, individual ground lessons and/or group ground lessons.
Learn more about required availability.
Once instrument rated, gain experience flying with a fellow student.
Crew-Style Flight Experience
Upon earning an Instrument Rating, students are paired together on flights and gain experience operating in an airline-style environment using crew resource management.
Each flight is operated using standardized procedures, as well as enhanced scheduling with flight releases to assist with weather, routing, and performance reviews. Routes are scheduled based on operational needs and multiple flights to the same airport may be scheduled — just like the airlines. ATP's specialized Flight Operations team ensure safety and support for each flight through around-the-clock monitoring.
This crew-style flying requires a level of currency, proficiency, and standardization that defines ATP's excellence in flight training.
Some Time Away from Primary Training Center May Be Required
During the three-week Crew-Style Flight Experience stage of training, you will fly to any number of destinations. You may be required to be away from your primary training center for extended periods — just like the airlines.
Typical Training Day7 Days Per Week
Each day you can expect to fly one or more flights.
Learn more about required availability.
After gaining crew-style flight experience, earn your single-engine Commercial Pilot Certificate.
Commercial Pilot
After completing the crew-style flying stage, students will begin preparing for their single-engine Commercial Pilot Certificate, eventually allowing them to be paid to fly. As a commercial pilot, new flight maneuvers are introduced and existing ones are held to tighter tolerances. Prior to completing the commercial pilot practical test, 10 hours of Technologically Advanced Aircraft training will have been conducted either at your primary training center or at another location.
After completing the crew-style flying stage, students will begin preparing for their multi-engine Commercial Pilot Certificate, eventually allowing them to be paid to fly. As a commercial pilot, new flight maneuvers are introduced and existing ones are held to tighter tolerances.
- Commercial Online Training Resources
- Commercial Single-Engine Flight Instruction & Briefings
- Commercial Multi-Engine Flight Instruction & Briefings
Commercial Pilot (with single-engine privileges)
Commercial Pilot (with multi-engine privileges)
Some Time Away from Primary Training Center May Be Required
To keep your training on time, the commercial pilot checkride may be scheduled at a location other than your primary training center. In such cases, travel will be required and ATP will coordinate transportation and housing as necessary. Additionally, if no previous training was conducted in Technologically Advanced Aircraft, you may be required to travel to another training center for up to two weeks to accomplish this training.
Typical Training DayRequires up to 7 days per week, must be flexible
As directed by your flight instructor and the program outline, each day you will participate in guided independent study (online modules, reading, research, "chair flying", etc.), ATP Elevate webinars, group study (with students in similar stages of training), and/or flight lessons with related briefings. In addition, some days include FTD lessons, individual ground lessons and/or group ground lessons.
Learn more about required availability.
Attend CFI Academy and become a flight instructor – the best way to gain experience and meet airline minimums.
Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) Academy
Six weeks of the program are devoted to developing students into Certificated Flight Instructors (CFI). Here students attend ATP's CFI Academy to learn the fundamentals of instruction and hone their ability to effectively teach and communicate the knowledge and experience they have attained throughout the program.
Becoming a CFI allows you to begin earning an income in your new career while you gain the flight experience needed to meet airline minimums.
ATP Instructors Nationally Recognized by AOPA
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) consistently award ATP CFIs with “Distinguished Flight Instructor” awards and the recognition of being “Best Flight Instructor in Region” during the annual Flight Training Experience Awards.
NAFI Master Flight Instructor Awards
The National Association of Flight Instructors is proud to announce that ATP Flight Instructors Michael “Todd” Shellnut and Jeremy Hand have earned accreditation as NAFI Master Flight Instructors.
- CFI Academy, Including Two Weeks of Instructor-Led Virtual Remote Ground School
- CFI Online Training Resources
- Single-Engine CFI Flight Instruction & Briefings
- Multi-Engine CFI Flight Instruction & Briefings
- Instrument CFI Flight Instruction & Briefings
Certificated Flight Instructor (with single-engine and instrument privileges)
Certificated Flight Instructor (with multi-engine and instrument privileges)
Up to Two Weeks from Primary Training Center Required
Depending on where you choose to train, you may be required to travel to a CFI Academy location. In such cases, travel will be required and ATP will coordinate transportation and housing as necessary.
Typical Training DayRequires up to 7 days per week, must be flexible
As directed by your flight instructor and the program outline, each day you will participate in guided independent study (online modules, reading, research, "chair flying", etc.), ATP Elevate webinars, group study (with students in similar stages of training), and/or flight lessons with related briefings. In addition, some days include FTD lessons, individual ground lessons and/or group ground lessons.
The first two weeks of CFI Academy consists of instructor-led remote ground school, requiring full time virtual participation from your home.
Learn more about required availability.
Add multi-engine ratings to your existing certificates, allowing you to operate faster, larger aircraft.
Add single-engine ratings to your existing certificates, allowing you to use instruct and fly commercial in single-engine aircraft
Multi-Engine Add-Ons
Single-Engine Add-Ons
Begin flying the Piper Seminole to add multi-engine privileges to your certificates. While the principles of flight remain the same, learning to fly the multi-engine Seminole will involve new concepts such as multi-engine aerodynamics, emergency operations, and more complex systems. This stage of the program also includes the flight time necessary to ensure that you'll meet Airline Transport Pilot certificate requirements later in your career and be eligible for airline pilot employment.
Begin adding single-engine privileges to your commercial and flight instructor certificate. This rounds-out your qualifications and allows you to instruct and fly commercially in smaller single-engine training aircraft.
- Multi-Engine Online Training Resources
- Commercial Multi-Engine Flight Instruction & Briefings
- Multi-Engine CFI Flight Instruction & Briefings
- Commercial Single-Engine Flight Instruction & Briefings
- Single-Engine CFI Flight Instruction & Briefings
- Commercial Pilot Multi-Engine Privileges
- Certificated Flight Instructor Multi-Engine Privileges
- Commercial Pilot Single-Engine Privileges
- Certificated Flight Instructor Single-Engine Privileges
Some Time Away from Primary Training Center May Be Required
Depending on where you choose to train, you may be required to travel to a Piper Seminole location. In such cases, travel will be required and ATP will coordinate transportation and housing as necessary.
To keep your training on time, the single-engine add-on checkrides may be scheduled at a location other than your primary training center. In such cases, travel will be required and ATP will coordinate transportation and housing as necessary.
Typical Training DayRequires up to 7 days per week, must be flexible
As directed by your flight instructor and the program outline, each day you will participate in guided independent study (online modules, reading, research, "chair flying", etc.), ATP Elevate webinars, group study (with students in similar stages of training), and/or flight lessons with related briefings. In addition, some days include FTD lessons, individual ground lessons and/or group ground lessons.
With support of ATP's Career Services, you'll be ready to start earning an income in your new career.
Start Flying as a Professional Pilot
After graduating from the Airline Career Pilot Program, you will be a certificated flight instructor (CFI), allowing you to immediately begin earning an income in your new career and flying as a CFI to gain the 1,500 hours of flight time required by airlines. The Airline Career Pilot Program includes your single-engine and instrument instructor ratings, as well as your multi-engine instructor rating which makes you more desirable and competitive as a CFI.
Airline & Corporate Hiring Partnerships
ATP's hiring partnerships set the foundation for your career success, with paths to all major airlines and multiple options on how to get there. With 31 airline, cargo, and corporate operator partnerships, you'll be able to take advantage of tuition reimbursement and cadet programs, along with corporate pathway programs specifically adapted to today's hiring.
Ongoing Career Support
ATP's Career Services team is ready to assist you after you graduate with locating entry-level job opportunities or charting your path to the major airlines through one of ATP's airline partners.
Ongoing career support and mentorship is provided through the no-fee ATP Alumni Association, giving you the opportunity to attend exclusive alumni events and take advantage of exclusive discounts for resume and interview prep services.
