ATP Flight School: Your Guide to Start Flight Training Now with a Zero Down Loan // #63 

"The difference between a good pilot and a bad pilot is the ability to distinguish between what, is important and what is not." Words of wisdom for everything in life!

A a captain with a major US carrier, I would urge everyone to use extreme caution when dealing with ATP. All of the first officers I fly with who came through their program say the same thing; they are primarily interested in your money. Your flight training is a distant second. They pressure you to get the loan as fast as possible, and once they have it you are at their mercy. They push folks to take checkrides when they aren’t ready resulting in failures that you will have to explain to a hiring board. They promise pilots they will hire them back as a CFI, but neglect to tell them they will have to relocate to another facility. The Intructors are there to build time, and aren’t concerned about your progress. I saw the same thing during the hiring boom of the late nineties. I’m not saying avoid them, just know who you’re dealing with, and NEVER EVER let them pressure you into a checkride if you don’t feel ready. A failure will on,y hurt your future, not theirs.

"Is ATP worth it?" THIS video should be the first and ONLY video Google should throw out on the search results! Jahmal is what champions are made of! He exemplifies what it means to seize the land of opportunity which is America! Well done dude. Your daddy and mamma did a great job raising a solid son.

I am an ATP certified pilot and I’ve worked in the Bahamas for a little while and did a little aviation maintenance. Building hours to an ATP was exciting for me because I got to jump seat with a lot of private charters. It was exhilarating. But this young guy is giving a lot of pertinent information that I think is extremely valuable. He is indeed gonna go extremely far in the business thumbs up to you, my friend.

I'm at ATP now as well. I cannot stress this enough; ATP IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. I would even go as far to say it's more likely NOT for your situation than it is for your situation. The negative reviews online are from people who weren't in the right situation for the school. Tread lightly, maintain thick skin, and be ready to adapt.

This is now one of my one of my favorite videos from you guys, I felt like my story related to Jahmal's story on every cylinder. You all don't understand how much this video helped me to keep going strong on my journey and finally be able to relate so closely with someone whose journey was similar.

This is the most in-depth video I’ve seen about ATP. I was considering it before, but now I’m really interested in the program. Thank you so much for having Jamal on y’all’s show.

This was AWESOME! My hat's off to @Jahmalthepilot, dude you ROCK! When I was a kid I wanted to be an Air Force Test Pilot when I grew up, but in 5th grade I got glasses, and that put an end to that dream. I've always loved planes and flying, tho. My first job out of college, I had a boss, Jack, who got his license and he took me up several times with him. I was in Portland, OR, at the time, and about 6 months after Mt. St. Helens erupted (5/18/80), he invited me to fly around it with him; that was really cool. I got a bunch of photos ... I wish I could find them ... but it was a lot of fun. He flew pretty close, but kept saying, "C'mon, this thing could erupt at any time!" A couple of years later we had both ended up in Phoenix, and he asked me if I wanted to go with him to pick up his plane at the south end of town and fly it to an FBO on the north side, and I said "Sure!" As we were on our way to the airport, he mentioned that he'd had a "little accident" in the plane about 6 months earlier, and they had just finished fixing it. Seems he lost one of the (two) blades on the prop in mid-air and the engine came out of the mount, but hung onto the plane by some wiring. He was able to land it in a farm field about 10 miles south of town, and nobody aboard was hurt. (His son and son's friend were also aboard, and it was the first time the son's friend had ever been on a private plane.) The insurance guy showed up, took one look at the plane and said, "Man, you should go buy yourself a lottery ticket. I've seen lots of accidents where the prop broke in mid-air, but this is the first one I've ever seen where the engine didn't come loose and fall away. Nobody ever survives this. The fact that you're even standing here is a F*****g MIRACLE!" Jack said to me, "They just rebuilt the engine, the plane, and put on a new prop; but if you don't want to get in it, I'll understand." I was like, "whatever. Let's go!" (I'm kinda fearless.) It was an uneventful flight across town. I'm 67 now, and lately I've been watching lots of videos and trying to figure out how to get hold of a HondaJet or a Cirrus Vision Jet and learn to fly it. If I was Jahmal's age today and watched this, I'd have already started the process to get into ATP! (I actually know someone who I think just finished. She posted a photo of her in some older Lear Jet saying she's just getting certified to fly it for some company -- it's a CORPORATE GIG, Jahmal! Good Luck, J!) I work with computers and the "glass panels" in these newer aircraft (the Garmin G3000, etc.) look a lot easier (to me) to deal with than the old-style dashboards, mainly because of the incredible amount of automation they handle. Ya know, the military flies drones bigger than these small jets remotely, so I don't know why these things can't be flown on auto-pilot from start to finish, although I'm sure that's coming. It can't be much more complex (from a computing standpoint) as FSD on a damn EV! Come ON!

I’m watching this video driving from Lubbock to midland for work! I work for midland fire department and live in Lubbock. I am also a black male aspiring to get my pilot’s license. You are an inspiration for guys like me! Hopefully soon I’ll join you in the sky’s!! Good luck dude!

This is great. I had something similar with my flying career but I started in my 40's. Glad that you started younger and followed your dream.

Great podcast!! As a current student pilot getting my PPL and looking at ATP for the rest of my training this was extremely helpful!!

Love this video so inspirational. Im 35 with a family so my journey will be different but this guys will and determination alone gives me hope and confidence.

Great interview! I Wish Jahmal nothing but best on his aviation journey and I appreciate him for sharing.

This was the most informative video I’ve ever heard about ATP and I’ve looked everywhere. The financial info was gold and the interviewers asked an awesome question about the wash out rate. This video was GREAT.

Awesome video, started ATP on the September of 25th, came in with all 6 written done, that is what ATP recommends. Stay ahead in the program is what I have heard so many times. Currently waiting an assigned instructor, usually 2 weeks for elevate private, finished in 1 week, if you can, then do it. My reasoning for this is since winter is coming, weather will definitely be an delay, ATP is very strict when it comes to private stage, try to finish before the winter is here, finish class ASAP so you can fly! If you can visit the training center before the date to talk to other students and instructors, do it! this can help with your first day already knowing most of the people in the training center!

Thank you Mike, Sean, and Jahmal!

Hi. CFI, CFII here in Orlando Florida, on the hustle to getting the 1500 hrs. The amount of valuable information for new or aspiring pilots on this channel is tremendous. Even for current pilots working in the industry can benefit and get inspired from this info. Congrats to Jahmal for starting his training, and much respects for hustling his way into becoming a pilot. I have the same ideology when it comes to doing your training and becoming a pilot, you want to do it as fast as possible, with the least money spent and most importantly safely. My advice to new or aspiring pilot is don’t do an aviation degree, or even college after finishing high school, just go straight into an accelerated program and get your pilot licences, you will have the rest of your career to learn, become experienced and improve your flying skills and maybe even get a degree in another field after you’re already making good buck. I like how you guys keep it real, and are actually trying to help.

KTLH is where I’m doing my PPL right now!! The Million Air people here are awesome out here. I’m gonna go find your shirt on the wall when I’m in FL Avi tomorrow😂😂 Loved hearing your story and connecting so many of your experiences with where I am in my own journey.

I love this interview! Keep the content up guys... you'll are such a great resource! I work in the oil field in Midland Texas lol. It's DEFINITELY a desert out here 🤣.

I thought ATP was way too expensive but now it seems like a good deal

One of the best interviews I’ve ever watched

Crazy!! It’s so amazing how this knowledge can be acquired in a couple of clicks.

Grew up flying out of KAPA! Love the airport and love the area. My family still lives around there. Now I’m out of KVNY, the other busiest class D. Good vid guys!

Greattttt video. I’m starting Atp next year, and this video was just what I was looking for !

Best episode so far💪🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Thank you for bringing him on video his story related to me so much only difference is i am actually truck driver right now. I started flight school at college of dupage they started this year aviation 2 year and half flight associate program for commercial pilot. I would like to share my story too because i have been though route being immigrant and trying achieve my goal. I think there’s lots of international students struggling with financial and language barrier.

QUESTION: Is there a business structure advantageous to write-off flight training expenses from future income taxes? Is there a way to recover those initial setup flight training costs (probably part cash & loan) later in year 1, 2, or 3 after you have contract/private charter work that you bill through your own company?

This was so helpful and inspiring!

Great video, thanks for the insight of atp. Grateful for the information

This is an amazing interview. Thanks for sharing fellas.

Thanks for the great content! Hope to bump into your guys down at Lunken sometime.

That's so funny at the end hearing you guys mention Goggins. , I listen to David Goggins at 430am when I drag myself out of bed to do my online ground school 😂 glad to see I'm gonna fit right in 😂😂

im really liking these longer episodes

I’m 28 and just got accepted in ATP with full financing from Sallie Mae. I can’t believe this video came out a week ago. Just when I needed it. You guys really helped answer a-lot of questions. Start dates aren’t until spring next year so Im gonna work on my ppl and get all the ground out of the way until then. I was worried about washing out but it seems unlikely if I just stay ahead with my training.

That was packed full of great information. Is there any information about how OLDER ATP students are doing?? Also, did you guys have comparison with Contract flying VS Corporate flying? Good job guys!!

How have I never found you guys!! Thank you for the info Jahmal and the motivational tidbits! Wish you the best of luck and I'm following suit! Just not sure if I should jump into PPL with ATP or get that locally.

Love this. Shout out to Rattler nation #HBCU

I paid 18k for my private at a 141 school. Believe it or not, I’m about 10k cheaper than some other people. I did college, started a career in policing, promoted to Sgt., and then got hired on by the highway patrol. I decided to pursue a life long goal of being a pilot and pursued it. I’m 28yo and have a wife and three kids. We packed up and moved near my flight school and I’ve been flying since March with 0 hours. I got my ppl in under 3 months and I’m almost done with instrument. Super challenging but worth it. I’m also apart of the Southwest 225° cadet program.

What a young man!

The best podcast episode so far guys! I also have my instrument checkride coming up. Sean is totally on the money about the written tests. They're a joke lol

ATP is a predatory flight training system.

There’s are so many dependent variables on the successful outcome of a student at ATP flight school. This man’s experience is completely opposite of my experience attending ATP. I will say your success and experience is dependent on the location and the instructor you are paired with. Most instructors there are only time builders in my opinion.

Hey, My name is Ben and I am attending centennial atp this june. what a coincidence. might see Jahmal there haha

Great info

Please keep getting your college education. As soon as hiring slows down the Airlines will require it again. This has all played out before. Believe it or not - college is important!

I wish my experience at ATP was going as well as his! I would never recommend ATP to anyone. I wish I would have stayed at my local flight school even though it would have taken longer. Don’t let their marketing fool you, this place is not what it seems like.

Does anybody know which other RU-vid flying channel he was trying to reference when he said '2105' at the 1h36m25s mark?

If you opt out of the CFI stuff then they will send you straight to your multi rating and get you that. Will not charge for the CFI training

Mike - Your TV in the background is very distracting.

Looks like a young woman in the Alaska Airlines cadet program survived a horrible crash while the other two died around the Portland Oregon area according to the news. Any reason what could be the cause just looking at the footage?

I want to do ATP but have no degree and didn’t try in high school. My gpa was a 2.7 and atps website says you need a minimum 3.0 gpa to be accepted. Is the work around to get my ppl before applying to atp?

They are terribly rude when you call to get info. I talked to 3 different people and all were rude! They told me I was too old! 😂

When applying for a flight school, should I go Part 141 or Part 61? Will airlines prefer one over the other??

What is the loan he ended taken

47:30 Did he say 2.8 or 3.8 GPA?

reverb in Jahmal audio is annoying for me. even if he will talk through phone's Bluetooth set, audio will be a lot better, maybe flatter voice but signal/noise ratio will be way better. there is a reason why everyone have microphone as close from mouth as possible, in noisy/unthreaded(reverb) places.

I called ATP i was quoted $267000. $102000 for all your certs and $165000 for the hours. Meritize will only loan up to $127000. I have to head into work now so i can't finish the video. I got my first class medical then spoke to the loan now im not sure how to proceed...anyone got tips?

This guy ran an airport, and has a college degree. That is hardly starting from zero.

Great podcast but this guy really rambled a lot

Hey fellas excellent work 🙌🏻 why don't you two do a podcast regarding Frontier and Spirit and the job opportunity pipeline?? 🛬🛫🛩️🇺🇸All the best 🏆🥇 ty