Flexible Flight Training TimelineTrain part-time on your schedule and become an airline pilot.
Whether you’re starting from zero time or bringing prior experience, ATP’s Flex Commercial Pilot Program provides a proven framework designed to fit your life. Advance through each training stage at your own pace, with the structure and support you need, and achieve your goal of becoming an airline pilot on your timeline.
Discover what it's like to train with ATP by scheduling your first no-obligation training flight today!
Your First Flight with ATP No-Obligation or Experience Required
Your Introductory Flight is a great way to get a taste of what a typical flight lesson at ATP entails, with an introduction to the fundamentals of flight and airline-oriented instruction. During your flight, our instructor will guide you through each maneuver, allowing you to take the controls and feel the excitement of flying.
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.
- ATP Elevate Private Pilot Ground School
- Private Pilot Online Training Resources
- 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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
- ATP Elevate Instrument Ground School
- Instrument Online Training Resources
- Instrument Single-Engine Flight Instruction & Briefings
- Scenario-Based Simulator Training
- Crew Procedures & LOFT Simulator Training
Instrument Rating
Some Time Away from Primary Training Center May Be Required
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.
$5,000 Tuition Reimbursement — Earn $5,000 at this stage of your flight training through the Horizon Pilot Development Program.
Earn your single-engine Commercial Pilot Certificate and get paid to fly.
Commercial Pilot
During this 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, 20-plus hours of airline-style Line-Oriented Flight Training will have been conducted either at your primary training center or at another location.
- Commercial Online Training Resources
- Commercial Single-Engine Flight Instruction & Briefings
Commercial Pilot (with single-engine privileges)
Some Time Away from Primary Training Center May Be Required
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.
Finish earning your certificates and ratings with ATP's Fast Track CFI and Multi-Engine Program.
Fast Track Flight Instructor and Multi-Engine Program
After completing the Flex Commercial Pilot Program, you can continue earning your certification through ATP's Fast Track Flight Instructor and Multi-Engine Program.
This program adds multi-engine privileges to your commercial certificate, allowing you to operate the types of aircraft flown by the airlines. You’ll also earn your flight instructor certificate, the best way to build the additional flight experience required by the airlines.
- ATP Elevate CFI Ground School
- CFI Online Training Resources
- Multi-Engine Online Training Resources
- Single-Engine CFI Flight Instruction & Briefings
- Instrument CFI Flight Instruction & Briefings
- Multi-Engine Flight Instruction & Briefings
- Flight Instructor (with Single-Engine and Instrument Privileges)
- Commercial Pilot Multi-Engine Privileges
Up to Five Weeks from Primary Training Center Required
Depending on where you choose to train, you may be required to travel to another location. In such cases, travel will be required and ATP will coordinate transportation and housing as necessary.
Gain flight time and experience by flying as a flight instructor.
Fly as a Flight Instructor
ATP is hiring Airline Career Program graduates for CFI jobs! Work towards the minimum airline hiring requirement of 1,500 hours as a certificated flight instructor (CFI) with ATP. As an ATP flight instructor, you will:
- Get Paid to Fly — Earn flight, ground and simulator fees, plus bonuses.
- Gain Experience Fast — ATP students flew over hours the last year.
- Tuition Reimbursement — Through ATP's Exclusive Airline Partnerships.
- Career Development — Qualify to participate in A320 and B737 Direct Programs with Spirit, Frontier, Avelo, and Sun Country.
While flying as a flight instructor, you can earn airline-sponsored tuition reimbursement and fast track your career with exclusive Direct Programs.
Tuition Reimbursement And Airline Direct Programs
As an ATP instructor, you'll be able to take advantage of the best competitive offers and exclusive partnerships, including airline-sponsored tuition reimbursement, cadet programs, and Airline Direct Programs for accelerated career progression.
Explore Airline Assistance Opportunities at ATP »
Tuition Reimbursement
ATP's partner airlines will contribute financially toward the cost of your flight training. Only at ATP can you earn $17,500 in airline-sponsored tuition reimbursement from SkyWest as a flight instructor. Visit to learn how it works.
Cadet Programs
The Envoy Cadet Program allows you to earn financial assistance and travel benefits while flying as an instructor. Once you're at Envoy, you'll then be able to flow through to American Airlines.
Direct Programs
Partnerships with Spirit, Frontier, Avelo, and Sun Country allow ATP instructors to fast track their career and go straight to the Airbus and Boeing flight deck as a First Officer at 1,500 hours.
Airline assistance programs vary by airline.
Begin flying as an airline pilot with one of ATP's airline partners, who provide you with a direct path to the major airlines.
Your Path to the Majors ATP's Airline Hiring Partnerships
After gaining 1,500 hours of flight time, you are ready to move on to the airlines. ATP's hiring partnerships set the foundation for your career success, providing the fastest path to all major airlines and multiple options on how to get there. With airline, cargo, and corporate operator partnerships, you'll be able to take advantage of tuition reimbursement and cadet programs, corporate pathway programs, as well as direct programs allowing you to go straight to the A320 and B737.
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.