ATR Rating??
 

Hi all!

Has anyone recently completed an ATR type rating with Sky Blue Aviation at EGTE??

What are your thoughts and have any of you gained employment??

Thanks in advance:cool:

There are three contract first officers at the airline I currently work for who did self sponsored type ratings through Sky Blue. From what I have been told, our airline contacted sky blue and asked for some recommendations.

Hope this helps

Thanks Leo8

Were these guys taken on, low houred?

Sky Roaster,

Finished my rating at SkyBlue about a month ago. No sniff of a job yet, but have heard some promising noises about certain UK & Ireland operators getting hold of more ATR aircraft. As always - take it with a pinch of salt.

As for SkyBlue - no complaints at all.

Washed out,
Was the ground school on a par with ATPL studies or harder? I have also been informed this is one of the "more demanding" TR you can do.

Do you think its worth the risk?

SkyRoaster,

Can't comment about other types but from what the instructors told me the ATR is one of the more complex aircraft. Its a tough course, but then I guess they all are. Just don't go in thinking that 'cos its a turboprop it will be easy!

Is it worth the risk? It was for me, but ask me again in six months!

Leo8 - check your PM's.

There are some ATR job offers on the all-known agencies, parc/flight aso. Not shure if CMD only or also FO. I had an offer from PAS agency here in Switzerland for an ATR job but wasn't qualified enough.

Dani, Washed out

Interesting!

It seems there are possible openings on the horizon, as the already experienced Capts/Fo's want to move onto jets etc.

In a way doing the ATR rating instead of a 737 may show your capabilities more...

Waits for the bun fight!

Sky Roaster:ouch:

The ATR is good fun to fly. I dont really have anything to compare it to but from what I have heard it is quite a challenge compared to a lot of 'the big' aircraft.

Definately not the easiest thing to land well!

I did my type rating in Toulouse and didnt find it to be anywhere near as difficult as the ATPL group school but there is still a lot of stuff to work through and the electrical system took me a while to get my head around!

The simulator sessions were a lot of fun. Challenging but certainly nowhere near as much work as the IR!

What I found out that airline turboprops, regardless of types, generally are a challenge to learn and to fly. They have basically the same system layout as a "big jet", so mostly 2 engines, three hydraulic/electrical system and today's EFIS glass cockpit. Some even have CAT III head-up guidance, aso.
On the other hand there is still that Bl00dy prop thing, which, depending on the layout, gives you more or less headaches. While on a jet you just see fading away the thrust during failure, you have to be really quick on handling the prop, otherwise you will spirale your way towards the ground.
Then there is also the bare technique and comfort, which is not at the same level as the big brothers: reliability, maintenance, quality of simulator, operational support. I see no field where turboprop is easier to handle.
So if you say that the ATR is pretty difficult to learn/handle I believe you, telling you that this is about the same as every other turboprop in this class.

Dani

Never having flown the ATR42 I dont want to comment on its relative merits/difficulties, however I can only concur with previous comments about turbo-props being a challenge to fly in an operational environment...I always chuckle when I hear jet drivers moan about the problems they face!!!.....try losing a critical engine on a go-around in heavy icing...I think Id give just about anything at that point for a dose of CFM56 or trent 800. ahhhhhhhh Its nice to dream I guess.


Cheers H

Thanks guys for all the info. I think this is perhaps a good option to go for. Its a gamble, but if you dont take risks you dont get!!

If anyone else has any info on doing this I would be glad to hear.
Pros and cons etc..

Pprune is quite useful!
;)

It's also considerable less pokey down the back than a Dash 8, so for overgrown galoots like me, it involves considerably less head trauma. Interesting organisation of the interior compartments though.

Leo 8

Posts like that are what those of us yet to experience type ratings like to hear.;)

Just out of interest, how much is the SkyBlue ATR course?

Sorry to hijack your post, Sky Roaster, it costs £12,000.

MB

£12000 sounds quite good to be honest! If I remember correctly the Toulouse rating costs closer to £17000 so Its quite a big saving and you dont have the language barrier to cross!

Good luck to anyone who chooses to go for

Monkey boy

£12000 I wish.... Its more like £13500+VAT

where did you get the info from???

Sky Roaster

ATR
 

:{ Plus Vat brings it to about £15995.00

:ok: I did the type rating course there, very good, nice bunch of people.The course is intensive if you dont get stuck in first day you will spend time studying when you could be resting.(Like most type ratings)

The sim is in Morlaix in France, It is a difficult aircraft to master (might be too strong a word try as i dont think i have yet) but when you do its fun. The aircraft on the base check is nicer to fly and you should get your pride back after that.

Mark

Cheers Mark

Sounds like the familiar story of sims not quite like the real thing!

I have another question, hopefully some one might be able to answer:- How do you keep a type rating current if you cant gain employment, can you renew in the sim etc?

Your TR is valid for 5 years if after 12 months and you have no time on the a/c you will have to do another LST Licence SkillsTest before you can fly for an airline. But you do not have to do one every 12 months, if you are not flying.

If you are working you have do a

LST every 12 months. the LST is done in the sim, by a CAA of JAA examiner