Originally Posted by
Dash9
Morning/evening all.
Posted a few months ago that I'm current active duty enlisted. Contract is up next year and I have the choice to exit. Before I commit to this decision I've been doing a bit of research into the civilian aviation world.
Despite the 'anxiety' of rejoining the civilian workforce and aviation industry vulnerability I'm excited about the current opportunities present during the foreseeable future. Having said all that I've found a flight school commutable to my home in FL. Believe it's on SRQ in Sarasota. Cirrus Aviation. This school is paired up with Liberty University's flight training affiliate program. Part 141.
Basically I get my PPL, Instrument, CPL, MEL, and instructor licenses a long with an aviation bachelor's online degree in 2.5 years all covered under the GI bill yellow ribbon program. The icing on the cake is a 1250 hour R-ATP due to being in Liberty's aviation program. There are a few costs but the majority of training is covered.
You may want to look in to this further. I don't know the specifics of the program you are looking at, but to qualify for the R-ATP you must complete all education and flight training through the program, not remote. For example I finish my degree with ERAU Worldwide, but I don't qualify for their R-ATP.
Here is the list of R-ATP schools, and again you may have to dig deeper, but I'm almost positive that the flight training and education must all be completed at the actual campus listed on this list.
https://www.faa.gov/pilots/training/...ority_List.pdf
As far as advice with the GI Bill....I did my training through Portland Community College in Portland, OR, and worked towards my Associates. I opted to not get my associates, and as soon as I had all my Pilot Certificates (I did all but the CFI/CFII/MEI), I transferred to ERAU Worldwide and finished my B.S. in Aeronautics earlier this year. Obviously I had to do a degree program to apply the GI Bill towards my flight training. If I could go back I would have done the same except that I would have tried to double major during my associates and then transferred to a different degree program to finish my Bachelors. Something outside of aviation. In this line of work, as a pilot, a degree is a check in the box. An aviation degree will do nothing for you when it comes to most pilot jobs (That may not be true if you are looking to eventually go in to pilot management rolls). And knowing what I know now, I'd say always plan as if the next medical is the one you fail. A little crude, sure, but it's just good planning.
If you have any more questions about my experience or whatnot, feel free to shoot me a PM.