WIA Experience
I used it in 2003 when I got furloughed fron United to Get a Lear 35 Type. The training centers are not stupid, and it goes something like this:
Call FSI or SimuFlight and say "I want a type rating in a Lear 35--what's the price?"
The answer depends (these were the prices in 2003):
1. If you are a company with a corporate price (because you send 6 guys there a year), it might be $8000-ish.
2. For Joe Furlough off the street, $14,000-ish
3. With WIA, $17,000. WIA pays $3000.
So, my choice was to pay $14k out of pocket, or get a government assist and still pay $14k.
Fortunately, I got WIA to approve the course at PanAm, so I got the government assist, but it "only" cost me $8k out of pocket.
Depending on the type and cost, it can be a good deal. The paperwork is a nightmare, though.