WIA Type Rating?
 

I remember a while back that there was a government program called the Workforce Improvement Act that provided pilots with type ratings. Does anyone know anything about this program and if it is still ongoing?

Thanks,
Randy

Vagabond posted this about a month ago.

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/fl...rough-wia.html

Good luck

Make sure you get all the information. In Colorado, they wont pay for the 73 type, and all the other type ratings are too expensive, unless you have some money of your own to put tward it.

Your mileage may vary
 

This will be different from state to state and even county to county. For example. I know in Michigan it can depend on which county you go to for help. Some will work with pilots, some don't have any idea what we do or how we train for it.

N2F

What's your experience with WIA N2F? Were you able to get approved from your state?

All of the above sentiments are true and accurate. I would like to urge everyone to read any contract or agreement carefully before signing it. Know what the terms are, what your obligations are, and what you getting in the end. Do not let emotion blind you to possible unscrupulous people who are out in full force preying on the vulnerable. Not at a time like this or at any other time, for that matter.

I have mentioned to some of you that I am more than happy to read any contract for you before you sign it. Two sets of eyes is always better than one.

Try calling the individual type schools. Some have more experience than others working with pilots and helping them get the WIA benefits that they are entitled to. I wish I would have known this after 9/11 because I got totally rejected for ANY kind of training in Colorado. Nobody had a clue even what the WIA was and I got stonewalled for even non aviation related training. Good luck.

I was able to get approved. But the first county I went to (Oakland), was of no assistance. I then called someone in Wayne county and finally found a person who had a clue as to what pilots do and how we train for it. They were able to get the ball rolling.

N2F

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.

Im just curious, do you have to be unemployed to get WIA benefits or just want more training so I can fly bigger and better planes? Also, my dad has his private and about 450hrs, im a cfi, could we get WIA to pay for his inst, se comm and possibly a type of his cfi? Thanks in advance.