soldierboy

While I am still active duty military, does anyone know if there's a way to use my Education TA for my PPL? Thanks.

ATLCFI

TA won't pay for flight training. If you have VA benefits you can use them to pay for ratings and certificates above the Private Pilot certificate. You'll have to get the Private on your own dime.

rickair7777

Also be aware that the new (post 9/11) GI Bill has some significant limitations on flight training.

The good news is that if you are eligible for the old GI Bill (you should be if you are already in the military) you can take the increased benefits of the new GI Bill and be grandfathered for the looser restrictions of the old GI Bill...best of both worlds.

flyingsailor

Do you happen to have a link with the details for that? Our ESO can't track anything down, and I fought to get my G.I. Bill (went enlisted to officer) and am interested in the increased benefits while being grandfathered in. I've also been trying to track some information down for a couple 141 schools.

The grandfathering in the looser restrications is what piques my attention. You can use the new (and improved) benefits (money) for flight training (old rules) if you're eligible for the old benefits? If true, it IS the best of both worlds. I'm just trying to track down a source.

EDIT: Did some various searches in the the VA questions/answer database and answered my question (as well as got a headache). You can be grandfathered in, but it requires an eligibility determination by the VA, and you have to essentially select to continue using your current MGIB benefits, or change to the 9/11 program. Other good news is that they also raised the standard MBIG benefits 20%.

rickair7777

There's a thread in the military forum. The info we have seems to be a general consensus based on VA website info. Unfortunately, I'm not even certain the VA understands the new GI bill yet.

flyingsailor

Thanks. That's the impression I got as well. I'm sure (hopefully) more detailed information will come out before 1 AUG.

soldierboy

I am currently working on my BS in Homeland Security.......just incase this pilot thing doesn't work for me.
How does that VA money work after you complete your PPL? They give you a loan like a car loan and just pay it back every month? Never looked into it yet. ....or do they pay for you as you go through your training and you pay a part of it what the VA doesn't cover?...

rickair7777

You pay for your flight training, and the VA reimburses you for the portion which is covered based on the amount of training completed each month. The reimbursement lags a month or two behind the completion of the training.

There is monthly paperwork which needs to be done (your school should assist you or do it themselves).

flyingsailor

Just to add a little more detail and to clarify benefits (as I've used it):

- It has to be a Part 141 school with a VA approved program.

- You will be reimbursed for 60% of your flight and ground school costs (it does not cover medicals/books/charts/etc).

- You have to have a Class 2 Medical.

- You have to request an eligibility determination prior to beginning training (this is a simple form that you and the flight school fill out and send to the VA, think application to the VA). You'll get a letter back from the VA indicating you're enrolled in XXX program at the school and listing your current benefits.

- You have to fly a minimum number of hours every month (or quarter, I forget), else you'll be dis-enrolled from the program.

Your first payment (if it's the first time using the program) may take up to 4-5 months to receive. After that, it's like clockwork (I received a direct deposit every month). As rickair7777 said, a form has to be submitted monthly for reimbursement (some schools handle how this form is submitted differently, which is something they'll talk to you about).

Two things I'd advise prior to beginning VA benefits:

- Research the school thoroughly. If you can, talk to some people that are currently using VA benefits at the school and see what they think. I recently left a school after determining that the serious headaches I was having with their staff/scheduling/aircraft availability wasn't worth the VA benefits (doing my instructor certificates at a 61 school now).

- Formulate a plan to maximize your benefits. The VA doesn't care what aircraft you fly for what (as long as it's an approved aircraft by the VA) when it comes to benefits. Want to do your instrument and commercial in a twin? Doesn't matter. I've known 2 people who dropped some money out of pocket to get their multi addon to their PPL, then enrolled in the instrument/commercial program with VA benefits, doing it all in a twin commache, and racking up multi time (at $100/hr after benefits).

Good luck!

WeaselBoy

Here's the link you were asking for:
https://www.gibill2.va.gov/vba/vba.c...i=&p_topview=1

Also, if you have a university near you that offers flight courses, you could use TA to offset the cost of your PPL. They won't pay for all of it, but every little bit helps.

And remember the new GI Bill doesn't take effect until 1 Aug. Supposedly, almost all the certification of entitlements will be online. God help us all.