All,

I am still active duty military but still am wanting to learn how to fly.
I am wishing to attain my PPL while I am still in the military on my off-time/weekends. After I retire and go to flight training, I'm wondering just HOW MUCH of the school expenses will the VA pay for???
Does anyone have this experience or can help me out? How long does it take to get the ratings to get hired by a regional. Because of my age when I retire soon, I will plan to make a career out of the Regionals and become a 1st Officer. I will still have my retirement paycheck and disability checks too after my retirement.

Thank you.
David

 

From what I remember, they pay 60% of each rating, and only under part 141. They will not pay for your Private Cert, even if its Part 141. 60% is better than nothing.

 

How long to obtain certs/ratings is up to you. i.e. effort, financial ability, etc... If you have been browsing the forums, especially the regional forum, you no doubt understand what is going on in the field. Massive furloughs at the regional level, attrition at a low level due to Presidential order to increase mandatory retirement age to 65, downturn in the economy. No upward movement into the majors or cargo. Just remember everything is cyclical, once economy swings back, recalls of furloughs will occur, after all that is cleared, hiring will commence again. In my opinion of course, if you begin now, by the time hiring commences you should have obtained your certs/ratings and accumulated hours. I would imagine, hiring mins will go up as many pilots not being hired now, are still churning out their hours. Look for 1200/200 as mins again.

 

The previous info was correct. HOWEVER...the NEW gi bill has a serious limitation on flight training. In the past, almost any part 141 school could get approved for VA benefits. The new MGIB apparently will only cover flight schools which are accredited for college credit. This would include all of the university flight schools and maybe a few others, but probably not most of the mom-and-pop local schools.

It is rumored that if you were eligible for the old MGIB, you might be able to get grandfatherd under the old rules.

 

Check if your base has an aeroclub..if not find the nearest base that has one. Don't know about VA benefits but you will qualify for membership and a very good price on flight training.