CramCleanClimb

Hey guys,

I may have found a potential way to SIGNIFICANTLY reduce pilot training costs up to Air Transport Pilot certificate.

On the VA website For Employers - Veterans Opportunity to Work, there are some benefits for EMPLOYERS (i.e. hiring flight schools like ATP or airlines) that could ease your way to ATP cert or maybe even provide an incentive for your future airline to pay for most of your training.

I'm seeing this as a potential loophole since GI Bill will only pay for part of your training and take too long. I'm still doing research but I'm throwing this out there for vets like me who want to fly and are looking for alternate ways to reach their goals.

The scenario I see is this: I call the employer (ATP or even a regional/major) and tell them that they can qualify for both tax incentives AND reimbursement of training from the VA. Then we can calculate the costs and see if ATP or future airline can pay for all training (or most) and get their money back from Uncle Sam.

It seems a bit far fetched but I'm trying to think outside the box here. I know the channels for training and seniority lists are just about set in stone, but if no one asks or thinks of new ways to get there then we'll be stuck in this cycle of debt and poverty wages....

All thoughts, suggestions, and spears are welcome!

Regards,
AA

rickair7777

I doubt it. It looks like the incentives are to make up for cost associated with disability accommodation and lower productivity due to lack of experience.

Airlines can't hire less experienced vets due to FARs...everybody needs an ATP. Few people are disabled enough to require accommodation but still able to hold a medical.

blaquehawk99

Those tax credits are the Returning Heroes Tax Credit, which provides an incentive of up to $5,600 for firms to hire long-term unemployed veterans, and the Wounded Warrior Tax Credit, which provides firms with up to $9,600 for hiring long-term unemployed veterans with service-connected disabilities. Unless you fall into those categories your next employer cannot take advantage of these tax credits.

blaquehawk99

But...take a look at this: https://www.vetsuccess.va.gov/public...g_Programs.pdf

If you could convince an employer to take you on as an apprentice then maybe this could work for you.

I suspect if done correctly it would be possible to use your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to pay for a type rating.

rickair7777

There would be no point to this. They cannot hire you without ATP mins. Once you get ATP mins, its easy to get hired.

These programs are designed to give under-qualified vets an opportunity to get in the door and get experience. But legally impossible in the case of airlines.

And majors are not going to stay hiring CFIs in order to get a small kick back on the training cost from the VA...not even maybe.