VA GI Bill use for ATP
 

So I'm getting smarter on this but it still seems a bit mysterious. Can someone use the Post 9-11 GI Bill to get an ATP?

So far I understand you have to be going through a degree granting institution. This means you are either getting a degree and that program has flying in it, or you are getting a degree in something else and while there you do University approved flying.

But to get an ATP you need more hours than just the mins for MEL, et cetera. So, is there a way to get those hours paid for by GI Bill? Can you get the written class paid for, and the MEL et cetera, all thew ay to ATP checkride paid for by GIBill if you are at a degree institution?

Havent found this anywhere...

The short answer, yes. But you're not going to get 1,500 hours paid for if that's what you're asking. The Post 9/11 will pay all flight related costs at an actual college. There are lots of collegiate aviation programs that can be found through Google. Generally, they give you an AS or BS in conjunction with PPL through CFI.

On the other hand, you can use your GI Bill ad hoc at a Part 141 school for $12k per year up to 3 years for any rating Instrument or above. This includes the ATP if you are already up for that. A lot of guys seem to do the ATP ride in conjunction with a type rating if the GI Bill is paying. There is also a way to apply to be reimbursed for the costs of the flight test with the examiner.

There is actually quite a bit written on this forum about the GI Bill, which can be easily found with the search function. Happy trails.

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/fl...1-gi-bill.html
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/fl...ht-school.html
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/mi...pe-rating.html
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/fl...-training.html
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/fl...l-use-atp.html
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/mi...raining-8.html
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/mi...pe-rating.html
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/co...g-gi-bill.html

To second fiveninerzero, nothing is going to cover you from 0 to 1500 hour hero.

What I am researching -- and still unable to find -- is a program covered by the GI Bill that covers the CTP course for the 121 written. Higher Power Aviation (now owned by ATP) has a 737 type rating course that is near-entirely covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The caveat right now is that you must have the ATP written complete. That said, with all ATP writtens expiring summer 2016 due to the new rules, that program is going to have to adapt.

In the meantime, if anyone knows of any current or upcoming courses that are covered by the VA in support of the CTP+ATP, please post it here.

Here is the official list:

Of these, I know ERAU takes the GI Bill, but they require you to be enrolled in their degree program.

Higher Power is on there. The rest are mostly regionals who use it to train their new hires. ABX's program is affiliated with Sporty's. You should be able to use this list to contact them to ask.

http://www.faa.gov/pilots/training/a..._providers.pdf

https://atpflightschool.com/atp/ctp/index.html

Just found this while doing some research. It states on the bottom that the ATP-CTP is covered by Mongtomery/Post 9-11 Gi bills. I called the number and left a message to confirm this. i have 9 months of benefits left and I'm not going to transfer them and incur an addictional ADSC.

Which is interesting because the rest of their training is not eligible to be covered by the GI bill since it is not a VA approved 141 program.

Since this is at Higher Power, maybe that's how they get away with it? Pure speculation. I will try to get ahold of them again and let you guys know. Might be a good deal for those of us who were late to get on the written bandwagon

Talked to a dude named Paul today at HPA, the ATP CTP is covered by the GI Bill. They received the approval a couple months after they were approved the ATP CTP by the FAA. The ATP practical is under part 61 and not covered by the GI Bill. 4G's for a 4 day course at HPA...can probably find it cheaper elsewheres. Classes start every Monday. Included is the Sheppard Air prep and a voucher to take the written exam. I'm going to go in late Feb/Early March.

Which hpa location was this? Thanks.

It was the one in Dallas.

Gents - lots of great info here. Thanks! let me digest.

I understand the part about the VA not funding the 1,500 hours of flight time to qualify for an ATP. But what about the 250 PIC hours in an airplane?

What about the Aviation Universities and part 141 schools? How do they get their students to 250 PIC in airplanes?

and FIVENINERZERO - how do you use your GIBill 'ad hoc' as in "GI Bill ad hoc at a Part 141 school for $12k per year up to 3 years" and why only 3 years? I thought it was four - the equivalent to someone using four years of undergrad benefits (though with different dollar amounts).

MarineFly

Gents - lots of great info here. Thanks! let me digest.

I understand the part about the VA not funding the 1,500 hours of flight time to qualify for an ATP. But what about the 250 PIC hours in an airplane?

What about the Aviation Universities and part 141 schools? How do they get their students to 250 PIC in airplanes?

and FIVENINERZERO - how do you use your GIBill 'ad hoc' as in "GI Bill ad hoc at a Part 141 school for $12k per year up to 3 years" and why only 3 years? I thought it was four - the equivalent to someone using four years of undergrad benefits (though with different dollar amounts).

MarineFly

The 12K per year only applies to the cost of the credits themselves. The flight time is considered additional "fees" which the GI bill covers all. That is why you can only use the GI Bill at Part 141 VA approved schools, because the VA wants to make sure you and the school aren't abusing the program by adding on a bunch of bogus hours just to build time. So you can have a part 141 program, but if it is not "VA approved" the GI bill won't cover it.

I had two choices when I left the military.

• I could stay on the Montgomery GI Bill and go to a part 141 flight school (not college) and the GI bill would pay for 60% of training, I would have to pay 40%. Advantages: I could get my ratings quicker. Disadvantages: I have to pay 40%
• Or I could convert to the post 9/11 and go to a Part 141 VA approved college and get everything 100% paid for plus get a book stipend and E-5 housing allowance based on the number of credits I was taking. Advantages: Do not go into massive debt pilot training, reduced ATP, another degree. Disadvantages: It would take about 6 months to a year longer

Despite already having a Masters degree, I choose to go back to college and get my associates in Aeronautics to get everything paid for and to get the reduced ATP (I now only need 1250 hours instead of 1500). With my previous degrees, I did not have to take any Gen Ed classes because they credit them with my college transcripts, you I just had to take a few aeronautics ground courses and flight training. The colleges as part of their VA approved program will get you close to 250 hours because that is how the training is mapped out in their program. Be careful though, if you go over what hours are approved in the 141 program, you have to pay for those out of pocket.

I have zero experience and have never heard of anyone using the GI Bill for flight training while Active duty, so I can't give you any info on that. I doubt that your CO would sign off on anything like this if it would cause you to miss duty.

Are you retiring or just separating? I plan on separating in '18 and don't expect to get picked up by a major right away so I plan using my GI Bill to take a couple masters classes at a time to get the BAH and E-5(I think it's 5..) base pay to supplement the regional (lack of) pay.

Also, is a window exists mid-year where you can use your benefits for the ATP CTP course at ATP/HPA (only available in Dallas...the locations in Phoenx and Atlanta are not VA approved) and then enroll in the B737 type rating course and get your ATP concurrently with the type and use your benefits for that too (since the VA considers it a new year with new benefits). I think it's June/July but I may be off on that a little.

Another nice added benefit is the included Sheppard Air prep and the written exam itself, which you would otherwise have to pay for out of pocket.

Finally, most classes (ATP CTP and the B737 type classes) at HPA get to meet with a lady that used to be in charge of pilot recruitment at Southwest Airlines. She now runs her own company and she gives you pointers on the recruitment process and how to properly write your resume, how to fill out the online application, and other pointers on how to speed up the process for you getting called for an interview...all for free. Once you get called for an interview she is hoping you will use her interview prop services. People who do are highly successful.