The FAA's website lists 141 schools (
https://av-info.faa.gov/PilotSchool.asp), you should start there for schools that are going to qualify you for the R-ATP if that is one of your goals. Just because a school has a 141 flight training program DOES NOT mean they are going to qualify you for the R-ATP. My flight instructor can personally attest to that and I almost had that issue, it was a specific question I asked of the director of the flight program at the school I selected.
In California, the only school they had listed was San Diego Christian College (looks like 4 years only). I wanted out of CA as soon as possible, so I didn't research anything in Cali.
Cochise Community College in AZ (keeps you in the southwest) is a two year program on the FAA's list, they own/maintain their own fleet. I never got any opinions on them and decided to go to the east coast for my training immediately. However, AZ has great flying weather, so that will most likely not be the thing that slows down the flight portion of your training. I do not know if the flying is listed as a lab fee (paid by GI Bill) or a separate fee (paid for by you).
Community College of Baltimore County just received their 141 certification this year and their program lists the flight training as a lab fee.
Community College of Beaver County, Community College of Alleghany County, and Lehigh Carbon Community College are in PA, (Pennsylvania is icing country and gets some awesome cloud coverage, really can monkey with your flight training timeline, but the clouds are awesome for building actual instrument time after you get the private certificate).
Most of the other stuff I looked at was 4-year programs, but to qualify for the R-ATP, you must graduate with their degree or you get no credit towards the R-ATP. If you are in a head-long rush to the regionals, either select a fast track program (GI Bill won't pay for it all) or a 2-year and the CFI route. The additional 2 years for a BS only nets you another 250 hour reduction to the regionals, which you could have accomplished using CFI work in less than 6 months (3 at some of the busy schools, during their busy seasons). My flight instructor has enough time to apply to the regionals (without R-ATP) after flight instructing for about 14 months.
Further, not all programs include training for your private certificate in their program (and therefore on the GI Bill). That is a recent change (past 2 years), so research carefully. It changed right before I got out and sent me back to the drawing board for my plans, but I'm halfway through my commercial certificate now.
Lastly, look at the BAH rate for an E5 at each location you are considering, research housing and use that to help you decide as well as nearby military bases, if you still have base privileges when you get out.
05-14-2019
