VA will only fund flight training if the school offers pt 141. That would make the school VA approved.
Maybe I'm misunderstood. The original subject was about how students that are being recruited from high school by GSA, getting into 60-70K in debt for flight training. Some responded that this way was wrong and to do the old fashioned CFI route or you're considered a scab because you would rather pay to get all the time you need to get into the regionals versus gaining your hours slowly as a CFI. I'm not exactly sure how the industry see's your "pay to play f/o" philosophy de727ups. You've been in the industry alot longer than I've been. I'm sure that lots see the "pay to be f/o" as unethical, untraditional etc. But not everyone want to be a CFI and/or cannot get a part-time flight job to build hours. A person would rather take their careers in their own hands, invest more money into training and then when they have the min. to apply to a regional, they can transition right into the right seat without being at the mercy of students, scheduling with FBOs to gain hours that could take an additional 1-2 years as a CFI. Being a Beech 1900 f/o isn't much, but its a start. When someone starts a new job, most of the time they're viewed as "wet behind the ears" "scab" "newbie" "rookie" etc. Thats because the "newbie" has to build a reputation. I know first hand that its hard as hell to be a new soldier in the military. They're called alot more than just a "scab" thats for sure, and maybe the industry see's those who pay as unethical, but thats up to the individual to prove the industry wrong and everyone he/she works with. Students who go to prestigious universities like Harvard, Princeton are not viewed as "pay to be a lawyer" "pay to be a doctor." They're in debt into the hundreds of thousands. Bottom line is don't stereotype pilots who invest more than others a backstabber to the industry. They may be fools for not doing flight training for less, but they're pilots too, and I'm sure that over the next 10-20 years it won't matter what school you came from "Uncle Airlines Needs You!"
As for me spartan, I'm exploring every option I can to get from Uncle Sam without pulling from my pocket for training. I would have liked to go to DCA or FSA, but I can't afford more big loans or the cost of living in Florida. I'm gonna due traditional route with a 141 degree awarding school as I continue to work full time. I just have to wait to find a job, move there, get settled and search for a school that has 141. I will then resume my training. Thanks to both of you for reading.