New GI Bill and Flight Training

[subpilot]

Id love a list of these. Any help?

Have you read this thread? Your question has already been answered. Hint... Look at post 131 and 135.

 

[HeyEng]

You don't have to finish the degree, just enroll in the college program, take all the flight courses and then drop the rest.

Is there not a completion requirement? I speak of only TA since I really haven't used the GI Bill (just a month with some top-up), but I assumed that when you enrolled you had to complete it. Otherwise, not a bad idea!

 

[RollTide]

Have you read this thread? Your question has already been answered. Hint... Look at post 131 and 135.

Thanks from aboard the USS Frank Cable. If youre a sub guy im sure youve heard of us.

 

[subpilot]

Is there not a completion requirement? I speak of only TA since I really haven't used the GI Bill (just a month with some top-up), but I assumed that when you enrolled you had to complete it. Otherwise, not a bad idea!

You have to complete any course you enroll in but you don't have to complete the degree. Only enroll in the aviation courses and ignore the general education courses by not enrolling in them.

 

[jskibo]

Thanks from aboard the USS Frank Cable. If youre a sub guy im sure youve heard of us.

That's one odd little boat you have there, but your port lists look a lot better than the Kitty gave me on my cruises!

 

[RollTide]

That's one odd little boat you have there, but your port lists look a lot better than the Kitty gave me on my cruises!

If we even leave the pier. :afro:

 

[ozziecat35]

Is there an easy way to tell if any of these programs in posts 131 or 135 roll their flight training fees in with the tuition? I'm looking at the Gateway Tech. College in Kenosha, WI.

 

[Windchill]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs Educational Programs Search

Change the Program Type to "Flight." It will list all colleges/universities approved as well as any Part 141 programs within a state.

I still need to do some digging regarding training at Part 141 programs that are flight schools in and of themselves. There is one located near me about 45 minutes away and it is affiliated with a community college an hour-and-a-half away from me as well as a 4-year school even further away. Since the VA lists the flight school as an approved location, I wonder if the VA will pay them directly vs. me actually having to go through the affiliated schools to register as a student taking lessons elsewhere.

Would a typical, non-college/university Part 141 flight school be what is considered "vocational flight training programs?"

The wording on the site says to receive benefits one already has to have a private pilot license--which I do. Does this mean I can do an Instrument Rating stand-alone program not attached to a commercial program? In the past I believe it needed to be a part of a Commercial program since obtaining that commercial certificate is the new skill offering one new career opportunities which the GI Bill is about.

I may still just pass the benefits on to my wife and this could be a non-issue, but I would definitely like to know exactly what options I'm looking at.

 

[ozziecat35]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs Educational Programs Search

Change the Program Type to "Flight." It will list all colleges/universities approved as well as any Part 141 programs within a state.

Yeah, when I check the flight side for Wisconsin, it's just 1 school that shows up, however when I search under IHL, Gateway Tech. College comes up, then when you click on the programs tab, the Aeronatics-Pilot Training program is there. So that implies that the entire flight program is fully covered under the new GI Bill. And considering the WI max is over $30k/year, plus over $1100 in BAH, it might be worth it for me to pursue...the sticking point here is that I live in Chicago...so I don't know how the out of state resident thing will work.

My other option is American Flyers at KDPA, which is ridiculously expensive, and I think I'd burn through the $10k/yr cap pretty quickly there too.

Windchill, you seem to be on the same path as me. I'm PPL/Instrument rated already, so I just need my CSEL/CMEL/CFI stuff. There's another FBO here in Chicago that is still under provisional 141 certification, so I'd need to wait until at least January until that's cleared up, but they are affiliated with UVU, so if I take classes online for UVU, would my flight fees be rolled into that tuition, or seperate, and would I get BAH...

God this stuff is crazy.

 

[subpilot]

Remember people that as of Aug 1st, state caps are gone. Public schools have no limit, private max is $17,500, and pt 141 is $10,000 per year.

 

[mat]

Another note: if you are an out of state resident, the VA only covers the actual in-state tuition costs now, NOT the maximum in-state rate that used to be.

 

[ozziecat35]

Another note: if you are an out of state resident, the VA only covers the actual in-state tuition costs now, NOT the maximum in-state rate that used to be.

Clarify please? So if I'm an IL resident, attending IHL in WI....?


and Subpilot, is it Aug. 1st, or Oct. 1st?

Another question, look at Mountain State's program through ATP...since it's a degree granting program, does that mean that since I'm doing the classes online, but the flight training here at KDPA in Chicago, does the VA still pay for flight costs?

 

[subpilot]

Aug 1st

 

[ozziecat35]

Just talked to the folks at Gateway Tech. College in Kenosha, WI. Their AS is aviation is completely rolled into one kit-'n'-kaboodle. All costs would be covered. There's a slim chance that's where I'm headed...otherwise my only other option is American Flyers in Dupage...$$$$$

 

[ozziecat35]

Heard from ATP/MSU yesterday, apparently they are working on a program for online students doing flight training at ATP that would cover all costs, tuition & flight. I'll keep you all updated.

 

[apache123]

thanks for posting this research ozzy. I'm a vet in the chicago area looking into this myself.

 

[ozziecat35]

thanks for posting this research ozzy. I'm a vet in the chicago area looking into this myself.

We're all here to help each other, just return the favor if you make any head way to help the membership out.

BTW, welcome to JC!

 

[ozziecat35]

Sorry for the multiple posts, just adding stuff as I get it. Emailing back and forth with ATP about the MSU program...

Me: Thanks for the update. Will there be a press release or announcement made so that those of us waiting have a timeline?

ATP Email Guy: There should be but I am not sure. I do know that we have been told that it will be all over the website when it is approved. There are roughly 60-70 calls per day about this exact subject so we want to keep you guys informed.



ATP also advised me that they're looking at next month sometime...here's hoping.

 

[So ILL]

If youre an IL resident just go to SIU. Its all covered.

 

[HeyEng]

This is all pretty good information. I assumed I was just going to use the 10K a year deal to get CMEL/CFI knocked out, but seeing how as I can go to a community college for a year or so AND draw BAH doing so...well, I'm all over that. I won't retire for a about a year, but I think I am going to jump on the "professional student" bandwagon. Here is something though...and not sure if I can do this. I currently have 3 AAS degrees, a BS degree and a MA degree, so I'm thinking I could knock out the "pilot AAS" degree in about a year...so riddle me this. If I use 12 months of GI bill for the flight training, could I use the remaining 24 months pursuing a second master's degree? Just not sure if you can "dip, take a bite and then dip again"!

Also, anyone have any intel on Palo Alto College in San Antonio? There is very little info on the website and I know the flight training is done through SkySafety (God help me) but that's all I really know.