As of August 8th 2014 Using GI Bill For Pilot Training

earthzonealex

earthzonealex

New Member
This one is for the active duty personnel. We all know that using the GI bill is an undertaking and understanding it is near beyond us. With that said, many are looking for ways to maximize their benefits while pursuing a career in aviation while still enlisted in the service.

Any advice and information would be appreciated on:
  1. Schools maximizing benefits to would be pilots.
  2. Ways to obtain certificates while enlisted.
  3. Active Aero clubs helping service members obtain certificates and ratings.
  4. Guiding questions to ask schools and lead to mutual ease of using GI Bill.
  5. Personal experience using GI Bill and other active duty incintives to obtain certification.
Mostly I am aiming towards ATP and commercial options enabling former military personnel to make a living as pilots. Any knowledge will be appreciated.
 
I am in the Navy, currently stationed at Offutt AFB and about to PCS to Whidbey Island NAS near Seattle. I have a PPL and expect to have Instrument when I arrive in WA (all on my own dime). I would like to work on multi and commercial on arrival.
 
NAS Whidbey has a Flying club. Had a 310 when I was there, but that was the 90's ($99 wet back then).

Some decent instructors, if you like P3 drivers :) or ECMO wannabes.

Oak Harbor Airport is interesting. Was a cliff at one end and power lines at the other.....

Olympic Peninsula is some interesting flying.
 
I'll post my experience with the GI Bill when I get home tomorrow. I went from SWO to airline pilot and used some of the MGIB. I also know a guy using the Post 911.
 
I used post 9-11 for private thru commercial...find a school that has other students using it...it will save months and months of paperwork....even when I needed to add a few hours due to my numbers not adding up when it came time for the check ride it was no big deal...va rep called it in and it was approved the next morning. I believe they just changed some of the regs as far as 141 or something but any vet rep at an approved school should be able to answer any of your questions.
 
My understanding is that you can receive full Post 9/11 benefits (BAH, tuition, etc) if you attend something such as North Dakota or Upper Limit Aviation, full time. However since you (and myself) are active duty, we have to take the vocational school route.. basically meaning we pay for our schooling out of our own pocket, and then VA will reimburse as for up to $10,500 at the end of every academic year. This covers everything you'd probably want MINUS your PPL, which is not eligible for VA funding.

My issue is coming up with the initial ~$10,000 for my PPL... may just use my GI Bill to finish out my degree and apply for a guard or reserve pilot spot.
 
Why don't you just wait until your off ad and get it all done in one shot...when I used post 9-11 they paid for everything...50g tuition, books, rent for my apt (which might have came from my wi gi bill, not sure) then at the end of each semester you would get a check for like 1500 for whatever reason....all that on top of pell and other grants....
 
herik54555 said:
Why don't you just wait until your off ad and get it all done in one shot...when I used post 9-11 they paid for everything...50g tuition, books, rent for my apt (which might have came from my wi gi bill, not sure) then at the end of each semester you would get a check for like 1500 for whatever reason....all that on top of pell and other grants....
Click to expand...

I would absolutely love to do this, however, a few things are holding me back.

- I can't afford to just go to school full time, I have a family & need to be able to pay the bills. BAH alone isn't enough for a family of 4, and working while in school full time will keep me away from my family more - something I've experienced plenty of over the past several years on AD.

- All the reputable aviation colleges such as North Dakota, Upper Limit, Purdue, ERAU, etc; don't let you pick a degree and then participate in flight school. You have to do their "B.S. in Aerospace Science" or "A.A.S. in Aviation." Or something similar. I enjoy my degree program, a B.S. in computer science & a concentration in software engineering - and I plan on utilizing it professionally once I complete it and am working as a CFI or at the regionals (eventually) building hours.. because, let's face it - CFI's and regional airline employees don't make a whole lot.

Going to a vocational school is probably the best option in my situation, I'll be able to better meet my own personal goals and still maintain a good work/life balance.

Not trying to hijack this thread though, so back to the original topic..
 
Look into fvtc.edu if you can handle wisconsin winters it's an awesome flight school that you can get just your ratings without all the other bs and a fairly low cost of living. Plenty of jobs around that area as well....
 
I used the MGIB (a few years ago) to get my instrument and commercial at a local mom and pop shop that had an eligible 141 program. I was one of their first people to utilize the GI Bill and it took a couple tries to get the paperwork right and get the money, but once we figured it out the money started flowing in consistently.

I didn't use it for my CFI or multiengine because the school didn't have those programs eligible at the time. I looked at some other schools and they were really trying to milk the GI Bill, such as 20 hours of dual for the the multi or 25 hours of dual for the CFI.

Don't forget that there are test reimbursement fees available. You get $500 back for any checkride and they just upped the reimbursement for knowledge tests to $150.
 
Zondaracer said:
I used the MGIB (a few years ago) to get my instrument and commercial at a local mom and pop shop that had an eligible 141 program. I was one of their first people to utilize the GI Bill and it took a couple tries to get the paperwork right and get the money, but once we figured it out the money started flowing in consistently.

I didn't use it for my CFI or multiengine because the school didn't have those programs eligible at the time. I looked at some other schools and they were really trying to milk the GI Bill, such as 20 hours of dual for the the multi or 25 hours of dual for the CFI.

Don't forget that there are test reimbursement fees available. You get $500 back for any checkride and they just upped the reimbursement for knowledge tests to $150.
Click to expand...

That's good information. From what I have read it reimburses the money, and doesn't pay up front; at least for vocational schools such as the one you described. Was this the case in your situation?

herik54555 said:
Look into fvtc.edu if you can handle wisconsin winters it's an awesome flight school that you can get just your ratings without all the other bs and a fairly low cost of living. Plenty of jobs around that area as well....
Click to expand...

Thanks brother, I'll check it out.
 
Andrew_Neal said:
That's good information. From what I have read it reimburses the money, and doesn't pay up front; at least for vocational schools such as the one you described. Was this the case in your situation?
Click to expand...

That is correct. I paid upfront and then when the paperwork was processed I received a direct deposit reimbursement after each time the school submitted paperwork with the totals.
 
I was able to use Post 9-11 while I worked FT and went to ATP PT. However this was during the shortlived MSU (Mountain State University) fiasco. I got really lucky that I timed it right. Paid for my PPL-MEL add-on, CMEL, CSEL, and is paying for my CFI at American Flyers. I've about exhausted all the money at this point. Also reimbursed all 3 of the prior mentioned checkrides. I was unaware it reimbursed knowledge test fees though.
 
can i use post 9-11 for rotor add on? I wasn't able to transfer my benefits to spouse/child due to recent VSP and I already have a masters.
 
ian said:
can i use post 9-11 for rotor add on? I wasn't able to transfer my benefits to spouse/child due to recent VSP and I already have a masters.
Click to expand...
Yes, as long as you do it through an Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) - a degree granting program. I looked into doing it at Aims Community College (http://www.aims.edu/) in Greeley, CO. I already have my CSEL, CMEL, and Instrument Airplane (plus a Master's degree). I talked with the head of the aviation dept. and was all ready to start classes, but didn't because I ended up deploying. Any IHL with an aviation program and a helicopter track should be able to support it.

Whiteshadow on the VerticalReference.com site as well as a couple of others on there were doing the helicopter program. Don't know if he had any prior aviation experience, but I do know he was going through training at Aims.

Good luck!
 
so would i have to complete the actual degree? or could i just bounce as soon as i finish the flight training? dont really want to go to school for another bachelors just to get a helicopter rating.
 
If that's the case, then you will have to go to a vocational school and pay upfront - then at the end of every FY the VA will reimburse you for up to $10,500.
 
Can I use Post 9/11 GI Bill for A&P school not associated with a degree (I already have a B.S. in Aviation Management.... Non-flight program related)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top