Calling all Aviators!!
- Thread starter USMC-SSGT
- Start date
armyveteran2006
New Member
USMC-SGT and all VA eligible veterans,
I am currently receiving benefits from the VA for flight training. The VA will pay 60% of the minimum hours for your training. If you want to become a professional pilot you need to attend a flight school that is certified by the VA and usually it is a school operating under part 141 (not part 61) program.
Next you should consider what you are getting for your money at various schools and how much the VA will reimburse at these schools. IT DOES VARY FOR EACH SCHOOL!!
I am currently at my second school for aviation. My first school the VA would pay me 16K to 19K. At Aviator the VA pays 20K to 24K.
Pay attention to what you get and total costs of programs. I was at well known highly advertised flight school in central Florida where they advertised a price of 63K but, most people walked away paying as much as 90K to 100K only receiving about 250 total hours with about 30 multi.
At Aviator I am getting 200 hrs of multi with 15 to 30 hour single. 55 multi hours are solo which I just finished. During those 55 hours I flew from Florida to California to North Carolina back to Florida over about 2 weeks. It was a once in a lifetime experience! I have flow through Atlanta's Airspace, over 11 hours of actual IMC, over the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, Santa Monica, San Diego, New Orleans, Tucson Arizona, And to North Carolina. I don’t know of any other school in the country that allows a student to do this as part of their program.
I have no problems recommending this school to any veterans I meet because I am Paying a lower price than I was at my first school, living in better and cheaper housing, and am going to finish and be hirable faster than any other place that I know.
If you have further questions please contact me and I will try and answer them. I don’t believe in BS and I will be honest about my experiences and those of others that I know at other schools as students or instructors.
Army Veteran
I am currently receiving benefits from the VA for flight training. The VA will pay 60% of the minimum hours for your training. If you want to become a professional pilot you need to attend a flight school that is certified by the VA and usually it is a school operating under part 141 (not part 61) program.
Next you should consider what you are getting for your money at various schools and how much the VA will reimburse at these schools. IT DOES VARY FOR EACH SCHOOL!!
I am currently at my second school for aviation. My first school the VA would pay me 16K to 19K. At Aviator the VA pays 20K to 24K.
Pay attention to what you get and total costs of programs. I was at well known highly advertised flight school in central Florida where they advertised a price of 63K but, most people walked away paying as much as 90K to 100K only receiving about 250 total hours with about 30 multi.
At Aviator I am getting 200 hrs of multi with 15 to 30 hour single. 55 multi hours are solo which I just finished. During those 55 hours I flew from Florida to California to North Carolina back to Florida over about 2 weeks. It was a once in a lifetime experience! I have flow through Atlanta's Airspace, over 11 hours of actual IMC, over the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, Santa Monica, San Diego, New Orleans, Tucson Arizona, And to North Carolina. I don’t know of any other school in the country that allows a student to do this as part of their program.
I have no problems recommending this school to any veterans I meet because I am Paying a lower price than I was at my first school, living in better and cheaper housing, and am going to finish and be hirable faster than any other place that I know.
If you have further questions please contact me and I will try and answer them. I don’t believe in BS and I will be honest about my experiences and those of others that I know at other schools as students or instructors.
Army Veteran
CarolinaAviator1984
New Member
army vet where in nc did you fly to i am from nc and i flew their when i was doing my time building i wish i could have flown to more places but it was still nice to get out of florida for a few days.
armyveteran2006
New Member
I flew from RYY Cobb-Mcullam Airport in Atlanta GA to Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) in North Carolina. I had a great time in UNC Chapell-Hill NC. Where are you from and where are you now?
Gonzo
Well-Known Member
VA students log solo time. It's one of the biggest selling points to the VA program.
armyveteran2006
New Member
Yes I logged all of the actual IMC! I am training under the VA (veterans affairs) program which requires me to fly SOLO cross-country for 55 hours. This allows me to log all that time as solo PIC in actual conditions. If I was in the regular professional pilot course then I would have been flying with a safety pilot and would not have logged the actual.
Thank you for being so thorough and making sure I did not make a mistake.
I am glad I was also able to clarify that I am going through a different program than non-veterans who attend the school.
Thank you for being so thorough and making sure I did not make a mistake.
I am glad I was also able to clarify that I am going through a different program than non-veterans who attend the school.
BrianNC
Well-Known Member
Gonzo
Well-Known Member
Sounds like you had a lot of fun. I always wanted to take a long trip but didn't have the cash to spend on fuel. It must've been almost 2 grand in fuel after fuel reimbursement for the trip.
CarolinaAviator1984
New Member
i am from raleigh actually live not far from rdu about 5 miles i am now still in vero ...student at the aviator.........did you go to unc ? nice place really nice females as i am sure you saw...ahhhh as a song puts so well .... in my mind im gone to carolina....... :nana2:
Jmanuel0926
New Member
ArmyVeteran how long did it take for your benefits to kick in? When you started at Aviator did you have any flying time? How do VA determine how much they are going to give you and how much would I have to invest my self.. If you have any other info about Aviator please share your information... Thank You
Army
armyveteran2006
New Member
Jmanuel0926
The VA is about 3 months behind in payments. They typically take about 3 months to receive your first payment then once that has happened the payments come every month after that. This seems to be the standard for almost every student at this school and my last school who was receiving VA benefits.
As far as how much you have to invest personally depends on quite a few different circumstances. At the present time I am not current on the exact numbers of Aviators attendance costs but, I will ask tomorrow and find out what the school is offering.
The VA pays you as follows:
· They take the minimum hours needed for a rating under that schools part 141 programs and pay you 60% of the costs for those minimum hours.
· Those minimum hours are different from school to school along with costs to accomplish those hours.
· They do not pay for private pilot license but, they will pay for your inst. If you are co-enrolled in a commercial program.
· They then take the amount of money you have spent and divide that by the going rate of reimbursement for school and that gives you how many months of eligibility you have left
· Your pay out is adjusted if you have a kicker.
Now the interesting thing is that each school varies in training programs. At Aviator you will do your instrument and commercial in a multi-engine aircraft. This allows you to get more multi time making you more appealing to hiring companies. It also allows you to receive more money back from the VA for this training because it is done in a multi.
Tell me more specifics on your situation and I will see what I can find out for you.
As for myself I am currently a student at Aviator since Sep. 15th. Before arriving here I had already completed my private and instrument at big aviation school in central Florida (will remain nameless). I am currently in the last few flights before my commercial check ride and starting on my MEI shortly. I proudly served in the army from Feb. 2002 – 2006 and I feel any veteran would get the most for their time and especially money here at this school. I have been to a major aviation flight school and I was following there program just as they quoted but was charged almost $10,000.00 over their original quote. I enjoy the atmosphere here for working and the occasional playing so I can comfortably recommend this school to my fellow veterans.
If anyone has more questions please ask. If it is something specific send me a private message and I will see what I can find out. I will post information and answers to everyone if they may pertain to more than your case unless; you want to keep the conversation private.
I am an open book ask what you will and I will try and answer it as best as I can.
Army Vet.
armyveteran2006
New Member
I am not a finacial representative or admisions officer for Ari-Ben "Aviator".
I asked for the information you inquiered about and Mike gave me these estimates to relay to you.
For specific details you need to talk to mike or mary.
Contact information:
Micheal Cohen
3800 Saint Lucie blvd.
Fort Pierce, FL 34946
1-800-635-9032
(772)-466-4822
These are Approximate numbers:
tuition $43,208.75
VA reimbursement $24,728.25
out of pocket expense $18,498.00
including:
190 hrs multi 55 solo
10-15 hrs single engine
inst., multi +single commercial, MEI, CFI, CFII
This does not include:
my housing is around $500.00/month incudles utilities
I pay extra for the huge gym by the house $80/3 months
Other costs include books, checkrides $300/ per attempt payed by you to the examiner, written exams at $70 dollars per exam, pilot supplies, and general living expenses (food, car, gas, entertainment).
I would recomend figuring out what you need per month including rent ,food, supplies, checkrides, etc. and add that to tuition costs minus the VA money and that should give you a ball park figure of total out-of-pocket expense and the loan amount you will need.