Saturday, October 27, 2012

Why Should Veterans Learn To Fly At A State College?

By John Adams


It may not be common knowledge, but the Veteran's Administration covers the cost of tuition as well as the cost of flight training for veterans. In fact, veterans who are eligible for in-state tuition rates and who attend state college can get fully paid tuition. Some students will be eligible for more educational funds through the VA if they served active duty after September 10, 2001.

The US government realizes that quite a few veterans have developed a love of flying and wish that they could get the necessary training to become a commercial pilot. Training to become a pilot is now simpler and cheaper, thanks to the post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act. Most of your pilot training will be covered by VA benefits , so you won't have to apply for loans or come up with the cash yourself.

It can be daunting to think of beginning a new career, but if you're a military veteran you already have a lot of the traits that a great pilot requires. If you've imagined what it would be like to fly or already have that skill, you can have a wonderful career following your U.S. time in the service. You are just what the airlines are seeking and many of the commercial pilots have served in the military. Since the GI Bill will take care of most of the training fees, it's a sensible choice to use the VA benefits at a state college to study aviation and become a professional pilot.

Being a veteran, it will be wise to obtain a VA Certificate of Eligibility, to begin with, for ascertaining the extent you can receive for helping with the cost involved in flight training. It is better to understand that all the expenses are not likely to get covered by the VA. For the Practical Tests and FAA Knowledge Tests majority of the veterans pay for themselves. These expenses add up to minimum $2500 in case you opt for taking all of the ratings you are eligible for, over the full program. Going by the number of hours or cost involved in a course, you should get reimbursement from the VA for the additional hours (with certain limitations) but payment for those expenses is first to be made by yourself. Time taken for reimbursement could be 90 days or more. The extra expenses get spread over the entire two year period for the course. In just the flight training fees, you will be eligible to access through your Post 9/11 GT Bills up to $60,000 or even more.

The aviation field is growing and veterans that successfully finish any pilot training program will have the opportunity to become part of this growth. Recent studies by the FAA and aircraft manufacturers indicate over 69,000 new pilots will be needed in North America between now and 2031. The North American market is also now just a small part of the world-wide aviation scene where 460,000 new pilots are projected over that same period. This is a competitive field and most will require a college degree, along with a commercial pilot license. Pending FAA policies will also increase the minimum number of flight hours required by pilots hired by the airlines. Pilots trained in the military will have a distinct advantage when it comes to landing a job. But future hiring for flight instructors is predicted to increase and spending time as a flight instructor can help you gain the necessary flight hours and experience needed to move into airlines or corporate aviation. Flight Instructors are typically paid $15 to $25 per hour for flight and ground instruction. Initial salaries at regional airlines are around $20,000 per year, so future airline pilots must plan accordingly. But wages increase with longevity and wages at the major airlines are significantly better.

If you want to learn more earning a post-secondary education with your benefits, contact the Department of Veterans Affairs.




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