GI Bill Uses For Flight Training Schools

GI Bill for Flight Training

From prior military to pilot… did you know you can use your GI Bill for flight training?

Flight Training

VA offers flight training benefits to those who want to advance their pilot qualifications. You must have a private pilots license and valid medical certification before you start training. Payments are issued after the training is completed and the school submits your enrollment information to VA.

Type of Assistance

Flight training is available for the following and other types of qualifications:

  • Rotary wing
  • B747-400
  • Dual engine
  • Flight engineer

Available Benefits and Eligibility

Participation requirements are the same for all GI Bill programs, but the payment amount varies depending on the GI Bill program and flight school.
Payment Amounts Under the Montgomery GI Bill or Reserve Educational Assistance Program. If you are training under the Montgomery GI Bill or REAP we will reimburse you for 60 percent of the approved charges. View payment information by benefit program.

Payment Amounts Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Payments for flight training vary based on which type of flight training course and what kind of school you are enrolled in:

  • If you are enrolled in a degree program that consists of flight training at a public institution of higher education you can be reimbursed up to the public school in-state cost of the training and receive a monthly housing allowance and books-and-supplies stipend.
  • If you are enrolled in a degree program that consists of flight training at a private institution of higher education you can be reimbursed up to the full cost of the training or the national maximum (currently $19,198.31) per academic year, whichever is less. You may also receive a monthly housing allowance and books-and-supplies stipend. See if your school participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which may apply for those enrolled in degree programs.
  • If you are enrolled in a vocational flight training program you can be reimbursed the lesser of these two costs in effect the day you began training in your flight course
    1. Full cost of training
    2. Annual maximum amount of training (see annual maximum amount)

You will not receive a housing allowance or the books-and-supplies stipend. The maximum amount available for reimbursement depends on the academic year you begin training.
For example, you’re enrolled in a dual-engine certification course that costs $15,000 on Nov. 1, 2012. You can receive a maximum of $10,330 for that course and any other flight training programs leading to your dual-engine certification or other certification that begin before Aug. 1, 2013. Additional flight training courses that begin on or after Aug. 1, 2013, are subject to a new annual limit. Remember, these amounts could be further limited by your eligibility percentage.

Other Factors to Consider

This type of assistance is not available under the Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance program.

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