Using GI Bill(s) For Training

[bqmassey]

I want to be a professional helicopter pilot. I'm trying to figure out the best way to do that. There are a lot of little decisions to make. This is a big commitment so I want to gain as much insight as I can so I make the best decisions. Putting all of this together in a way that is both economical and beneficial to me as a future pilot is like putting together a puzzle, and I'd like thoughts from those of you that might have faced these same decisions.

 

I'm posting this in the military forum, as one of my biggest hold-ups is deciding if and how to use military education benefits.

 

Context:

 

• There is a flight school local to me. The train in a Schweizer 300C, and have a very competitive rate. Their instructor is a an experienced pilot, not a rookie CFI.
  
• Tom from BoatPix has offered to put an R22 in my area if I want to train with BoatPix instead. His PPL rates are higher than the 300C operator, but he guarantees you'll get your PPL with $10,000.
  
• I am active duty military, and I have two years left in my contract.
  
• Being in the military, I have access to $4500 year in Tuition Assitance. As far as I know, this can not be paid directly to a flight school. I don't know if there's currently any way to put it towards flying.
  
• I did make the $1200 contribution to have access to the Montgomery GI Bill.
  
• I also have access to the Post-9/11 GI Bill, but I have one more year left before I meet the service obligaton required for 100% of the benefit.
  
• I'll have about $18-20,000 in cash saved up when I start training. Once this money is out, I'll probably only be able to afford (in cash) flying 2-4 hours per month.
  
• As far as I know, there are no helicopter flight schools near me that are Part 141 (required for the Montgomery GI Bill) and none that are integrated with an Institution of Higher Learning (for the Post-9/11 GI Bill).
  

 

Considerations:

 

• If I have to work towards some degree—to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill—I'd like to do it with a two year degree. I don't want a four year degree in being a pilot. I DO want to get a bachelor's, but I'd like to be in something outside of flying, to provide a good backup career.
  
• I don't mind relocating to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill, but it will have to wait until I'm out of the Army (two years).
  
• I won't be able to be a full-time commercial pilot until I'm out of the military in two years. I'd like to fly commercially, part-time, before that point, but I don't know if that's possible.
  

 

Some Decisions:

 

• Which GI Bill should I use?
  
• It's possible to use a combination of the two if you start with the MGIB. Is there a clever way to make that work out for me?
  
• Should I just go ahead and pay for my PPL in cash? Or would it be a waste of money to do this?
  
• If I use the Post-9/11 GI Bill, what school should I go to? Does this school have anyway I can start taking classes now online until I can relocate?
  
• Is there any way to incorporate my tuition assistance into all of this? I hate to let it go to waste.
  

 

Some Ideas:

 

• Use my cash to get my PPL, fly when I can afford it until I get out of the military, and then use my Post-9/11 GI Bill to get an associate's degree along with advanced ratings. Hopefully this would leave me with money to finish my bachelor's degree elsewhere.
  
• Use my cash to get my PPL, and then finish my ratings with the old GI Bill. This would require going to a Part 141 school. I'd probably have to use leave to travel to and take accelerated courses.
  

 

I'm sure there are other ways that I HAVEN'T thought about, probably some that are better and more creative uses of what I have available to me.

 

Can someone with experience using these benefits please provide some insight! I'm trying to make the most use of my benefits. I don't want to just be a pilot, I want to be a skilled and knowledgeable pilot. I don't want to use more of my benefits that I have to, because I do want to continue on with a non-aviation-related bachelor's degree.

 

I've tried talking to the education counselors, but all they've been able to do is hand me a brochure. They're about as confused about the benefits as I am.

 

Thanks.

[NC AV8R]

If you can use the Post 9/11 for the associates degree and flight I would do that. You can email some schools that offer those programs and see if they require you to have a PPL before starting your training. If so go ahead and get started on the PPL.

 

I can't tell you if you will be able to use tuition assistance on a flight progam. I have no experience there. I can tell you that if you use the old GI Bill (Montgomery GI Bill) you are going to spend a lot out of pocket. I am currently using the old GI BILL for flight. Set aside about $10,000 to get your PPL before you start working on Commercial. Remember the old GI Bill will reimburse 60% of approved costs (after private). So you will still need to have about $30,000 more to take you through CFII.

 

With that being said, It's a no brainer to use the Post 9/11. Just remember once you switch to the Post 9/11 you can't go back to the Montgomery GI Bill. I know there are some guys on this forum who are using the Post 9/11 on a flight/degree progam. Hopefully they will chime in.

 

You might consider taking classes towards your bachelor's degree now using tuition assistance. Just make a plan and be sure all your credits will transfer between the schools you choose.

[uberchris]

im in the exact same situation, with the same time frame, with 2 years left in the coast guard. since i wont have jack for money when i get out, i am going to utilize the post 9/11 benefits.

 

the two schools i have spoken with are embry riddle prescott, and FIT in florida who does their training with bristow heli. both schools will kick ass because they are free, however with FIT i can start taking online courses now towards my degree with TA, and after i visit both campuses well see. i do have the opportunity to extend my contract in the uscg for 3 years, and during that time i can get my A+P license, so that right there is gonna be my backup plan. university of north dakota also has a flight and degree program. i suggest you call any of these three up and speak with them directly.

 

if you are hellbent on saving your college for a different degree, then it seems like you will just have to have tens of thousands saved up to use the montgomery GI bill to get you through the commercial rating, CFI, CFII, etc., and i dont believe the montgomery GI bill pays for fuel costs either.

 

hopefully someone in this process can chime in and help out with their experiences.

 

and for anyone trying to discourage you, know this: a friend of mine with ZERO flight experience graduated from leading edge aviation here in oregon, just about a year ago, scored an agriculture job, has also been an instructor when he has time, and just hit 1000 hours. hes been flying almost a year.

 

it can be done, you just gotta make it happen

[Carey]

For what it's worth... I can fill you in on what I'm doing..

 

I just got out of the Navy last year (09) and I have pretty much zero flying exp. (just intro flights and rides)... Come spring I'm going to Embry-Riddle in Prescott under the post 9/11 GI Bill, plus I applied for and will be using the schools Yellow Ribbon Program/ Scholarship.

With the GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon Program, all of the tuition and flight fees are covered (as long as you do not drop out or fail any courses/classes).

I'll be persuing a degree in Aeronautical Science, Professional Pilot, Rotary and if you plan on buckling down and hammering through the summers, its possible to get the program done in 2-3 years (also depending on transfer credits. )

In order to contine to collect BAH through the post 9/11 GI Bill, you have to attend summer courses or else there is too long a gap for "Gap Pay"

 

The admissions department will pretty much walk you through everything and the Vets office can help with all of the VA mess. Both offices are extremely helpful and responsive.

ERAU Prescott is contracted out with Universal Helicopters which provides the staff and equipment to the school. They have a bunch of R22's and a couple R44's (I think 1 Schweizer). One other thing thats pretty cool is that according to the site, its Universal's policy to hire its graduates as instructors to work towards thier 1000 hrs.

 

The toughest part about using your benefits is the flight fees. Usually they are not covered under any stipulation which is why I applied to ERAU.

 

I got my AA using TA, but if I could do it over, I would have geared it more towards a Aero degree so that it would knock out some of the reqs for the 4 year and get it done quick.