Military tuition assistance for Private Pilots License?

im aware i can use my GI Bill to go to a 141 school. But i am not able to do that until i have already completed my private license. there is some gouge out there that i can use Tuition Assistance to get my PPL. is there anyone on here with that experience and show me the way?
Thanks

 

It's been my understanding that the GI Bill will not help in getting the private pilot certificate. Once you have that, you can get assistance for additional ratings.
The government wants to help veterans get education that will help them in future employment. Private Pilot doesn't do that, but commercial, instrument, CFI, etc. does.

 

About all you can do it take out a loan for the PP. Then use GI Bill for further ratings.

 

Unfortunately TA programs like AVOTEC and the more recent, Forces of Flyers have ended. Only legal way to get it covered is at an aviation college if you enroll full time.

 

This is not a GI Bill question. This is a military TA benefit question. While there are some branch unique considerations, you’re limited to $250/semester hour and $4500 per year in total TA benefits. Flight training fees are not covered under the TA program.

https://www.militaryonesource.mil/e...-use-the-military-tuition-assistance-program/

The larger problem in trying to use TA is that it likely would encroach on duty hours as most university flight programs require full time attendance and nearly all initial training will be during daylight.

 

In the old days, there were aero clubs with cheap rentals and low instructor rates.

 

Fox Valley Tech in Oshkosh found a way to incorporate private into GI bill usage…

Food for thought.

 

There’s 17 USAF aero clubs worldwide left today. Most now operate as Pt141 schools; some advertise they accept TA but there’s devil in the details.

 

I’m shocked there are that many left. Tyndall’s closed around 2010. I heard Elgin was closing. The only other ones I know of were Elmo & Kadena. Glad there are some left!

 

If Eglin aero club is closing, that’s a shame and the list would drop to 16. VPS is a shell of it’s former self it seems like and that’s sad.

 

Read the other day that the F-15s were calling it quits next year. 45 years of F-15s at Kadena. I heard pilots complaining when I was there (1998)about how worn out their aircraft were. Hard to believe they’ve extended them out this long.

 

I was at Eglin when they started getting the big motors, AESA was in OT&E and I remember when Project Golden Eagle was first talked about by ACC at Langley back in 2004 or so. End of an era for sure.

 

When I left in 2006 we had 77 and 78 models with over 10k hours on them. We were swapping out with newer 81-84 jets from Langley that had spent lots of time in the desert and had almost as many hours as the ones we were giving up. Like you, I’m surprised they are still there. Their role is supposed to be filled by a permanent rotation, but I suspect there will be some permanently assigned units there before long.

 

Just realized, that’s a D-model from the 492nd. That wouldn’t be 78-567 would it?

 

I don't have any more pics of it. A few more from that flight but you can’t really see tail numbers.

 

Wow. Nice pics! Brings back a lot of memories. Thanks!

 

The aero club aircraft. Back then a C152 was $52 hr. We had to pay like $100 month club fee though. Attend monthly safety meetings too.

 

496 is at New Orleans now.
The ANG will fly them for a few more years but Kadena is done this summer.

 

F-15 is still one of the coolest looking jets out there. Behind the Phantom, of course.

 

Old school F-15 pic my brother took when he was stationed at Kadena in 1987.

 

“If God was a fighter pilot, he’d fly an F-15.”

“The F-15 was designed to go to war. The F-4 was designed to come back from one.”


I miss wrenching the 15. It will always be my favorite.

 

As the time between “now” and my last flight in the Eagle grows, I feel more and more thankful that I got to fly it for the two decades I did. It’s an amazing machine and I’m glad the EX will carry on the tradition for many years.

 

First rule of Golden Eagle is that you can't talk about Golden Eagle......duh