Eight general aviation organizations have expressed their concerns about H.R. 4149, which would improve delivery of flight training benefits for veterans, but cap payments for that flight training.
The GA group letter was signed by top officials at the Experimental Aircraft Association, Air Medical Operators Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Helicopter Association International, National Air Transportation Association, National Association of State Aviation Officials, and the National Business Aviation Association. It was addressed to Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tennessee), chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, and Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minnesota), the committee’s ranking member.
The GA advocates noted that unlike other degree programs at public colleges and universities, H.R. 4149 caps payments for flight training programs. That would unfairly impact the ability of veterans to pursue well-paying jobs in the civilian aviation sector.
“Capping funds available for flight training degree programs virtually guarantees that veterans seeking to use their GI Bill benefits to enter the aviation industry will have insufficient funds to achieve their goals,” the letter stated. “They will either abandon their pursuit or be burdened with significant personal debt through either expenditure of personal funds or taking on student loans. This will harm veterans and limit the employment opportunities in the aviation industry.”
The GA group noted there are several areas of the bill that do benefit veterans seeking flight training education. Those include accelerated payment programs that provide a more efficient funding mechanism, coverage for private pilot training as part of the requirements of a professional flight training program, and flexibility for public schools to contract for flight training.
“While the current bill contains numerous provisions to improve the program’s efficiency, the proposed capping of program payments undermines the important goal of helping our nation’s veterans enter a field where they are desperately need,” the letter concluded.
Gbigs, Career training has been the purpose of the “GI Bill” since its inception. The choice of the field of study is up to the veteran. Why should it be acceptable to for a career in perhaps medicine or law but not aviation? Why is flying a privilege and being an accountant or doctor is not? Don’t the airlines or the air ambulance industry need pilots?
I got some of my flight training by using the “GI Bill” but there were conditions. In 1978 I had to get the private pilot rating on my own. No help from Uncle Sam. Next I had to get the commercial rating. For this I could use my veteran’s benefits but I had to get the commercial rating before I could go on to anything else as this rating designated me as receiving “career training”. Only then could I receive veteran’s funds for further training such as an instrument rating or multi engine training.
And there was a cap on the amount I could receive. The amount I received did not begin to pay for most of my training. VA benefits helped but did not cover all the costs of the commercial and instrument ratings and I paid for my instructor and multi engine ratings from my own pocket. The money the VA will pay for advanced flight training is very small compared to the actual costs of the training.
Again, notice how everyone is so ready to encourage and protect their pet ways to blow taxpayer cash…but pretend to be concerned about the debt. Flying a plane is a privilege, not a right. And certainly takes back seat to virtually anything else veterans need.
And you are just plain wrong. Learning to fly a plane for commercial purposes is very different than flying for pleasure. Most vets that go into aviation are looking for career, and that’s not a privilege. After returning from Viet Nam as an infantryman I went right to work on a private pilots certificate. I footed the whole bill on that one. Then I did my commercial, instrument, multi, and flight instructors certificates. I went to work two days after I completed my training as a CFI (flight instructor) and from there to flying corporate and charter. I put myself through college as a pilot, couldn’t have done it without the flying. The aviation field taught me so much. I became a CFI in 1970, that was 47 years ago. Now I’m a college professor, but guess what? I’m still a pilot, a CFI with an ATP and seaplane ratings. SO YOU CAN STUFF YOUR IGNORANCE.