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Academic tuition and flight training is covered by the GI Bill for Veterans who are willing to attend a state college. If so, your tuition is paid by the Veteran's Administration so long as you did your service after 9/11.

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.

The first thing you should get as a veteran is the VA Certificate of Eligibility, which helps pay for flight training. The VA won't be able to pay for everything, and the Knowledge and Practical Tests will most likely be paid for out of your own pocket. Your expenses will near $2500, and have the potential to exceed that. The VA will reimburse you for extra hours, but you'll have to pay for everything first. Expect 90 days to get your reimbursements. If you have the GI Bill, your benefits have a chance to exceed $60,000.

Veterans having completed any pilot training program can now utilize the opportunity to be a part of this growing aviation field. Up to 2031 there is going to be requirements of more than 69,000 new pilots in North America as per the recent studies by the FAA and manufacturers of aircrafts. During this period the entire global aviation industry will be requiring nearly 460,000 new pilots and North American market is just a small part as compared to the global requirement. Most of the aspirants will need a college degree, along with a commercial pilot license in this competitive field. The airlines hiring pilots will have to look for ones with increased minimum number of flight hours as per the policies pending with FAA. For getting a job pilots trained in the military will have a definite advantage. There will be an increase in hiring of flight instructors in future and accordingly spending time as a flight instructor will give one the advantage of gaining necessary flight hours as well as the experience required to get into airlines or corporate aviation. Typical payment of $15 to $25 per hour for flight and ground instruction is made to the flight instructors. Regional airlines normally pay initial salaries of around $20,000 per year and thus future airline pilots have to make their plans accordingly. But major airlines give much better wages and it keeps increasing with passage of time.

Try contacting someone at our dept for veteran affairs if you are in need of more info.