Using the GI Bill for Helicopter Training (Ultimate Guide)

What will the GI Bill pay for?

Your GI Bill education benefits will pay for school tuition and fees, as well as provide monthly housing allowance, yearly books and supplies stipend, and in some cases, a one-time rural benefit.

The amount you can get depends on your eligibility, the amount of time you were on active duty, and the institution and program you want to pursue.  

You can use your GI Bill benefits for flight or helicopter school if you qualify for one of the following programs:

• Post 9/11 GI Bill
• The Fry Scholarship (gives Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to surviving spouses & their children)
• Montgomery Bill- Active Duty or Selected Reserve
• Reserve Educational Assistance Program

Here is a guide on how much you can get from your GI Bill benefits:

Your Three Options to Use The GI Bill For Helicopter Training

According to the official VA page, if you want to use your Post 9/11 GI Bill for helicopter pilot training, you have one of three options:

Option 1: Attend a Public University for Flight Training

In this case you would be attending a higher education university for flight training, and you would graduate with a four year degree. 

The Benefits of the Public University Option:

You get 100% of your tuition (to include flight training) paid for by the GI Bill, to include housing allowance, books and stipend. This option is the best one to get 100% of your flight training covered. See chart below for more specifics. 

The drawbacks of the Public University Option:

The biggest drawback is that you have to attend the University over many years, and if you're looking to become a helicopter pilot soonest, this could delay that process significantly. 

*Important new Legislation Change:

Congress recently passed a new bill as of 24 July 2018, that will cap the amount paid at a public university (for flight training) to the same levels of the private university (currently $19,198.31). This still has to pass the senate to take effect, so it’s unknown if this will become law at this point. To stay updated on the status of the bill, visit the govtrack bill page here.   

Option 2: Attend a Private University for Flight Training

An example of a private university for Flight Training is Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Many people go here to pursue a two or four-year degree with the ultimate goal of becoming a commercial pilot. 

If you select this option you can be reimbursed up to the full cost of the training or the national maximum (currently $24,476.79) per academic year, whichever is less.

You may also receive a monthly housing allowance and books-and-supplies stipend.

The Benefits of the Private University Option:

You get to go to one of the best aeronautical universities that exist, and you possibly get the best training and follow on job opportunities.

The drawbacks of the Private University Option:

The amount of helicopter training the GI bill will pay for is capped, so you will likely have to come out of pocket as much as $50,000, depending on your training program, and pay for that with student loans.

Option 3: Attend a Vocational Flight School

The best example of this option would be going to your local airport flight school, like this one.  

However a big caution on this option:

You can't just go to any old flight school. They have to be approved by the VA, in order to use your GI Bill benefits. In this instance, you GI Bill usage would be classified as a license or certification, as opposed to a non-college degree.

There are about 316 VA Approved Flight Schools, and you can find a list of VA Approved Flight Schools here .  When you get to the explore page, select the Categories tab, then >> Flight Schools to browse all of them. 

When you use this option, Your GI Bill will pay for the lesser of

1) Total cost of the program and

2) the maximum amount authorized.

As of right now, that maximum amount is $13,986.72 per academic year. To stay updated on maximum amounts authorized year to year, reference  this VA page, that gets regularly updated each year. 

The Benefits of the Vocational Flight School Option:

The biggest thing that comes to mind is that you don't have to attend a traditional University education program. Also if you don't have the prerequisites, or don't think that you would qualify to get into a traditional university, this is a great option.

The best reason to use this option is for speed:

You can get exactly what you need, and get done fast, so that you can start your career as a freshly minted helicopter pilot.

The Drawback of the Vocational Flight School Option:

The most obvious drawback is that you will not get as much money as the other two options, and you will likely have to find funds elsewhere, whether that be loans, savings, or from family members.

Complete Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Breakdown

If you are eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, or the Fry Scholarship, here is a list of tuition, fees, and other educational benefits you can get:

What things are not covered by the GI Bill?

Sadly, the GI Bill does not cover a few things.

Survivors and dependents currently are not allowed to use the educational benefits for flight school, but even if you belong in a program that qualifies you to pursue helicopter training, your GI BIll benefit only starts once you are already enrolled.

Meaning:

You can’t use it to pay for fees on obtaining the requirements to get into a flight school. These include a second class medical certificate and a private pilot’s license.

The reasoning behind this is that acquiring a stand-alone private pilot’s license is not a guarantee that you will be using it for career advancement opportunities. Many people get a private pilot’s license for recreational purposes, which is not what the GI Bill is intended for.

But, we have good news for you!

Ways to pay for a Private Pilot’s License with the GI Bill:

If you decide to pursue a degree program at an institute of higher learning, specifically one with flight training, this includes a curriculum for private pilot training.

This means that if you take the 4-year course approach to become a helicopter pilot, the GI Bill pays not just for your helicopter training but for your private pilot’s license as well!

And if you are not keen on being in school for that long, another great news is that a recent legislation has been filed to lift this longstanding ban on using the GI Bill for a private pilot’s license. Isn’t that awesome?

**Although the bill has passed in the house as of July 2018, it still must pass in the Senate. You can track the status of this bill here. 

Another great option is to apply for the Forces to Flyers Program of the DOT under their Volpe National Transportation Systems Center.

It’s an accelerated training program that takes as short as 4 months to complete. With this, you can get a private pilot’s license using their grant of up to $13,526 for training costs. You can also get other certification programs under the Forces to Flyers Program. 

For a full list of the programs they cover, and the requirements to qualify, visit their website here.

Step By Step Process to Use the GI Bill for Helicopter School:

The process of availing your GI Bill benefit for your helicopter school education is quite easy, and we have laid them down for you! Just follow these simple steps and you’ll be up in the air in no time:

1) Obtain a first or second class medical certificate.

This ensures that you meet the minimum requirements in terms of vision, hearing, and overall health, and that you have no existing impairments or disabilities that would prevent you from safely operating an aircraft.

2) Acquire a Private Pilot’s License.

We provided you with some options above on how to get a private pilot’s license for free, so don’t forget to use it!

3) Check your eligibility for GI Bill benefits on flight training and get your VA Benefits COE. 

4) Compare the specific benefits you can get depending on the school you want to enroll in using the VA comparison tool.

Make sure your desired school is accredited by the VA. Find out how much their courses cost and how much can be covered by the GI Bill. Also, some schools offer additional discounts for veterans, so make sure to check that out!

5) Fill up the VA Form 22-1990 (Application for VA Education Benefits).

You will need to provide the following information:

• Social Security Number
• Bank account direct deposit information
• Education and military history
• The school or training facility you are attending

You can accomplish this via the VA.gov website, by mail, or at the nearest VA regional processing office.

After accomplishing these steps, all you have to do is wait! The VA takes up to 30 days to process your application. They will be sending your acceptance letter in the mail. Then, you can now study worry-free at your Part 141-accredited flight school!

Remember…

As you can see:

There are many ways the GI Bill can help you. The expenses of going to flight school may seem intimidating, but with the GI Bill, you can say hello to your dreams of becoming a helicopter pilot in no time!

Your GI Bill benefits are applied once you start your program at an accredited institution, and the rates vary depending on which academic year you started (not when you finished).

If you have already started on your education, or are planning to start in the next year or so, you can easily keep yourself updated on the appropriate rates on the VA website.

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The GI Bill can definitely help you pay for your tuition and other fees at a Part 141-accredited helicopter school.

Just be sure to determine which program you qualify for, so you can figure out how much benefits you are entitled to. To find out more about the FAA Part 141, keep reading.

FAA Part 141 vs Part 61 Flight Training for GI Bill?

Part 61 and Part 141 are FAA regulations on flight training.

You can choose between either one depending on how you want to approach your flight school education, but note that your GI Bill only applies to Part 141 flight training, it will not pay for Part 61 flight training.

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What is the difference between Part 61 and Part 141?

Simply put, Part 61 is a more casual and relaxed approach to flight training, while Part 141 is more rigorous and is FAA regulated.

A Part 61 flight training is typically done by hiring a certified flight instructor to teach you about the different aspects of flight, then going through a flight test and earning flight hours for each training you need to complete. This is something you can opt for if you want to take up helicopter training as a part-time engagement (although you will be paying out of pocket).

On the other hand, a Part 141 training is conducted at an accredited flight school. This comes with a pre-planned training program and a rigorous set of rules and regulations. However, the good thing is that you can finish your training with less flight hours, and you can use your GI Bill to fund for your tuition and other fees.

To reiterate, the GI Bill benefits can be used for a Part 141 training at an accredited school. If you plan on going with a Part 61 training, you can do the Part 61 for acquiring your stand-alone private pilot’s license (at your own expense), then go to a Part 141 school for the majority of your helicopter training.

What are the other options to pay for helicopter school?

The GI Bill is not the only way you can pay for your flight training. There are a lot of financial grants, scholarships, and in-school discounts that you can avail as a veteran.

The FAA regularly compiles a list of accredited scholarships and grants for flight school education that are open to the public. You can check out the grant programs here to see which ones you qualify for. 

There are also flight training grants and scholarships that are specific for veterans, such as the Stripes to Bars scholarship. This is offered by the Stripes to Bars Organization, a public charity that converts donations into scholarships.

The open scholarships and the requirements for each can be found here. 

Some scholarships and grants, as well as school discounts for veterans, can be used along with your GI Bill benefits. This is especially useful if you are attending a relatively expensive school or plan on taking a lot of specialized training units.