Veteran Funding and Assistance

There are a number of different GI Bill® educational programs, which veterans qualify for depending on their service dates and the benefit program(s) the veteran is enrolled in. Flight training programs can be offered either through a vocational flight school specializing specifically in flight training, or through a collegiate program that incorporates flight training. Vocational flight school training programs can typically get you through your various pilot certificates and ratings faster, but veterans do not qualify for a housing allowance (BAH/BAQ). VA-approved college aviation flight programs typically do pay BAH/BAQ, but keep in mind that flight courses are typically limited by college credit loads and considered “lab classes." For most colleges, this means flight training can take up to 4-times longer to complete as most pilot certificates and ratings are broken into 3-classes so that each certificate takes approximately one academic year to complete.

With the exception of a few colleges that own their own fleet of aircraft (e.g. they don’t partner with other flight schools for in-flight training), most VA programs do not provide funding for the Private Pilot certificate. There are some other options available for qualified individuals to help fund the Private Pilot certificate if needed. To be eligible to start using your VA Benefits for flight training, you will need to have acquired your Private Pilot certificate prior to enrollment and possess a minimum of a 2nd-class medical certificate. Military medical certificates ironically are not recognized by the VA, only FAA-issued medical certificates.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site.

Once enrolled, veterans pay for their flight training out-of-pocket as they go and each month the school submits a "certification" of what the veteran spent. The VA then reimburses this amount up to the VA’s annual cap limits, and the funds are reimbursed back to the veteran. Under the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, this amount is refunded at 100% up to the annual allowed limit which changes every September. For veterans enrolled under the Montgomery GI Bill® or REAP programs, reimbursement is limited to up to 60% of the allowed charges. The staff at Safety in Motion are quite knowledgeable about these various programs and how they work with flight training, so simply call or make an appointment so we can discuss your individual enrollment program and flight training goals. We're here to help!

Our programs are constantly expanding! Currently, we are authorized by the VA for training leading to Commercial and Airline Transport Pilot certificates and Flight Instructor certificates. Additionally, we're approved for Pilot Ratings to include the Instrument-airplane, multi-engine, instrument instructor, and multi-engine instructor. We have additional "specialization courses" (currently in development) targeted toward helping veterans in unique jobs such as bush pilots, cargo, and corporate flying. These specialization courses **are not** covered under VA funding but can help position veterans in more specialized types of flying. Again, to find out more simply, Contact Us!

Below are some links you may find helpful. As you can see there are several alternatives available to veterans. The aviation industry is becoming desperate for pilots, so the decision to pursue a career as a professional pilot is a worthwhile undertaking! The first step is to get all the information you can, weigh your options, then make an informed decision. We're here to help with that process, so if you're ready to take that first step simply schedule a meeting with us to discuss your goals. We can then draft up what your individualized training program will look like, estimate the cost, and help you take that first step!

Safety in Motion specializes in VA funding programs and Part 141 flight training. We have programs designed specifically for military rotor-wing pilots looking to transition to fixed-wing aircraft and offer a Rotorcraft Transition Program (RTP) to make that happen. VA funding can be applied to these programs so that most, if not all the expenses, can be covered under the veteran’s VA benefits. Due to the varied nature of pilot backgrounds, ratings, and flight times, contact our Veteran Services Specialist to get more information!

Safety in Motion Flight Center is approved by the Army to receive funding under the Army’s “Credentialling Assistance” (CA) program. This program is known as ACAP, CA, and COOL, but they are all the same. Basically, the active duty or Army National Guard soldier applies for the program and can receive $4,000 a year to be applied toward training at an approved facility like ours. Currently, due to the popularity of flight training, the active-duty Army benefit will only approve $1,000 of the benefit to be applied to flight training programs. The remaining $3,000 can be used toward other educational endeavors. National Guard soldiers can apply the full $4,000 toward flight training. The difference in funding authorization is based on program budget limitations, which are funded differently between active and guard units. For more information on this program and how to apply, contact our Veteran Services Specialist to get more information!