Posts Tagged ‘pilot schools’

How To Use the Expanded GI Bill For Flight Training

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011
GI Bill logo

Expanded GI Bill includes provisions for flight training

Starting in October 2011, veterans who qualify for the Expanded Post-9/11 GI Bill will be allowed to use their benefits to pay tuition at a number of non-degree vocational programs, including flight training. This is the most comprehensive revision of the law as it applies to veterans’ benefits since the Montgomery GI Bill of 1985 and the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008.

In the past, veterans were limited to using their educational benefits to earn college degrees. With the expansion of benefits, military veterans can now attend flight schools even if they enroll in a non-degree granting program. However, it’s important to know that the GI Bill will not pay for primary flight training (for example, a private pilot license) but will pay for advanced ratings required to work as a pilot (like an instrument rating or commercial pilot license).

Read the full article How To Use the Expanded GI Bill For Flight Training at AviationSchoolsOnline.com

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Regional Meetings to Boost AOPA Flight Training Student Retention Initiative

Thursday, July 28th, 2011

AOPA will be hosting a number of regional meetings as part of their Flight Training Student Retention Initiative

AOPA is hosting a number of meetings in Chicago, Long Beach and Dallas as part of their Flight Training Student Retention Initiative. The meetings, which began in May, are intended to integrate the frontline practitioners, such as flight instructors and flight school owners, and the aviation community at large into the process of increasing student retention and success rates. The meetings consist of a presentation on the AOPA initiative followed by small group discussions that are the meat and potatoes of these meetings.

The meeting locations, which were chosen based on flight school density, will host two meetings in order to maximize participation. One meeting is intended to allow flight training providers, such as flight instructors, to offer their insights into how AOPA can help them succeed in growing the pilot population. The other is for members of the aviation community at large. The two meetings work hand-in-hand to gather perspectives from both sides of the flight training equation, instructor and student.

According to reports, AOPA estimates that nearly three in four people who start flight training do not complete their training and earn a pilot certificate. With an overall population in a state of decay, it is important to develop new pilots. These meetings will hopefully impart the AOPA initiative with the right stuff to sort out this completion issue.

For more information on flight training and choosing the right school, check out our Flight Training Resource Center or find flight training near you.

Source: Student Retention Initiative gains frontline perspective at regional meetings
This article was written by Matthew Everett, a private pilot, aviation writer, and frequent contributor to AviationSchoolsOnline.com. You can follow him on twitter @leaving_tf or find his blog at http://leavingterrafirma.com.

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University to Close Aviation Program

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

The program currently has 7 Piper Arrows used in training for commercial ratings.


After the end of the 2013-2014 academic year, the University of Illinois will no longer have an aviation program. In a 6-2 vote on July 21st, the university’s Board of Trustees elected to close their Institute of Aviation.

The institute has a long history, stretching from as far back as 1946, of graduating pilots for the airlines, aviation industry, and government. The Civil Aeronautics Authority (the pre-FAA era government overseeing aviation) issued the program the first airman pilot examining agency certificate on May 29, 1950.

The July 21st vote to shut down the program is a part of a package of cost-cutting measures designed to help balance the school budget. The decision is not without controversy, however, as it opposes a faculty senate decision not to shut down the program. Unfortunately, proposed savings of $500,000 to $750,000 a year from closing the program coupled with declining enrollment has overshadowed the institute’s graduation rate. The only hope for the program seems to be the Illinois Board of Higher Education, who must approve the closure, or some out of the box thinking.

Program supporters are currently investigating methods to allow the institute to continue offering flight-training opportunity. Specifically, supporters are currently seeking out other schools who might have interest in establishing flight training programs and discussing ways the institute can support those initiatives.

According to the program’s chief pilot, 160 students had enrolled in program courses for the spring. She indicated that the program seems to have fallen out of favor rather than become unviable. The program director quit five years ago and no replacement has been hired. Instead, there have been persistent rumors of the program’s imminent closure which certainly had an effect on the enrollment numbers.

Despite their size, the smallest program on the Urbana-Champaign campus, the program has graduated a number of very successful graduates currently working in all areas of the aviation industry. Their training fleet, which includes 18 Piper Archers, seven Piper Arrows, three Piper Seminoles, and two Cessna 152s. With only one aircraft with a glass cockpit, this is hardly an excessively costly fleet considering the level of enrollment.

For more information on flight training and choosing the right school, check out our Flight Training Resource Center or find flight training near you.

Source: University of Illinois aviation program to close
This article was written by Matthew Everett, a private pilot, aviation writer, and frequent contributor to AviationSchoolsOnline.com. You can follow him on twitter @leaving_tf or find his blog at http://leavingterrafirma.com.

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Flight Training Benefits For Veterans Improve With New 9/11 GI Bill

Sunday, February 13th, 2011
New GI Bill benefits flight training

New GI Bill benefits flight training - image copyright and all rights reserved by Brandon Farris

Veterans with a passion for flying can now soar into the wild blue yonder with extended benefits through the GI Bill 2.0 as part of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010. Previously vocational and flight-related training were not covered, but now such training will be covered when the law goes into effect on October 1, 2011.

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs under the Post-9 11 GI Bill covers the lesser of the amounts (of $10,000) between actual net in-state tuition costs and the fees charged by flight schools. Other Department of Veterans Affairs programs already covering flight-related training include the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty and Veterans Educational Assistance Program.

Veterans are urged to check with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that the flight school they chose is VA approved and meets VA qualifications prior to enrollment. Right now VA-approved flight schools are eligible for reimbursement through the Montgomery GI Bill.

In October veterans enrolling in flight schools will be able to receive direct payment through the Post-9 11 GI Bill. It is recommended that veterans who choose to pursue flight training attain a VA Certificate of Eligibility to determine how much military education benefits they may receive to put towards flight training. Regardless of VA reimbursement, veterans are responsible for fees associated with flight training programs.

Veterans who successfully complete an aviation training program will be a part of a growing selection of career opportunities. Flight-related careers are expected to show at least a 12% growth through 2018 according to US Bureau of Labor statistics. Job opportunities may include air cargo carriers, regional airlines, air taxis and low-cost carriers.

While college degrees and commercial pilot license are required for most flight-related jobs, military pilots have an advantage in the face of tough competition. Pilots can also start their professional flight careers working as flight instructors. This allows for the accumulation of flight hours and additional experience that will make veterans pursing aviation careers more attractive for lucrative jobs with commercial airlines.

The average wage for commercial pilots can range from approximately $73,000 to $117,000, depending on experience and specific flight-related job. Veterans can get more information on the Post-9 11 GI Bill at military.com or through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Click this link to see our Featured Flight Training Schools

Source
http://www.gibill.com/news/flight-training-now-covered-by-post-911-gi-bill-333.html

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Three Reasons to Choose Accelerated Airline Pilot Training

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010
By Kyle Garrett
Accelerated Airline Pilot Training

Accelerated Airline Training

The road to becoming an airline pilot is long, but you can get there faster with accelerated training. In our latest article, guest blogger Matthew Everett shows you why accelerated airline pilot training just may be what you need to get to that airline job you’ve been dreaming of.

Are you looking to start a flying career? If so, accelerated airline training may be the thing you’ve been looking for. Imagine learning to fly in months rather than years and starting that career you’ve always dreamed of. It’s not impossible, it just takes the right program. Accelerated training programs are just the ticket because they let you get multiple ratings quickly, train and fly like the airlines, and typically offer job placement services… read the full “Three Reasons to Choose Accelerated Airline Pilot Training” article.

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ATP Announces Two New Campuses, Graduates Private Pilots

Monday, May 10th, 2010
By Kyle Garrett – AviationSchoolsOnline.com

atp flight trainingAirline Transport Professionals (ATP) announced they have added two campuses to their nationwide network of flight training schools. The locations, in Chicago DuPage Airport (KDPA) and New York Long Island Airport (KISP) bring the school’s campus count up to 24. According to ATP, the new schools will offer flight training for private pilots, instrument training, and the company’s flagship Airline Career Pilot Program.

Jim Koziarski, ATP’s Vice President of Flight Operations, says the New York school has already graduated a class of private pilots and completed several ratings and awarded airline transport pilot licenses.

ATP operates a fleet of Piper Seminoles, Cessna 172s, and Diamond DA40s and includes simulator training in Frasca flight training devices. Click here for more information on ATP’s programs.

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