Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Government Grants For Helicopter Pilot Training

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Ways To Pay For A Private Pilots License With The Gi Bill:

Aviation grants to replace JobKeeper

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 pilotâs 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 pilotâs license. Isnât 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.

Itâs an accelerated training program that takes as short as 4 months to complete. With this, you can get a private pilotâs 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.

Get Your Piece Of The Funding Pie

Don’t worry about your present financial situation. Funding applications do not require collateral, credit checks, security deposits or co-signers. You can apply even if you have a Bankruptcy. Also remember that government funding is not available for personal expenses or paying off debt but there may be other assistance programs out there to help you out of your situation!

Don’t wait. The money you need may be given to your neighbor, if they qualify!

How To Get Student Loans For Flight School In The Us

Becoming a commercial pilot is much more costly than obtaining a private pilots license, and one year of flight school can easily cost as much as $80,000, compared to an average of $33,480 for one year at a four-year college. This expense is too much for most students to cover out-of-pocket, but there are multiple student loan options available. See the following sections for an idea of the loan options available to you.

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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:

School Type

You can look at CURRENT RATES published on the VA website here.

**For MHA rates, go here.

***The Yellow Ribbon Program is an additional benefit for veterans to help cover education costs. Schools voluntarily participate in the program, and this comes at no additional charges to your benefits. You can check the participating schools as well as the qualifying requirements here.

You can also try to get a one-time rural benefit. This will give you $500 if you have to relocate at least 500 miles, or travel by air to attend your flight school. Ask a VA accredited representative if you qualify.

How much you can avail also depends on the amount of time you have served on active duty. Find out how much you qualify for here:

Duration of Active Duty

Chart drawn from VA.gov website here:

Pros And Cons Of Private Loans

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Whether or not a private loan is suitable for you depends on your financial circumstances and the type of loan that you have access to. There are positive and negative aspects to private loans, explored in the following section.

Pros

Private loans typically have lower interest rates than federal loans, and they offer higher loan amounts as well. Students can, therefore, cover more of their tuition with private loans than federal loans, and the overall cost over the length of the loan term will be lower.

Cons

Qualifying for private loans is more difficult than federal loans, however, since you typically need to meet minimum credit score requirements. This is particularly problematic for immigrants, who often do not have a credit history in the country at all. If you do not have good credit, you will have a higher interest rate. Private student loan recipients also may have to start paying off their loans while they are in school before they have an income.

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Michelle North Scholarship For Safety

The HAI Michelle North Scholarship for Safety is awarded to a pilot who has already attained a commercial rating and who demonstrates an outstanding aptitude for safe flying and aviation best practices.

The scholarship was founded in memory of Michelle North, a longtime industry advocate of safety, to encourage a stronger focus on safety education and training in helicopter operations. One scholarship may be awarded annually.

SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS

The scholarship pays the registration fee for the recipient to attend a safety management system course, which will be part of the HAI Professional Education Program at HAI HELI-EXPO 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia March 69, 2023.

In addition, scholarship recipients receive:

  • A complimentary full registration and hotel accommodations for the scholarship recipient to HAI HELI-EXPO 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia
  • Formally recognized at HAIs Annual General Meeting at HAI HELI-EXPO.

SCHOLARSHIP PREREQUISITES

  • The applicant must be a pilot who holds an FAA commercial helicopter rating or an international-equivalent rating
  • Applicants must already be working in the helicopter industry, either in the safety or safety management field, or be preparing to enter the safety or safety management field

Required documents

How Long Will I Attend The School

The length of time you attend aviation school depends on your career goals. An Associate Degree takes up to two years and a Bachelors Degree takes up to four years. Specific certifications to further your career may only take a few months. Aviation programs allow you to earn a degree, aviation diploma, certificate, rating or degree to start working in this exhilarating field.

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Leroy W Homer Jr Fully Sponsored Pilot Training Scholarships

The LeRoy W. Homer Jr. foundation Pilot Training Scholarships encourages and supports young men pilots and women pilots who wish to pursue aviation careers as a pilot, or as professional pilots. The foundation offer scholarships for pilot students, in order to obtain private pilot certification, including the license.

Level/Field of Study

This Flight Training Scholarship is open to any level of students undergoing pilot training.

Host/Eligible Nationality

Students must take the LeRoy W. Homer Jr. foundation scholarship in the US and the scholarship is open to only permanent resident or citizens.

Scholarship Worth

The LeRoy W. Homer Jr. foundation scholarship worth $9000, including all fees and expenses relating to the private pilots course.

Deadline

Unfortunately, the portal for the LeRoy W. Homer Jr. foundation scholarship has closed. However, the scholarship deadline is annually.

Tap on the button below to apply for the LeRoy W. Homer Jr. foundation scholarship program.

Aviation Training At Its Best

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We train you to stay sharp, fine tune, and always be prepared. This empowers you with unwavering calmness and composure needed for all situations, from the everyday to the unusual. This kind of training is more than fulfilling a requirement. Its an achievement. And its reserved for the skys most elite.

Whatever your needsinitial, recurrent, advanced or special operations trainingwe operate with an emphasis on reliability, convenience and flexibility. Our goal is to advance missions by offering the specific training support needed, including access to cutting-edge simulator technology, specially designed training environments and the expertise of professional FAA- and EASA-qualified instructors.

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Flight Training Scholarships And Grants

A huge variety of scholarship programs and private grants are available to prospective pilots. It pays to look for opportunities from a wide variety of sources. The specific criteria and requirements for scholarships and grants varies. For example, some are open only to female applicants, while others may only be for beginning students. Scholarships can vary from just a few hundred dollars to more than $10,000 depending on the school chosen and degree or professional goals declared. For example, the Clay Lacy Professional Pilot Scholarship Program awards up to $12,500 per year to participants attending the University of North Dakotaâs John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. Some flight clubs and organizations also offer grants for training . You can find more information on flight school scholarships and grants online.

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Commercial Helicopter Pilot Rating Scholarship

The HAI Commercial Helicopter Pilot Rating Scholarship is awarded each year to pilots who have their private licenses and are in the process of attaining a commercial helicopter rating. Up to two scholarships may be awarded annually.

SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS

The scholarship awards $5,000 US toward the cost of obtaining a commercial helicopter rating. In addition, scholarship recipients receive:

  • A complimentary full registration for the scholarship recipient and a guest to HAI HELI-EXPO 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia
  • Formally recognized at HAIs Annual General Meeting at HAI HELI-EXPO.

SCHOLARSHIP PREREQUISITES

Required documents

We ask all applicants to provide the following documents:

  • Proof of Enrollment Provide a letter from your FAA-Approved Part 141 School or International Equivalents aviation school acknowledging your enrollment. Letter must include:
  • Representatives name
  • Mailing Address, telephone, and email
  • FAA Part 141 Certificate Number
  • If International, please provide your countrys FAA-equivalent information
  • RESUME or Curriculum Vitae
  • 2 Letters of Recommendation
  • One from your Part-141 AMT School or international equivalents Program Director, Administrator, or Instructor with their name, title, organization, mailing address, phone, and email
  • One from your Employer, Instructor, or other who can attest to your aviation background, training, and experience
  • Only completed applications that are accompanied with all required documentation will be considered.

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    Private Student Loan For Flight School: Things To Know

    Even if you are attending an accredited flight school, federal student loans will likely not cover the entirety of your tuition. Private student loans can fill these gaps in funding, and the following section breaks down the most important points you need to know on private student loans for flight school.

    Can You Get A Pell Grant For Flight School

    Flight Training

    Federal funding may or may not be available for flight school. To receive a Federal Pell Grant, you must attend an accredited school.

    Colleges with regional or national accreditation take part in federal aid programs. Furthermore, if you attend a pilot training program at an accredited flight school, you may be eligible for the Pell Grant.

    If this is the case, then you should start by filling out a FAFSA. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid figures out how much money you are eligible to get.

    In contrast, you do not have to pay this money back. However, you need to abide by the terms.

    For students attending an unaccredited flight school, private scholarships and loans are options.

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    Bell Helicopter Aircraft Training

    We designed our professional Bell Helicopter training specifically to meet the needs of all Bell operators, delivering training on a wide range of Bell helicopter models. Mission-specific training prepares your pilots and crew to anticipate and cope with the types of challenges they face day-in and day-out on the job.

    How Much Does A Pilots License Cost

    The cost of getting a helicopter or airplane pilot license depends on your goals. On average, an airplane private pilot license costs $15,000 and a helicopter PPL costs $25,000, including application fees, tuition, training materials and supplies, and exam fees. An airplane commercial pilot license can cost close to $60,000 while a helicopter CPL can cost $90,000.

    If you put time and effort into researching and applying, financial aid and loans can cover a significant percentage of the expense of pilot training.

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    Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarships & Awards

    There are five different Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarships available, all differing in the aviation and aerospace departments.

    From flight training to technical training, to emergency maneuver training and more, the Amelia Earhart aviation scholarships are there to support women in all areas of their aviation careers.

    Eligibility Requirements:

    • Be a member of The Ninety-Nines Inc.
    • Have a realistic goal and drive to further advance in aviation or aerospace
    • Be in need of financial assistance to achieve aviation goals
    • Hold all required prerequisite certificates or ratings prior to submission of application.

    Additional requirements vary depending on the AE scholarship for which you apply.

    When to Apply: Application deadlines are generally January 1.

    Where to Apply: Apply at

    Award Amount: Varies depending upon each scholarship and its financial requirements.

    Pilot Salary And Demand

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    If funding your flight training sounds daunting, just remember that once you’ve earned your pilot’s licenses and worked for a few years you’ll likely make a very comfortable living. The average salary for a helicopter pilot is $95,000 per year and the average salary for an airline pilot is $136,000 per year, according to salary.com.

    Not only will you make a lot of money, but you’ll also likely have a job for years to come. The aviation industry isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. By training to become a pilot you’re setting yourself up for a long, rewarding career. Demand for pilots is higher than ever and is expected to get even higher in the coming years. In fact, Boeing has estimated that demand for airplane pilots will be in the hundred thousands by 2032 and demand for helicopter pilots will be very high as well.

    If you have any questions about how to fund your flight training or you want to learn more about our program, contact SUU Aviation.

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    Using The Gi Bill For Helicopter Training

    You might be asking yourself, âIâd really love to become a helicopter pilot, but dang…thatâs expensive! Can I use my GI Bill to pay for it?â

    Well, if you love the outdoors and have a passion for flying, the GI Bill could be your ticket to becoming a fully employed helicopter pilot.

    We will help you figure out how to take advantage of your benefits from serving in the military in order to pursue a flight school education, and how to maximize your GI Bill for helicopter school . If you’re looking to use your benefits for fixed-wing flight school, then check out this ultimate guide to using the GI Bill for Flight School.

    Yes, the GI Bill can be used to pay for helicopter school tuition and fees, as well as housing, books, and supplies, for helicopter training at an FAA Part 141 Accredited Flight School. You have 3 Options:

  • attend helicopter training at a public university and get 100% paid,
  • attend helicopter training at a private university and get up to $24,476.79 per year,
  • or attend a vocational and get up to $13,986.72 per year, or total cost of training .
  • The amount of benefits you can get depends on a lot of different factors, so we broke them down for you.

    Here is everything you need to know about using the GI Bill for helicopter school:

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

    What Majors Are Offered

    Aviation careers are diverse with many possible majors opening up entire new worlds. Before applying for aviation scholarships, consider your preferred course of study including:

    • professional flight management
    • power plant and airframe technology
    • aviation electronics or aviation maintenance technician
    • safety science to ensure safety in all aspects of flight
    • aviation computer systems and electronic systems
    • airport, airline and aviation management
    • air traffic control and management
    • aerospace administration, maintenance and technology
    • flight dispatch and scheduling
    • aviation science, technology and administration
    • flight operations and management
    • international air and transportation management
    • professional pilot

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    Cfi Jobs And Other Job Placement Issues

    Many flight training schools will imply that they will not only help you find a job when you finish their “program,” but also give you the impression they have an “in” with large helicopter employers and imply that you are virtually insured a good-paying starting position when you “graduate” from their training programs.

    Others will lead you to believe that if you go through their entire program, they will hire you as an on-staff Certified Flight Instructor and Commercial pilot as soon as you graduate. You will be told that they hire only from their graduates, and they might very well. HOWEVER, be VERY, VERY CAREFUL in what you are told and “sold” and what you believe. Think about it! I don’t know of ANY school that can hire all of their Flight Instructor graduates. And if they have an experienced staff and low turn-over, why would they hire a low-time CFI / Pilot if they don’t need additional staff? No one grows that quickly. As with looking for a job in any industry, YOU have a better vested interest in finding YOURSELF a job than the training facility does.

    Most reputable flight-training facilities can give you a lot of good advice on how to go about looking for a job, where to look, current aviation job websites, and where the demand is at the point in time you are employable. You find they won’t put many of their promises in writing. Let the buyer beware!! Remember the old saying that “if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.”

    Financial Aid For Flight School

    HeliHub.com : Training Archives

    You have a dream, a passion for flying, and you want to go to flight school.

    But how much is it going to cost? And how will you pay for it?

    Whether you want to be a helicopter pilot or airplane pilot, knowing where to start and how to meet the costs of training can be a challenge. Flight school is expensive. Like college, financial assistance is available to help you achieve your goals. However, unlike college, many flight schools are not eligible for federal financial aid.

    If you have been asking, how can I get financial aid for flight school, our inside look at financing pilot training will help guide you towards a successful takeoff!

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