Would Make It More Difficult For Veterans To Become Pilots

The Regional Airline Association has sent a letter to Congressmen Phil Roe (R-TN) and Tim Walz (D-MN), the chair and ranking minority member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, expressing concerns about for H.R. 4149, which would make it more difficult for veterans to use G.I. benefits for pilot training.

In the letter, the RAA says it believes the bill would significantly curtail educational benefits for veterans who pursue flight training degree programs. In doing so, the legislation would unfortunately and effectively dissuade many, if not all, veterans from pursuing a commercial pilot career path.

"According to Stars and Stripes, in 2016 alone, there were approximately 1,700 veterans enrolled in flight training programs at a cost of about $48.5 million. Even the VA’s own analysis indicates that this change would dissuade virtually all veterans from using their educational benefits for a flight training degree," the letter states.

"Not only does H.R. 4149 stand to deprive veterans of their promised benefits on educational financial assistance, the cap on flight training is particularly concerning in the face of an acute and growing nationwide pilot shortage, which has already caused commercial air service cuts across the country. Further, the U.S. military is also dealing with its own pilot shortage, with the Air Force reporting deficits of close to 2,000 pilots. We are producing fewer pilots at present than are needed to serve our nation’s commercial, business, and military aviation sectors.

"Veterans who undertake this training benefit are positioned for entry into an in-demand and highly compensated career path. According to Brown Aviation Lease, a pilot’s return on investment (ROI) is higher than many other high-earning careers. In fact, for every $1 invested in education, pilots earn $33; this compares to $19 for doctors and $30 for lawyers. This high ROI is also complemented by a significant degree of career stability as the need for commercial pilots is and will be in high demand for the foreseeable future. According to Boeing, the North American aviation industry will need 117,000 commercial pilots between now and 2036. For all of these reasons, now is not the time to curtail these important and much needed benefits.

"As written, H.R. 4149 would harm veterans and prevent them from gaining entry into this highly rewarding career," according to the RAA.

The letter was sent on behalf of the Regional Airline Association (RAA), Cargo Airline Association (CAA), Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA), American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), National Air Carrier Association (NACA), International Air Transport Association (IATA), University Aviation Association (UAA), Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI), Airlines for America (A4A), and Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association (RACCA).

(Image from file)

FMI: Full Letter Text