Todos
← Back to Squawk list
U.S. taxpayers stuck with the tab as helicopter flight schools exploit GI Bill loophole
For some flight schools that train helicopter pilots, the GI Bill that took effect in 2009 was a windfall the government never intended. At one flight company, records show 12 veterans whose training had cost the government more than $500,000 each. As long as the money flows through a public institution, there is no limit on what the VA will pay for flight training. (www.latimes.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
As a former owner of a successful helicopter charter and training company that existed well before this latest Fed boondoggle, and as a former Army Captain and as a West Point graduate, I'm shocked at a few of the comments here. There seems to be two trains of thought: (1) better to spend it on the vets than have the Feds spend it frivolously somewhere else, and (2) these vets deserve all of this for their service. First, how about, "don't spend it frivolously ANYWHERE?" Bad behavior on the part of these schools is not justified because the government wastes money elsewhere. These bills are outrageous. Let them get most of their hours in an R-22, not a turbine. We turned out new commercial pilots for a fraction of the costs mentioned here, mainly because our students didn't have an unlimited bank account. Second, I agree we have an obligation to these vets, but not at any price. If you really think we owe this kind of money, how about you sell all your worldly possessions and donate the proceeds to the USO or VFW? It sure is easy to spend other people's money, eh? I don't even agree that this is the best use of the money: maybe this money should be going to the VA for PTSD care instead of giving a guy maybe a 40% chance of getting a job as a helicopter pilot. But if we want to fund flight training, simply give these trainees a maximum budget that is reasonable. Through their greed, these schools are harming America. It may be a pinprick to the federal government, but all of these ridiculous Fed expenditures add up.
Remember, the purpose of writing the laws are the loopholes. They are known and redirect money exactly were it is intended to go. I'll also agree that we can't give our veterans enough. So, before closing this one that costs us millions, let's shutdown the ones that give billions to the criminal, illegal, and lazy leaches of the world.
Agreed, paying a fourth generation of societal leeches for doing nothing with food stamps, free education, free housing and free cell phones. These people are typically associated with criminal activity - gangs, drugs, trafficking and other forms of counter productive activities. These are the programs promoted by the curretn administration and its liberal handlers, all to keep perpetuating societal problems to keep their 'pet' nanny-state programs funded and growing.
Everyone sees taxpayer money as free money to take from as much as they please. So, no level of outrageous spending is surprising. I got through flight school from pre-private to Flight Instructor for $25,000. So, I can't imagine what these people could be doing with half a million.
Read the article and see what turbine helo time costs. Even at $500,000 you would still be well short of what's needed to gualify for a job. That is why 95% of turbine helo jobs are filled by military trained or GI program paid pilots. As far as fixed wing goes, you used to be able to get an entry position around 250 hrs maybe. Now with government rules for an ATP and 1500 hrs to get a low paying job, who's going to pay for that training? Let the government do it. Sounds to me like fixed wing schools have every right to get the same money.
Correct me if I am wrong, last I heard there is a shortage of helo pilots. These laws at the very least provide meaningful support for our vets with a defined outcome, as opposed to open ended QE programs to financial institutions for which the outcome is pure speculation. Maybe the Federal Reserve should start investing in our veterans which no doubt would result in a much better return as opposed to nationalized to big to fail banks whose future is uncertain.
More power to them! At least they're training for the future. I'm sure that the cost is a fraction of the money spent on deadbeats who have absolutely no intention of ever working!