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Government halts enrollment of veterans in helicopter flight program
The federal government, concerned about violations that have cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars, has barred new enrollment of military veterans in an Arizona flight program and is reviewing the conduct of a second, Utah-based school. The two programs cost the government at least $40 million last year, based on enrollments and average cost data. (www.latimes.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Much of the problem is driven by greed on the part of the schools. As long as Uncle Sam pays, the costs will go up. There is no excuse for someone's training to cost up to $500K unless the trainee is bending a bird a week.
Depends on what you're training for. If the goal is to make them job ready after training, then $500K could come up quite short. To be employed as a turbine helo pilot flying offshore, EMS, corporate, or some other work, companies are looking for a 1000 hrs minimum along with substantial turbine time. R22s go for 250-300/hr and turbine equipment 1000-3500/hr. You do the math.
When it costs a veteran 5 times the amount of what it costs a non veteran to get the same qualifications, then no, it does not depend on anything. The government is getting ripped off.
GI bill does not fund time building flight hours.
All flight hours are time building. Nevertheless, by the time a student competes their rotary wing commercial, instrument, CFI, CFII, a turbine transition course, sling, and longline operations training, once again I'll say, you add it up.
You mean about the same cost as a presidential vacation? Lol