Veterans & VA Benefit Users

You’ve earned your VA benefits. Let’s put them to work!

You’ve worked hard for your VA benefits. They were earned through your service and dedication. Now it’s time to use them to launch your next chapter in the sky.

At Pureflight Aviation, we’re proud to be a VA-approved flight school helping veterans, service members, and their families turn their VA benefits into pilot wings. Our team includes veterans, gearheads, and aviation pros who know firsthand how rewarding and life-changing this path can be.

When I first got out of the Military it was very hard for me to find a school that could use my GI Bill® for flight training.

How to Use Your VA Benefits for Flight Training

If you’re a veteran, active service member, or qualified family member, the VA can help pay for your flight training and pilot certifications.

VA flight training is available to those who qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR), Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP), Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA), or Vocational Rehabilitation, or FRY Scholarship.

Check your eligibility on the VA website.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

What are your options for VA flight training?

At flight schools that accept the GI Bill, you have different options to put your benefits to use for flight training. At Pureflight, you can use your benefits to fund your flight training in different ways. To get started, you’ll need to choose your GI Bill flight training path. You can select between standalone training or a degree program. You can also perform VA vocational rehabilitation if you have a disability that was caused or made worse by your active duty service.

Option 1: Part 141 Standalone School

Train directly with Pureflight as an FAA Part 141-approved flight vocational training school. This route is ideal if you already hold your private pilot license and want to take your career to the next level.

Under the Post 9/11 GI Bill (chapter 33), the VA will cover up to $17,661.89 per academic year, August to July, for flight training. You will not be eligible for a housing allowance or money for books and supplies.

To be eligible, you must:

Have a private pilot’s license, and
Have a Second-Class Medical Certificate (or a First-Class Medical Certificate if pursuing an ATP Certificate).

Available courses:

Commercial/Instrument
Certified Flight Instructor
Certified Flight Instructor Instrument
Turbine Transition (Bell 206B3 or L4)

Accepted chapters at Pureflight:

[Apply now to start your Part 141 training.]

Option 2: College Degree Path

Want a college degree while completing your helicopter or airplane flight training?

Through our partnership with Klamath Community College (KCC), you can earn an Associate’s in Aviation Science while using your VA benefits.

Classes can be taken online, and flight training takes place at either our Newberg or Klamath Falls locations. As a higher learning institution, the VA will assist in paying tuition and fees (depending on your level of eligibility and remaining entitlement).

[Aviation Science at KCC]

Flight qualifications included in this 2-year degree path:

Private
Instrument
Commercial
Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)
Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII)
Multi-Engine Instructor

Additional benefits may include:

Monthly housing allowance:

$2,850 for the Newberg location
$1,890 for the Klamath location

Books and supplies stipend
One-time rural benefit for certain veterans and VA benefit users

Accepted chapters at KCC:

Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 33
Chapter 1606/1607
Chapter 35
Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship

Option 3: VA Vocational Rehabilitation

If you have a service-connected disability, you may qualify for flight training through Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31).

Pureflight Aviation is fully approved to receive Chapter 31 benefits.

To apply, visit eBenefits and schedule an appointment with your VA counselor to seek approval.

Under this program, the VA covers pilot hours directly correlated to the Klamath Community College degree plan.

Why Veterans Choose Pureflight

Veteran community: You’ll train alongside instructors and classmates who’ve served in all branches.
Career-focused training: Real-world instruction and job-ready flight experience.
Top-tier aircraft & facilities: Reliable fleet and state-of-the-art simulators.
Flexible learning paths: Choose direct vocational training or earn a degree through KCC.
Nationwide reputation: With decades of experience training pilots of all skill levels at our facilities, we’ve developed a reputation as one of the top flight schools

Learn more about why so many aspiring pilots choose Pureflight.

VA Benefit FAQs

Can I use my Post-9/11 GI Bill® for flight training at Pureflight?

Yes. Pureflight Aviation is an FAA Part 141–approved and VA-approved flight school. You can use your Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) either directly with us or through our partnership with Klamath Community College’s Aviation Science degree program.

Do I need a Private Pilot License before I can use my GI Bill®?

Yes, to use your benefits for professional flight training, you must already hold a Private Pilot License and a Second-Class Medical Certificate (or First-Class if pursuing an ATP).

What’s the difference between training directly with Pureflight and enrolling through Klamath Community College?

Both paths let you use your VA benefits:

Direct at Pureflight (Part 141): Focused on earning pilot certificates quickly. The VA reimburses your training costs up to a set annual limit.
Through KCC’s Aviation Science Degree: Combines flight training with a two-year degree, covering tuition and offering a housing allowance and book stipend.

Will my VA benefits cover housing and books?

If you enroll through Klamath Community College, you may be eligible for both a monthly housing allowance and a books and supplies stipend. If you train directly through Pureflight’s Part 141 program, those specific allowances aren’t included.