The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently announced contract awards to flight schools under the Forces to Flyers Research Initiative.
Twenty-five proposals were received. Four contracts worth approximately $1.8 million were awarded to CTI Professional Flight Training, to both its Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Millington, Tennessee, locations, and to Leading Edge Aviation in Bend, Oregon. and U.S. Aviation Group in Denton, Texas.
The flight schools will provide six aviation certifications. After completing the sixth certificate, the CFI-Instrument Certificate, trainees can work as flight instructors and gain the flight hours required to qualify for an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate and become an airline pilot.
“The Forces to Flyers Research Initiative recognizes the importance of helping returning veterans find good jobs while helping communities find solutions for the growing pilot shortage,” Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said.
The initiative will identify barriers to pilot training and employment and provide flight training to veterans interested in becoming airline pilots. The results will be used to determine how to help veterans transition to airline pilot careers and, by extension, help preserve air service to small and rural communities.
Any veteran interested in the initiative should contact the flight school. Veterans must meet the program requirements to be accepted.