Veterans Resource Center

Professional Flight Program

For all inquiries about professional flight and veteran benefits, please contact here: vrcprof@auburn.edu

Auburn University’s Professional Flight Program is a structured, FAA-approved Part 141 program that prepares students for careers as professional pilots. The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) offers significant educational benefits, but there are specific rules about what is and isn’t covered for professional flight training at Auburn University.

What Chapter 33 Covers at Auburn University:

1. 1. In-State Tuition and Mandatory Fees:
      • For eligible students attending Auburn as in-state residents or receiving the in-state tuition waiver under the Choice Act, Chapter 33 will cover up to 100% of tuition and mandatory university fees. This includes general university fees, such as tuition and student service fees, for courses that are part of the degree program.
   2. Flight Lab Fees:
      • Auburn’s Professional Flight Program includes several flight labs required for FAA certifications such as Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, and Multi-Engine. Chapter 33 will cover flight lab fees only if they are required for your degree and for certification (click here to view the 2024-2025 Professional Flight Curriculum: Professional Flight (AVPF) < Auburn University). These fees may include costs related to:
        • Aircraft Rental: The use of Auburn’s fleet of aircraft for hands-on flight training.
        • Simulator Fees: The cost of using flight simulators for practice.
        • Instructor Fees: The hourly rate charged by flight instructors for in-flight and ground instruction.

What Chapter 33 Will Not Cover at Auburn University:

1. 1. Additional Flight Hours Beyond Program Requirements:
      • Chapter 33 will only cover the minimum required flight hours for each certification (click here, then scroll to the bottom portion to see the minimum cost breakdown of each flight certification for the 2024-2025 academic year: School of Aviation < Auburn University). Extra hours are not covered if you need to log additional hours due to proficiency concerns or other issues. The student will be responsible for the costs of those additional flight hours, which could be substantial depending on the type of aircraft used.
   2. Non-Required Flight Training:
      • Any flight training or ratings not required for the Professional Flight degree program will not be covered. For example:
        • Advanced ratings-if they are not part of the degree’s core requirements, would not be covered by the GI Bill.
        • Optional flight electives or experiences outside the prescribed curriculum would also fall under this category and require out-of-pocket payment.
   3. Flight Lab Repeats:
      • If you need to retake a flight lab, whether due to failing or needing additional training beyond the initial attempt, Chapter 33 will not cover the second attempt.

Planning and Financial Considerations:

• • Monitor Your Eligibility: Be mindful of your GI Bill benefit usage and consult with Auburn’s VA Certifying Official to ensure you stay within your benefit limits, especially since flight training can be more expensive than traditional academic programs.
  • Additional Fees: Prepare for potential out-of-pocket costs if your training requires additional hours or ratings beyond what is covered by the GI Bill.
  • Continuing Flight Block: If the student is continuing in a flight lab from a previous semester (e.g., starting flight lab in the fall semester but continuing it in the spring semester), the SCO will always bill VA billable flight charges to the semester in which the student started the flight lab.