Bill Overview
Title: Streamlining Aviation for Eligible Veterans Act
Description: This bill provides that a rehabilitation program under the Department of Veterans Affairs Veteran Readiness and Employment Program may include a program that includes flight training and does not lead to a degree.
Sponsors: Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-8]
Target Audience
Population: Eligible Veterans interested in Aviation Training
Estimated Size: 200000
- The bill affects veterans who are eligible for the Department of Veterans Affairs Veteran Readiness and Employment Program.
- It specifically targets those veterans interested in aviation and flight training.
- Veterans who benefit from this program are those looking to enter or advance in an aviation career without necessarily obtaining a degree.
Reasoning
- The target population for this policy includes veterans who are eligible for the Veteran Readiness and Employment Program under the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Out of 20 million veterans in the U.S., an estimated 200,000 may be interested in aviation training and eligible for this program.
- The policy aims to provide flight training, which is a specialized and costly area, likely leading to high individual benefits but serving a limited fraction of the veteran population due to program expenditure constraints.
- Ensuring a range of impacts, from low to high, depending on individuals' current employment status, career aspirations, and financial situations.
Simulated Interviews
Unemployed veteran (Dallas, TX)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am very interested in pursuing a career in aviation, but the costs are prohibitive for me right now.
- The policy could provide a much-needed opportunity to gain skills without requiring a costly degree.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Veteran pilot instructor (San Diego, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've already got flight experience, so this program may not provide much additional benefit for someone like me.
- However, I see how it could be great for those starting from scratch.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Part-time mechanical engineer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This program aligns perfectly with my goals to shift from engineering to actually flying planes.
- It could fast-track my career change without the need for a degree.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Commercial pilot (Miami, FL)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't think this policy will make much of a difference for me personally since I'm already established.
- However, it might bring more trained individuals into the flight industry, which is a plus.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Veteran with no aviation experience (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have been overwhelmed trying to figure out my career after the military.
- This program could open a new door for me that I never considered before.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Retired veteran (Chicago, IL)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm interested in learning to fly, but I'm not planning to make it a career change at my age.
- The policy might help those younger veterans who need a career start.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Naval Officer transitioning to civilian life (Norfolk, VA)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As I'm transitioning out of the military, the aviation program is an intriguing option for career shift.
- This policy can provide significant benefits for someone like me starting fresh.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Information technology specialist (Austin, TX)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've always been curious about flying but never pursued it due to cost and time.
- If the policy covers part-time training, it could fit into my lifestyle without taking a full career turn.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Veteran pursuing higher education (Denver, CO)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am currently focused on my degree, but aviation training could add a unique skill set.
- It's an opportunity that might not be directly beneficial now, but could be later.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Part-time flight attendant (Anchorage, AK)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've been a flight attendant and always wanted to sit in the cockpit as a pilot.
- This policy might finally offer the chance to move forward in aviation without prohibitive training costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 2: $525000000 (Low: $420000000, High: $630000000)
Year 3: $551250000 (Low: $441000000, High: $661500000)
Year 5: $610250000 (Low: $488200000, High: $732300000)
Year 10: $744593750 (Low: $595675000, High: $893512500)
Year 100: $3748927900 (Low: $2999142320, High: $4498713480)
Key Considerations
- The aviation training programs' costs could vary significantly based on the scale and number of participants.
- Assessment of the Veterans Affairs program's capacity to manage expanded offerings is vital.
- Potential partnerships with private aviation training providers could offset some costs.