The United States is facing a severe shortage of airline pilots, and Morongo Basin’s congressional representative is proposing legislation to get more veterans flying commercial planes.
Congressman Jay Obernolte has introduced the Streamlining Aviation for Eligible Veterans Act into the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation, known as the SAFE Veterans Act, would enable veterans who qualify for vocational flight training through the Veteran Readiness and Employment Program (VR&E) the ability to complete flight training through a flight school.
The legislation essentially amends Federal rules stipulating that veteran training programs must lead to a college degree, ensuring that flight training will be covered by the program, even though it does not lead to a degree.
Most airlines do not require pilots to have a college degree, and the language of Obernolte’s legislation will align the Veteran Readiness and Employment Program with current airline requirements, with the objective of getting more veterans into commercial cockpits.
