Destin Flight Works has recently been approved by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to train veterans who want to use their VA benefits for flight training.

• The training will take place out of the Destin Executive Airport.

The approval comes under Title 14 CFR, Part 141, which approves the following courses/programs for veteran training: Commercial Pilot Certificate, Airplane Instrument Rating, and a Red Bird FMX full-motion simulator. 

• The training aircraft available for these programs include Cessna, C150, C172, and C182, as well as a Piper Seminole twin.

Okaloosa County Commissioner and Aviation Board liaison Carolyn Ketchel expressed her excitement and said, “The aviation industry needs more pilots and we are pleased that the VA is allowing Okaloosa County Airports to help meet that need. Many of our residents are veterans and now they will have the opportunity to use their VA benefits toward a future in aviation.”

VA education benefits can help veterans and their qualified family members in a variety of ways, such as paying college tuition, finding the right school or training program, and getting career counseling. Veterans interested in learning more about these benefits can visit the official government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Trey Goodwin, Chairman of the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners, said, “It’s an honor to be able to train our local veterans after all they have sacrificed for the country. This opportunity will allow the aviation industry to tap into the skills and experience that already exists with our veterans in Okaloosa County.”

The approval of Destin Flight Works to train veterans with VA benefits is a great opportunity for local veterans to pursue a career in aviation and contribute to the growth of the industry.

For more information on the training programs offered by Destin Flight Works, visit www.destinflightworks.com.