No details, per se, other than Coast (Envoy) has opted to no longer participate in VA funding.
As I understand it, The VA turned off money for a commercial multi engine add on without first having a commercial single engine rating. With no explanation they arbitrated that despite army pilots being commercial pilots (helicopter), they could not add a new category to thier commercial rating without first getting single engine commercial. The funny thing is much larger flight schools (ATP) advocate doing your initial commercial in the Multi to build multi time, making yourself more marketable.
Based on a conversation with one of thier senior managers at the school, they see (saw) the VA as a necessary evil, as VA funding has to go through a 141 school. 141 dictates an approved syllabus and that frankly slows things down with stage checks (wasted flight hours), etc. It's cumbersome and slow compared to how they would like to do the training. Tie this in with the fact that they have moved to TX for RTP training, and that the school they have established there has not been open for two years (a requirement for 141 status), they can grow that faster if they move away from Sandiego (the only place they can do 141/VA training).
I think the outcome demonstrates that they are more inclined to figure out other revenue streams. Like the new hire bonus up front provided it pays for flight training, or AOPA loans for training, etc. (both of which are in place)
I'm a little out of the loop at the school since life has high jacked my free (instructional) time in the last couple months. I'll be plugging back in in the next couple months. Anyone interested in the program should just reach out to them. They are very straight forward and transparent about how they money works.
