American Aviator Act
Bill: S.4045 | Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy (D-WI)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
American Aviator Act
This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to provide grants to certain pilot schools for flight training services for veterans.
The FAA must give priority to pilot schools that (1) are accredited by the Department of Education, or (2) hold a restricted airline transport pilot letter of authorization.

To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to 
   establish a pilot program to provide flight training services to 
                               veterans.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``American Aviator Act''.

SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FLIGHT TRAINING SERVICES TO VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration (in this section referred to as the ``Administrator''), 
in consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs, shall enter into agreements with flight schools to 
provide assistance in the form of grants to eligible entities to 
provide flight training services to veterans.
    (b) Eligible Entity.--For purposes of this section, the term 
``eligible entity'' means a pilot school that--
            (1) holds a training certificate under part 141 of title 
        14, Code of Federal Regulations; and
            (2) has an established employment pathway with at least one 
        commercial air carrier operating under part 121 or 135 of title 
        14, Code of Federal Regulations.
    (c) Priority Application.--In selecting eligible entities to award 
grants to under this section, the Administrator shall give priority to 
eligible entities that meet either of the following:
            (1) The entity is accredited by the Department of 
        Education.
            (2) The entity holds a restricted airline transport pilot 
        (R-ATP) letter of authorization, as specified under part 61 of 
        title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.
    (d) Considerations in Selection.--In selecting eligible entities to 
award grants to under this section, the Administrator shall consider 
the following:
            (1) The eligible entity's pass rate for students, as 
        measured by part 141 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.
            (2) The total estimated cost per veteran to complete the 
        eligible entity's program.
            (3) The anticipated time from start of training under the 
        eligible entity's program to employment.
            (4) The eligible entity's graduate placement percentage.
            (5) The eligible entity's use of advance technology and 
        simulation.
    (e) Use of Funds.--Amounts from a grant received by an eligible 
entity under the pilot program shall be used for the following:
            (1) To case manage and support veterans for flight training 
        services.
            (2) To provide guidance and flight training services to the 
        veterans enrolled, including additional training required to 
        reach proficiency, for the following certificates and ratings:
                    (A) Private pilot certificate.
                    (B) Instrument rating.
                    (C) Commercial pilot certificate.
                    (D) Multi-engine rating.
                    (E) Certificated flight instructor single engine 
                certificate, if applicable to degree sought.
                    (F) Certificated flight instructor multi-engine 
                certificate, if applicable to degree sought.
                    (G) Certificated flight instructor instrument 
                certificate, if applicable to degree sought.
            (3) To provide applicable program tuition, books, training 
        materials, and equipment.
            (4) To provide periodic reports to the Administrator on use 
        of the grant funds, including documentation of training 
        completion of the certificates and ratings described in 
        subparagraphs (A) through (G) of paragraph (2).
    (f) Coordination With Veterans Education Benefits.--In the event a 
veteran participates in the pilot program who is entitled to 
educational assistance for veterans under the laws administered by the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs--
            (1) any costs of the veteran in participation in the pilot 
        program that are covered by such educational assistance shall 
        be borne by the veteran using such educational assistance; and
            (2) any costs incurred by the veteran in participation in 
        the pilot program that are not covered by such educational 
        assistance, including the cost of a private pilot license, may 
        be borne by the eligible entity concerned using grant amounts 
        awarded to the eligible entity for purposes of the pilot 
        program.
    (g) Appropriations.--To carry out this section, there is authorized 
to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2023 through 
2028.
                                 <all>