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EASA Airline Transport Pilot License (Frozen) DGCA Commercial Pilot License Lowest Cost Available High Quality Training in the EU Guaranteed Visa Approval
All you need to know about the program goals, and why this program is right for you.
Strategic Approach: AeroCadet understands that simply having the minimum required pilot licenses is not enough to secure a position with top aviation companies. They emphasize the importance of standing out and being unique among other candidates. AeroCadet provides a strategic approach to help pilots differentiate themselves and make a lasting impression on airline recruitment teams.
Comprehensive Support: AeroCadet offers a personalized team of strategists, career mentors, and airline employment consultants who provide invaluable guidance and support throughout the pilot's career journey. These experts offer insights, advice, and mentoring to help pilots enhance their experience, knowledge, qualifications, and employment references, setting them apart from the competition.
Industry Knowledge: With their deep understanding of the aviation industry, AeroCadet is equipped to provide pilots with up-to-date information on airline hiring standards and requirements. This knowledge helps pilots align their efforts effectively and efficiently to meet these standards and increase their chances of securing their dream job.
Career Development: AeroCadet is committed to the long-term success of pilots in the competitive world of commercial aviation. They provide career development resources and assistance to ensure pilots are well-prepared and positioned for growth opportunities in their aviation careers.
Prestigious Airline Opportunities: By enrolling with AeroCadet and benefiting from their expertise, pilots can increase their chances of receiving job offers from prestigious airlines. AeroCadet's insights and support can help aspiring pilots fulfill their dreams of working for the world's leading aviation companies.
As a leading aviation training and airline pilot career development consulting agent serving the largest international market, AeroCadet offers a tailored approach, expert support, and valuable industry knowledge to help pilots maximize their potential, stand out from the crowd, and achieve their desired career goals in the aviation industry.
This integrated ab-initio fast-track EASA Commercial Pilot Program (coded "FCPP-IND-EU") offers Indian flight students a unique and efficient pathway to complete their flight training and obtain multiple licenses. The program begins with training at Hercules Aviation Training School in Hyderabad in India to obtain DGCA CPL pass certificates. Once this 3-month Indian ground-school phase is complete, students will proceed to our designated Flight Training Provider (FTP) in the European Union (Romania), following a fast-track curriculum, using modern aircraft to aquire EASA ATPL "Frozen" with single-engine, multi-engine and instrument ratings.
Upon completion of the EASA ATPL certification, which takes approximately 10-12 months, Students will come back to India to add DGCA Commercial Pilot License to their certifications, and will become eligible to apply for employment with the leading airlines in India: Air India, IndiGo, Air India, Vistara, AIX Connect, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Air India Express, Alliance Air, Star Air, and Fly91, and so on.
(Please note: Merely meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee selection. Your application must be competitive to stand out. To enhance your competitiveness, we strongly recommend obtaining a full, unrestricted ATPL and a type rating for the aircraft operated by your target airline. If you aim to acquire these qualifications and become immediately employable not only in the Indian aviation industry, but also world-wide, consider inrolling into our comprehensive, integrated Full Professional Airline Pilot Program for Indian students in the EU. This program offers cost-effective flight training, a well-paid pilot internship, an optional A320 or B737 type rating, and an optional jet internship in the United States.)
Program gives you an opportunity to achieve EASA ATPL (F) from high-quality flight school in European Union, and DGCA CPL certification, with optional typeraring for B737 or A320 aircraft.
The aquired licenses will make you eligible to apply for first officer position with most Indian airlines. Partners in India provide robust employment placement assistance to Aerocadet graduates.
The advantages are many. The benefits are immense. The pricing is surprising. We give you the opportunity - you take the rest!
The absolutely fastest way to get from Zero experience level to the modern airline cockpit!
This program is structured in such a way that every segment leads our students to the ultimate goal: employment in the airlines. The program is divided into the following stages:
Mandatory, included in base cost phases:
| # | Phase | Duration | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enrollment | 1-2 weeks | Mandatory | India |
| 2 | DGAC Ground School | 3 months | Mandatory | India |
| 2 | EASA 0-ATPL flight training | 12 months | Mandatory | EU |
| 5 | EASA to DGCA ATPL Conversion | 6 weeks | Mandatory | India |
| 6 | Airlines Employment Assitance | 3 months | Mandatory | India |
The total duration of the flight training and initial flight instructor internship is approximately 3.5 years. All stages of flight training are conducted in Romania to exceptionally high international and European standards by an EASA-accredited flight academy. To enhance cost efficiency and provide the best student lifestyle, the Romanian flight training center is strategically located by the Black Sea, near the beach—a beautiful and ideal setting for training and living.
Flight training in the E.U. is conducted on brand-new, modern aircraft, including the Diamond DA20 and Technam P2006T for single-engine and multi-engine training. Most aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art glass cockpits and GNSS navigation systems, ensuring students train with the latest aviation technology.
More details about the program segments:
At this stage, student will be required to complete enrollment application form (here >>>) and provide documents for initial consideration by our company. After application details and document screening, student will be contacted for the initial interview to check his knowledge of English. Our requirements are simple: high school diploma (or higher), English knowledge on upper-intermediate level or better, international passport and good health with no disqualifying conditions (see full list of enrollment requirements here >>>) Once all requirements are satisfied, the student will be furnished with the flight training agreement, visa support paperwork, preliminary aviation training study materials. (Aerocadet will provide comprehensive administrative support for this stage of the program).
DGCA Ground School & Exams (3 months). In order to ensure that our graduates have a wide spectrum of domestic and international airline employment opportunities with a diverse number of air carriers, as well as to lay foundation for a swift Canadian visa approval process, the students will be required to take DGCA (ICAO-India) ground school and sit six DGCA theoretical CPL and ATPL exams. The following topics are all covered in the DGCA CPL Ground classes: Air Regulations, Aviation Meteorology, Air Navigation, Technical General, Technical Specific, Radio Telephony. The classes are conducted by our Indian partner Hercules Aviation Training Schools (HATS). The exams for pilot licenses are conducted by the Central Examination Organisation (CEO) of Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA). The candiate need to register on the DGCA examination portal and create an account to apply for Computer Number which is a unique identity number to appear for DGCA examinations and track past results.
After arrival in Romania at our partner FPT’s training center located in Tuzla Regional Airfield, a student will undergo an EASA Class 1 pilot medical examination. Following this, the student will begin both theoretical and practical training, combining ground school with flight training. The FPT aims to provide at least 3-4 hours of ground school daily, along with 2-3 hours of flight training to ensure a comprehensive learning experience. The campus life in Tulza, Romania is one of the most comfortable and luxurious options availble to any student, in a nice hotel, right by the Black Sea. Review more details on the campus life here >>>
The flight training segment is structured into distinct phases: Private Pilot, Instrument, and ATPL training (EASA skips the CPL phase and progresses directly to a restricted, or "Frozen" ATPL). Each stage grants the student a progressively higher aeronautical license and qualification. Upon completing this phase, the student will be fully certified as a Commercial Pilot, holding an EASA/ICAO ATPL "Frozen" license, with ratings to operate single-engine, multi-engine, and multi-crew aircraft in both visual (VMC) and instrument meteorological (IMC) conditions. This phase will consist of 196 flight hours, 38 simulator hours and 750 academic hours.
At this stage student can convert his/her EASA flight crew license to Indian flight crew license. Essentially, it is not a "conversion", but an add-on, as the DGCA license is added to the FAA license, and the pilot ends up with two valid licenses: the EASA and the DGCA. Both remain valid. This conversion/add-on process is fairly easy for those applicants who already passed their DGCA CPL exams with Hercules Aviation Training Schools (HATS), and is fully-supported by them. Overall, this phase focuses on providing comprehensive theoretical knowledge, practical flight training, and the necessary flight hours to attain the desired licenses and ratings, ultimately preparing the student for a successful career as a commercial pilot.
Summary of the estimated flight training hours
Students will receive the following amount of flight training hours during the licensing phases of the program:
| Hours | for DGCA CPL Ground School |
|---|---|
| 350 | ground school & academics |
| Hours | for Private Pilot License, DA-20 aircraft |
|---|---|
| 180 | ground school & academics |
| 45 | flight training in DA-20 |
| 1.5 | check-ride in DA-20 |
| Hours | for PIC Hour-Building, phase I, DA-20 aircraft |
|---|---|
| 65 | pilot-in-command, cross-country in DA-20 |
| Hours | for Night VFR rating, DA-20 aircraft |
|---|---|
| 5 | flight training in DA-20 |
| Hours | for Single-Engine Instrument Rating, DA-20 aircraft and Simulator |
|---|---|
| 10 | ground school & academics |
| 15 | flight training in DA-20 |
| 35 | FNPT-II flight simulator |
| 1.5 | check-ride in DA-20 |
| Hours | for PIC Hour-Building, phase II, DA-20 aircraft |
|---|---|
| 45 | pilot-in-command, cross-country in DA-20 |
| Hours | for UPRT (Upset Recovery), DA-20 aircraft |
|---|---|
| 3 | flight training in DA-20 |
| Hours | for Multi-Engine Rating, Tecnam P2006T aircraft |
|---|---|
| 40 | ground school & academics |
| 6 | flight training in Tecnam P2006T |
| Hours | for EASA ATPL to DGCA CPL Conversion |
|---|---|
| 15 | flight training and check-rides |
We are proud to provide the most comfortable environment for learning!
18 months of accommodation (the entire estimated duration of training) is included in the program cost.
Accommodation is available near the flight training center. Pilots are being picked up and dropped off by a bus service daily. Campus is located near the Black Sea beach for maximum relaxation after flying.
oreign students are permitted to work while studying in Romania, subject to certain conditions:
Non-EU Students: If you hold a temporary residence permit for studies, you are allowed to work part-time, up to 4 hours per day, without the need for a separate work permit. Employment must be based on an individual employment contract.
EU/EEA/Swiss Students: Students from the European Union, European Economic Area, or Switzerland are not subject to specific working hour restrictions and can work without a work permit. However, balancing work and study commitments is essential to ensure academic success.
Our programs are not just competitively priced, they pay to students after licensing!
The full program cost is an approximate estimate based on student's ability to complete flight training program in full compliance with the approved EASA curriculum. The cost includes flight training, ground school, full training phase accommodation (14 months), government fees, and basic flight equipment. It does not include airline tickets, normal living expenses (food), and additional training hours (if required). Living expenses and additional accommodation may be partially financed by the students using part-time employment income, for which students may be eligible if approved by the Romanian goverment. The cost estimate also includes the following items: full flight training program, from Zero to ATPL(f) certificates, including flight training and theoretical training: $52,500 USD; 12 months of accommodation: $4,500 USD; DGCA ground school, admin fees, and EASA to DGCA ATPL conversion fee by Hercules Aviation: $6,700.00 USD; Employment placement assistance: $1,450.00 USD; Aerocadet administrative fee: $550.00 USD.
| Full, estimated cost, including accommodation: | $65,700.00 |
Living expenses may vary, depending on student's budget and lifestyle. Additionally, living expenses can be heavily supplemented or even completely covered by taking on part-time off-campus employment. We estimate living expenses in Romania at, approximately, $7.00 USD per day, over 30 days per months, over 18 months of the training period to be:
| Type of additional expenses | Estimate, USD |
|---|---|
| Estimated food expenses for 18 months | Variable |
Also, some students will be eligible to discounts. The discounts include the following items:
| Type of discount | Discount |
|---|---|
| DGCA Exams Pass Card Holder (already passed DGAC exams) | $1,500 USD |
Romania has a very high visa approval rate - over 95%. Due to course duration of 15 months prior to student's full-time ability to work, applicant must demonstrate approximately $70,000 USD on his/her account upon applying for the US Student visa. This is required to ensure that student has sufficient funds to pay for tuition, accommodation, living expenses (food, transport, etc).
We have a flexible payment schedule that does not require students to pre-pay for the program in advance.
Our academy does not require students to pay for the entire flight training program in advance. We have a payment structure that needs to be followed by all students, with some exception. Students must submit the following payments:
| Enrollment deposit, which is comprised of: conditionally refundable security deposit (5% of the base training cost - $3100); admin fees, including: pilot aptitude testing, academic transcripts validation and certification fees ($550); EASA FTP administrative fee ($1700); Employment placement assistance ($1450); Hercules Aviation DGCA license training ($6700). This deposit is included in the total flight training program estimate cost and is required for reservation of student's place in campus, classes, as well as fees for processing of paperwork. | $13900.00 USD |
| First tuition installment, within 3 days after arrival in Romania | $16500 USD |
| Second tuition installment, within 90 days after 1st tuition payment | $16500 USD |
| Third tuition installment, within 90 days after 2nd tuition payment | $16500 USD |
| Any additional training expenses, if required | $ |
Please note: conditions of deposit refund are outlined in the flight training agreement, which students are required to sign upon enrollment and before any payments are due.
Eligible applicants can receive student loans to cover up to 100% of their tuition and living expenses.
Great news! Aerocadet can provide administrative support for students to obtain Financial Aid from their respective banks and financial institutions. Such support is offered by providing conditional employment offer letters and training bond contracts. Read the details here >>>
Many students from India successfully applied for student loans from the following banks, and got approved with the help of our SLAS package. (Contact us if you want us to forward to you Indian student reviews and recommendations)
Review additional financing options for the Indian students >>>
HDFC Bank is one of the largest private banks offering education loans abroad. The maximum loan amount offered by the bank it up to INR 20 lakhs. In order to avoid the last-minute rush, the bank offers study loans abroad even before the student has secured admission at the university.
Maximum loan amount - Up to Rs. 20 lakhs
Processing fees - Up to 1.5% of the loan amount
HDFC education loans can be availed before the student has secured an admission at the university. Borrowers enjoy flexible security collateral. Co-borrowers can be living in a different city than the borrower, but they can only be relatives of the borrower.
SBI offers a maximum amount of INR 30 lakhs as an education loan for studying abroad with a loan margin of 15%. The Interest rate charged on the loan amount is up to 2% on the current base rate of SBI. Further, the loan repayment tenure can be 1 year to 15 years.
Maximum loan amount - Rs. 30 lakhs
Collateral security required - For loans above Rs. 7.5 lakhs
Loan margin - 15% for SBI education loan borrowers
Interest rate - Up to 2% on the current base rate of SBI
Repayment tenure – 1 year to 15 years
SBI offers a moratorium period where the entire interest can be repaid so that when the actual loan repayment tenure starts the monthly installment can be just the principal amount. The borrower has to submit college admission letter, completed loan application form, course costs, co-applicant details and other KYC documents to the bank.
Axis bank offers study loans abroad at competitive interest rates. A margin of 15% has to be arranged by the borrower if the loan amount exceeds INR 4 lakhs. The bank offers a maximum of INR 20 lakhs and covers different costs like tuition, accommodation, and books.
Maximum loan amount - Rs. 20 lakhs
Minimum loan amount - Rs. 50,000
Interest rate - Ranges from 16.5% to 17.5% with special rates for women
Loan margin - Not required for a loan below Rs. 4 lakhs. For loans above Rs. 4 lakhs, 15% has to be brought in by the borrower
Processing fee - None
Education loans require a parent or guardian to act as a co-applicant, with third party guarantee or collateral security, if applicable. Axis Bank might also consider LIC policy for 100% of the loan amount but it depends from case to case.
PNB Udaan is the education loan scheme offered by the Punjab National Bank to students going to study abroad. The bank offers foreign education loans for students going to pursue graduate, post-graduate, job-oriented professional and technical courses. The borrower needs to show a loan margin of 15% for the loan amount of above INR 4 lakhs. Also, the bank offers the base rate as the interest rate on loans taken for pursuing an education at the top 200 universities across the world.
Maximum loan amount - PNB sanctions loans according to the requirement of the borrower,
Loan margin - 15% for loans above Rs. 4 lakhs. For loan amount below Rs. 4 lakhs, the loan margin is not required. Assistantship and scholarships can be added to the loan margin. PNB offers the base rate as the
Interest rate - Base rate for pursuing the education at the top 200 universities across the world
Moratorium period - Up to a year with no prepayment charges levied by the bank
Processing fees - 1%
The tenure options available for PNB education loan borrowers is up to 15 years
Under the Baroda Scholar scheme, admission secured for professional and technical courses at reputed foreign universities are sanctioned for education loan.
Maximum loan amount - Up to Rs. 20 lakhs
Loan margin requirement - 15%
Repayment tenure - Loans taken up to Rs. 7.5 lakhs can be repaid within 10 years and loans above Rs. 7.5 lakhs can be repaid within 15 years
Borrowers can get a holiday or moratorium period of six months to one year after getting employment. Security is not required for loans below the amount of Rs. 4 lakhs. Third party guarantee is required for loans between Rs. 4 lakhs and Rs. 7.5 lakhs and a tangible collateral security is required for loans above Rs. 7.5 lakhs.
The Canara Bank education loan covers university fee, travel costs, exam fee, lab fee, library fee, book/equipment fee, and other related expenses. Education loan has to be taken with a co-borrower and 100% collateral security is required for loans above Rs. 7.5 lakhs.
Maximum loan amount – Upto Rs. 20 Lakhs
Loan margin - 15% for loans taken above Rs. 4 lakhs
Repayment tenure - Can be up to 10 years for loans below Rs. 7.5 lakhs and up to 15 years for loans above Rs. 7.5 lakhs.
Security - Not required for loans below Rs. 4 lakhs. Third party guarantee has to be given for loans from Rs. 4 lakhs to Rs. 7.5 lakhs.
The IDBI education loan covers university fee, travel, exam fee, lab fee, library fee, the cost of computers, book/equipment fee and other related expenses. IDBI Bank sanctions loan amount according to the requirement of the borrower, with no security on loans below Rs. 4 lakhs.
Maximum loan amount - Up to Rs. 20 lakhs
Repayment tenure - Up to 10 years for loans below Rs. 7.5 lakhs and up to 15 years for loans more than Rs. 7.5 lakhs
Third party guarantee is required for loans between Rs. 4 lakhs and Rs. 7.5 lakhs. Education loan has to be taken along with a co-borrower. 100% collateral security is required for loans more than Rs. 7.5 lakhs.
Avanse offers various kinds of loans like pre-visa disbursement loan, fast-track loan, pre-admission loan, and certificate of availability of funds. Borrowers have to submit their KYC documents, course fee, collateral documents, income documents etc. when they avail an Avanse education loan.
Minimum loan amount - Rs. 1, 00,000 with the
Maximum loan limit - Customized according to the borrower’s requirement
loan tenure can be taken between 12 months to up to 120 months
Avanse education loan covers tuition fee, travel cost, living expense, books /equipment fee and other related expenses.
Apart from the nationalized banks, student loans can also be availed from non-banking financial companies/institutions (NBFCs). Non-banking institutions offer complete tuition fees to the students. Borrowers need to provide collateral as security to the banks as the loan amount is generally more than INR 7.5 Lacs. Students looking for education loan for abroad studies can now have the option to secure a loan from NBFCs. Some of the NBFCs options are:
Please contact each of these banks directly to inquire about their application process and eligibility requirements.
It is easy to enroll!
To enroll into this program, an applicant must have the following documents:
| Travel documents | Student must hold a valid, unexpired international passport, with at least 2 years remaining until expiration. |
| Education | Student must be a high school graduate, and must have a full a certificate of secondary education, such as "high school diploma" or "O-levels" or "GED" or equivalent certificates. |
| English test | Student must have taken an academic English IELTS Academic test within the last 2 years. The acceptable test is IELTS Academic,with a minimum score of 6.0 overall, and no single category score under 5.5. (If student is unable to take IELTS, we will replace it with a Zoom interview) |
| Proof of funding | Enrolling student must have a bank statement or a student loan sanction letter or a combination thereof showing that he/she has required liquid funds for training. |
| Age | Enrolling student must be able to achive the age of 18 by the time they apply for EASA ATPL(f) license. This means that they can not be younger than 17.5 years of age at the time they start the training program. |
| Health | Student must be able to qualify for the EASA Categoty 1 medical. For the full list of medical criteria and disqualifying conditions please review this section >>> |
| Character | Student must be free of any criminal history, such as criminal convictions or DUIs. If traveled to the EU in the past, student must have had no visa violations, such as illegal employment record or overstay. |
Sit back, relax, enjoy the flight: we are here to help you through this process!
If you need a personal consultation regarding the flight training program, please email one of our highly qualified consultants with a full list of your questions, and receive a structured response within 24 hours.
Take it home!
All information is published in web format.
Don't think this program is for you? That's okay. We have several other program that might suit you better!
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Your eligibility for employment in the US is limited to CPT and OPT permits. If you have 1500 hours and a full ATPL by the time you finish your CPT and before you start your OPT, you can obtain a limited-time employment (12-months) at the regional US airline, such as Sky West or Mesa or Air Wisconsin, as a First Officer. Beyond that period, you will need to have a Permanent Residence Permit, also known as a "Green Card", to be eligible for an unrestricted full-time employment at any U.S. airline. Also, you need to have a US citizenship to be, realistically, eligible for employment at the major US airlines, such as American, United, Delta, FedEx, Spirit/JetBlue, Frontier, Southwest, etc. To obtain such documents you will need to go throuh a very lengthy, expensive and complex immigration application. Most applicants will not qualify for an immigration visa even after paying for all the application fees. Therefore, neither our company, nor our partners will be able to assist you with this endevour. Please note: unlike Canada, U.S. does not have a direct immigration pathway from aStudent Permit to the Permanent Residency. If you do want to fly in North America, please review our Canadian Programs.
Yes, you do.
If you studied in English from grade 1 to grade 10, and this is the official language in the education system of your country (such as in India, South Africa, Kenya, Singapore and so on), you do not need to take an additional English test.
Yes, you do. You are enrolling into an ACADEMIC program, so you need to get an academic English test. Just an ICAO certification is not sufficient for this enrollment.
Very simple. Just go to this link: http://aerocadet.com/requirement#a3 Print out the requirements and take them to your medical doctor. He will screen you in accordance with all the specified on this page criteria and, if everything is okay, you are going to pass the FAA medical test.
The U.S. Department of State, which is responsible for issuing student visas of type F-1 variety, demands to see that you, or your sponsor has at least $67,000 USD on the account. The sum must show on the recent bank statement or an official letter from your or your sponsor’s financial institution. Without it, your F-1 student visa application will be rejected.
Yes, you can! If you have a current and valid ICAO PPL, you can get a discount of $10,200 USD from either the FPAP-1 program or a full AAS degree program.
Yes, shortly after arriving in the U.S, students can apply for work on-campus only. Students are not allowed to work off-campus for the first 12 months from the date of their arrival in the United States. Please note: due to limited availability of non-pilot vacancies on campus, we can not guarantee that students will have an opportunity to work on-campus before achieving their flight instructor licenses.
Yes, in accordance with the CPT program rules, students are allowed to work on-campus as flight instructors. The work hours are limited to 20 hours per week. The pay is limited to $20 USD per flight hour.
Yes, in accordance with the OPT program rules, students are allowed to work for external employers, such as airlines and charter companies. The work hours are limited to 20 hours per week. The pay varies in accordance with specific airline's work rules and pay-scale.
No. All the required textbooks and study materials are included in the program cost estimate.
Like any other college in the US, we do not provide food, and we do not include its cost in the basic program cost ($56,883). However, the approximate cost of living expenses, including food, is included in the total program cost estimate ($67,000). Students normally use the café at the flight center for lunch. Breakfast and dinner is normally cooked by the students using the campus kitchenettes which are shared between 4-6 students. Flight training center has shuttles that takes students to popular grocery shopping places, such as Waldemar or Public supermarkets in order to stock up on the provisions.
Yes, you can! If you have a current and valid ICAO PPL, you can get a discount of $10,200 USD from either the FPAP-1 program or a full AAS degree program.
Yes, shortly after arriving in the U.S, students can apply for work on-campus only. Students are not allowed to work off-campus for the first 12 months from the date of their arrival in the United States. Please note: due to limited availability of non-pilot vacancies on campus, we can not guarantee that students will have an opportunity to work on-campus before achieving their flight instructor licenses.
Yes, in accordance with the CPT program rules, students are allowed to work on-campus as flight instructors. The work hours are limited to 20 hours per week. The pay is limited to $20 USD per flight hour.
You can review the full Frequently Asked Questions section here >>>