Pilot Internships & Employment in the European Union

It is essential for a comprehensive professional pilot flight training program to include a pilot internship opportunity following the completion of flight training. This is crucial because most airlines are reluctant to hire freshly-graduated pilots with only 200 hours of flight time, even if they possess an EASA ATPL (Frozen) following graduation from our FPAP-EU program and all the necessary ratings. This obstacle poses a significant challenge to the career development of new pilots. To address this issue, our program offers a professional flight instructor internship lasting up to 24 months (extendable for up to 3.5 years, for thoise who want to obtain EU Permanent Residency), during which pilots can increase their flight time from 200 to 1500 hours. They will have the opportunity to accumulate flight experience on both single and multi-engine airplanes, gain initial professional pilot work experience, and obtain excellent references from their employer. Moreover, pilots can recoup a significant portion of their tuition fees through a salary of $2500-3000 USD per month, with the potential to fly up to 100-120 hours per month.

Please review our FPAP-EU program here >>>

Upon completion of the initial flight instructor internship, if elected, pilots will be provided with another type of career development support: an advanced internship as an international ferry pilot with Global Air BVI Inc. This role involves flying as first officer for an aircraft repositioning company with the purpose of obtaining IOE (Initial Operating Experience) of up to 50 hours on Airbus 320 family aircraft.

Obtainment of permanent employment at the EU airlines for a foreign graduate is possible, but it requires 5 years of total residency (as a student and as an intern). For more details, please review a specially dedicated article here >>>

Want to track the latest pilot internship opportunities in the Unites States, Canada and all around the world for low-hour CPL holders? Join this specially-dedicated Facebook group >>>

At Aerocadet, we take great pride in our students and are committed to equipping them with the necessary skills for success in the aviation industry. Therefore, we have developed two levels of pilot internship programs that are exclusively available to our graduates. Please note that these internship programs are not open to pilots who have graduated from other schools or academies.

Background

Becoming a flight instructor is one of the best opportunities available to newly licensed pilots, offering the unique chance to continue flying while gaining crucial experience. For aspiring pilots looking to enter the airline industry, building flight hours and honing skills is vital to improving their employability. Airlines prioritize applicants who have consistently flown and developed their abilities, rather than those who have spent months away from the cockpit.

Instructing provides a steady stream of flight hours, which not only boosts a pilot's resume but also ensures they remain competitive in a crowded job market. Flight instructors earn a decent salary while collecting valuable employer reference letters—an important asset when it comes to applying for airline jobs. More importantly, instructing helps pilots stay sharp, confident, and proficient, ensuring they are fully prepared when they finally face airline assessments.

For pilots seeking to obtain an unrestricted ATPL in the United States, flight instruction is a critical stepping stone. FAA CPL holders typically need to work as flight instructors to fulfill the 1,500-hour experience requirement to obtain an ATPL. However, the situation is different for pilots in the EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) region. In the EU, airlines do not always require a full ATPL for employment. Pilots can apply for a First Officer (FO) position with just 200 hours of flight time, which makes the path to airline employment for EU pilots a bit more direct.

For a newly graduated EU flight school student holding a freshly earned EASA ATPL (Frozen), the next logical step is to start applying to airlines. Many EU-based airlines require applicants to have an EU passport or at least a permanent residency permit from an EU member state. While some international carriers, like Freebird Airlines in Turkey, are open to hiring non-EU pilots with an EASA license, the reality is that landing a job with an airline isn’t always immediate. In fact, the application process for some airlines can take months, or even years, before a pilot is called for an interview. And even if a pilot is accepted, there is often another long waiting period before the airline schedules initial line training.

It is important to note that some flight academies in Europe may provide what they claim is a guaranteed "flow" to a regional low-cost carrier. However, this flow typically only guarantees entry into the airline’s candidate pool—not a direct job offer. Graduates may receive a CJO (Conditional Job Offer) from an airline, but there may be no projected start date for employment. This means pilots are left to wait in the candidate pool for months, or even years, hoping for their turn.

Additionally, many EU airlines impose strict recency requirements for pilots, meaning applicants must have flown within the past 6 to 12 months to be considered for employment. Even if a pilot has met the minimum flight hour requirements, a long period of inactivity could make them ineligible or result in poor performance during airline simulator assessments.

This is where working as a flight instructor can be an invaluable option. Instructing ensures that pilots remain active, continuing to fly regularly and keeping their skills fresh. This eliminates the risk of falling out of practice while waiting for an airline opportunity. For newly licensed pilots, becoming an instructor not only provides a steady flow of flight hours but also keeps them in a highly employable position, ready for when the right airline opportunity finally arises.

Internship Acceptance

Upon successfully completing the fully-integrated airline pilot programs (FPAP-EU) in Romania, graduates who have obtained the necessary qualifications as commercial pilots and flight instructors will have the opportunity to work as flight instructors at our flight center. This phase offers numerous benefits, including the chance to accumulate up to 1500 hours of flight time, comprising a minimum of 500 hours of cross-country time, 100 hours of instrument time, and 75 hours of night time. Approximately 25% of this flight time will be conducted on multi-engine aircraft. Importantly, all flight time will be logged as Pilot-In-Command (PIC) and carried out within a multi-crew environment. Permanent employment in the Europen Union may be achieved by qualified candidates through PR visa application.

As part of our alumni support program, this flight instructor internship is optional and provides valuable experience and training. Pilots participating in this program can leave at any time to pursue airline interviews as they see fit. Throughout the internship, pilots can expect a competitive salary of $2500-$3000 per month, with the opportunity to fly up to 100-120 hours per month.

This internship serves as a significant stepping stone for graduates, enabling them to further enhance their flight experience and skillset while gaining valuable PIC time and multi-crew experience.

Remuneration Package

Salary for this internship will be paid by the FTP directly to Student. Student will be allowed to fly up to 100-120 hours per month under visa program, with expected salary of approximately $2500-$3000. This salary expectation is after (net) all the goverment taxes and fees.

Term

This internship is limited to 24 months or 1500 hours, whichever comes first. The recommended duration is 24 months. The internship is extandable up to 3.5 years for those who want to apply for EU PR.

Flight Instructor & Charter Pilot Resume Building Tips

To increase your chances of success when applying for internship positions, it is crucial to have a properly formatted resume that includes relevant information tailored to your employment target. Follow the guidelines below to ensure your resume is acceptable to potential employers in North America:

1. Keep your resume confined to a single page. Even if you have extensive experience, refrain from spreading it across multiple pages. If necessary, employ creative formatting techniques to condense your resume onto one page.

2. In addition to your resume, attach a cover letter that provides a more detailed overview of your skillset, personal abilities, motivations, and experience. Clearly explain why you are specifically applying for an instructor or charter pilot position with the particular company. Ensure that your cover letter does not exceed one page.

3. Include a professional reference letter or employment recommendation letter with every job application. This letter is typically issued by your flight school or another reputable organization that can vouch for your qualifications and suitability for employment. Upon graduation, the FTP and Aerocadet will provide you with such letters. Unlike the resume and cover letter, a recommendation letter does not need to be limited to one page.

Please refer to the provided download for a commonly formatted and worded recommendation letter for a new pilot's first employment.

What you must include in your resume when targeting a North American company:

What you should avoid including in your resume when targeting a North American company:

Background

This optional internship course is available to our graduates who wish to continue accumulating valuable flight time and expanding their aviation experience by working as international aircraft delivery pilots for our partner, Global Air BVI Inc. This company specializes in Airbus 320 aircraft sales and delivery, catering to international clients across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. As an intern, pilots can expect a salary ranging from $3500 to $4500 per aircraft transfer.

Upon completing the flight instructor internship, students will have the opportunity to partake in an advanced commercial pilot internship. In this role, they will serve as international ferry pilots with Global Air BVI Inc. Throughout this internship, students will be based at their permanent residence and provided with the chance to transfer A320 family aircraft registered under the EASA, from the EU or United States to other regions around the world. Global Air will offer suitable aircraft delivery projects to students based on their experience and requirements, enabling them to work as independent pilot contractors.

Internship Acceptance

In order to qualify for this internship, Student must: [a] have completed the entire flight training program in accordance with the section 7 of this agreement; [b] logged at least 1500 hours of total flight time; [c] hold FAA ATPL license with A320 PIC type rating [d] must have no accidents, incidents, EASA/FAA violations, arrests or DUIs.

Remuneration Package

Salary for this internship will be provided after Student completes at least two initial trans-Atlantic crossing under the supervision of a qualified ferry pilot and is found to be proficient in the international route planning and navigation. Thereafter, Student’s salary will be negotiated on case-by-case basis, starting from $750 USD per flight day. [a] Hotel accommodation en route, airline tickets to ferry departure point and from ferry arrival point, as well as daily per diem will be paid by Global Air or the party commissioning a particular ferry project. [b] Ferry flights availability to the Student on week-by-week basis during his/her internship is subject to aircraft type, weather, maintenance issues, route availability, operational requirements and other factors. [c] Personal insurance and documentation, such as valid passport, visas and valid license are sole responsibility of the Student.

Term

This internship is limited to 24 months.

Main Benefits

This internship offers pilots the following benefits

Background

Working in the European Union for an airlines requires a special work permit. The following pilots are normally able to secure permanent employment for the EU airlines. Please review this articles that explains exactly how >>>

The only program that allow students to apply for the aforementioned internships are: