Pathway to EASA ATP
for ICAO CPL holders

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How does this program achieve Your airline career objectives?

Our CPL Conversion to EASA ATPL Program with Flight Instructor Internship in the European Union is designed specifically for pilots who already hold a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) and want to convert their credentials into a highly respected European EASA ATPL pathway while gaining legitimate flight experience and income.

Many pilots from developing countries hold CPL licenses that, unfortunately, are often viewed with caution by major international airlines. This is largely because in some regions pilot licenses can be obtained through poorly regulated training environments, institutional pressure, or even corruption. As a result, airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines and other leading global carriers frequently prefer candidates whose licenses and flight time were obtained in strictly regulated aviation jurisdictions.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is widely regarded as one of the most respected and rigorous aviation regulatory authorities in the world. Training and licensing under EASA standards provide airlines with the confidence that the pilot’s qualifications, examinations, and flight experience were obtained through transparent, merit-based training with strict oversight.

Our program allows foreign CPL holders to convert their existing licenses into the EASA system, complete the necessary ATPL theoretical training and ratings, and obtain EASA Flight Instructor (FI) certification. After graduation, students are eligible for a post-graduate work permit in the European Union, which allows them to work as certified flight instructors and build professional flight experience.

Through our partner flight training organizations, graduates can participate in a structured flight instructor internship, typically earning approximately $3,000 per month after tax, while building the initial flight hours required for airline employment. This phase allows pilots to transform a previously obtained CPL into credible, internationally respected flight experience, recorded under the EASA regulatory framework.

This pathway is particularly valuable because airlines do not hire pilots based solely on the number of flight hours listed in a logbook. They look for training pedigree, regulatory oversight, and real employment experience. A pilot who has worked as a certified flight instructor in the European system demonstrates that aviation authorities and employers have trusted that individual to operate aircraft safely and train other pilots—a powerful endorsement when applying to world-class airlines.

Upon completion of the instructor internship phase and the accumulation of sufficient flight time, graduates become significantly more competitive candidates for airline employment. Our company then provides comprehensive airline employment assistance, helping graduates pursue opportunities with airlines in Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and other international markets.

Want to work in the EU permnanetly, even as a non-EU pasport holder? Read this article to underspand the process and options! >>>

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:

The CPL Conversion to EASA ATPL Program is designed as a fast and practical pathway for foreign CPL holders to upgrade their licenses under the highly respected European aviation regulatory system while gaining real professional flight experience.

The license conversion and training phase takes approximately six months. During this period, pilots complete all required academic and flight training components necessary to transition their existing CPL into the EASA licensing framework, including the required instructor qualifications.

Upon completion of the conversion phase, graduates enter a structured flight instructor internship program lasting up to two years. During this time, pilots work as certified flight instructors under the European regulatory system, allowing them to build valuable aeronautical experience while earning a competitive salary of approximately $3,000 per month after tax. This stage is critical for developing both flight hours and professional credibility within one of the world’s most respected aviation licensing environments.

The internship phase allows pilots to accumulate the substantial flight time required for airline eligibility, while gaining real-world operational experience, employer recommendations, safety records, and instructional credentials. These factors significantly strengthen a pilot’s professional profile when applying to international airlines.

As flight hours accumulate and professional experience grows, pilots progressively move closer to meeting the requirements for a full, unrestricted EASA/ICAO Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL), supported by extensive operational experience.

The primary objective of the program is to transform an existing non-marketable CPL into a globally competitive airline pilot qualification, backed by legitimate flight experience obtained within the European aviation system. This significantly improves a pilot’s prospects when applying to leading international airlines in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, where employers strongly value pilots trained and experienced under internationally recognized regulatory standards.

Additionally, pilots who wish to remain and work in the European Union may extend their instructor internship for up to five years. This extended employment period may allow them to qualify for EU permanent residency, which significantly expands long-term career opportunities and opens employment pathways with leading European airlines.

More details about the program and its phases:

At this phase 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/her knowledge of English. Our requirements are simple: ICAO CPL with valid medical, ICAO-4 English certificate, high school diploma (or higher), international passport and good health with no disqualifying conditions (see full list of enrollment requirements here >>>) Once all requirements are satisfied, student will be furnished with the flight training agreement, visa support paperwork, preliminary aviation training study materials and TSA security clearance. 

This stage represents the first phase of the CPL to EASA ATPL conversion process. The conversion begins with CPL-to-PPL validation, because a direct CPL-to-CPL conversion within the EASA system is not permitted.

During this phase, pilots must complete the required EASA Private Pilot License (PPL) theoretical examinations and successfully pass a PPL skill test (check-ride) with an authorized examiner. Prior to these examinations, our instructors will prepare you to the required EASA standards to ensure that you are fully ready for both the written tests and the practical flight evaluation

Under EASA regulations, all foreign pilots holding non-EASA licenses—including those issued by the FAA—must complete a minimum of 15 hours of instrument flight training in accordance with the EASA curriculum in order to obtain an EASA Instrument Rating (IR). While this requirement may seem unusual to many ICAO-licensed pilots, it is a standard regulatory requirement within the European aviation system.

Accordingly, pilots will be required to pass the EASA Instrument Rating written examination, complete the minimum 15 hours of EASA-approved instrument training, and successfully pass the IR skill test (check ride) with an authorized examiner

The EASA ATPL is one of the most comprehensive and academically demanding pilot licenses in the world. It requires candidates to pass 14 theoretical knowledge examinations, followed by a CPL skill test (practical check ride). The academic portion of the program is substantial, and EASA regulations require pilots to complete at least 650 hours of approved online study before becoming eligible to sit for the ATPL examinations.

During this academic phase, our instructors will also prepare you to reach the required proficiency for the EASA CPL practical examination in a training aircraft. Once you have successfully passed all 14 ATPL theoretical exams and completed the CPL skill test, you will be issued an EASA ATPL (frozen) license.

The term “frozen” ATPL, also referred to as a restricted ATPL, simply means that the pilot has completed all ATPL theoretical requirements but has not yet accumulated the full airline-level flight experience. This restriction is automatically removed once the pilot has logged 1,500 hours of multi-crew flight time in a qualified transport-category aircraft, at which point the license becomes a full, unrestricted EASA ATPL.

This is your FI phase! Flight Instructor (FI) is the primary instructor qualification within the EASA system and the most common pathway for pilots who wish to build flight time while working in aviation. An FI is authorized to provide training for the Private Pilot License (PPL), Light Aircraft Pilot License (LAPL), night rating, and certain elements of modular CPL training, depending on the instructor’s experience and additional privileges. This rating allows pilots to work professionally as flight instructors and accumulate valuable flight hours while developing teaching experience and professional operational skills.

To qualify for the EASA Flight Instructor (FI) rating, a pilot must normally hold at least a CPL or ATPL (or, in some cases, an experienced PPL holder) with the appropriate aircraft class rating. Applicants typically must have a minimum of 200 hours total flight time, including at least 150 hours as Pilot-in-Command, complete an approved EASA FI training course consisting of approximately 25–30 hours of flight training along with extensive ground instruction, and successfully pass the FI Assessment of Competence (practical examination) with an authorized examiner. Newly qualified instructors initially operate under supervision until sufficient instructional experience is gained, after which they may instruct independently and continue building the flight time required for airline careers.

During this phase of training, you will have the opportunity to obtain all of the aforementioned qualifications, completing the required examinations, flight training, and practical evaluations necessary for the respective EASA certifications

This is the most exciting phase of the program. At this stage, you will begin working as a fully certified Flight Instructor (FI), typically flying approximately 80–100 hours per month while earning about $3,000 per month after tax. Your employment will be conducted under a special post-graduate work permit, for which we will assist by preparing and providing all the necessary documentation and support required for a successful application.

Legality clause: The possibility for non-EU graduates to remain and work in Romania after completing studies is regulated primarily under Romanian immigration law, specifically Emergency Ordinance No. 194/2002 regarding the regime of foreigners in Romania (Ordonanța de Urgență nr. 194/2002 privind regimul străinilor în România), as amended by later legislation including Law No. 157/2011 and subsequent updates. Under this framework, foreign students who complete accredited education programs in Romania may apply to change their temporary residence permit for studies (“ședere pentru studii”) to a temporary residence permit for employment (“ședere pentru muncă”).

According to Article 56 and Article 56¹ of OUG 194/2002, graduates of Romanian educational institutions may remain in Romania after completing their studies and apply for employment authorization, provided they submit proof of graduation, a valid passport, a work contract or employer sponsorship, and evidence of legal residence during their study period. Once the employment residence permit is granted, the graduate may legally work in Romania, including in aviation positions such as flight instructor employment with an approved training organization.

After accumulating approximately 1,500 hours of flight time during the two-year post-graduate instructor internship, while earning an estimated $3,000 per month (approximately $72,000 over 24 months after tax), pilots become highly employable and competitive candidates for airline recruitment. At this stage, they hold internationally respected EASA qualifications, verified professional employment experience as flight instructors, and substantial logged flight time—factors that are highly valued by airline recruiters.

With these credentials, graduates become strong candidates for airline positions with leading international carriers such as Emirates (including pathway opportunities through flyDubai), Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, Air China, and many other airlines across the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and international markets that actively recruit pilots holding EASA credentials and solid operational experience

This is your optional pathway to qualify for the EU Permanent Resicency, if you with to stay in the EU and work in its leading airlines. As we have established earlier, according to Article 56 and Article 56¹ of OUG 194/2002, graduates of Romanian educational institutions may remain in Romania after completing their studies and apply for employment authorization, provided they submit proof of graduation, a valid passport, a work contract or employer sponsorship, and evidence of legal residence during their study period. Once the employment residence permit is granted, the graduate may legally work in Romania, including in aviation positions such as flight instructor employment with an approved training organization.

After maintaining legal residence and employment for several consecutive years, foreign nationals may become eligible for long-term residence status in Romania under Article 70 of OUG 194/2002which implements the provisions of EU Directive 2003/109/EC concerning the status of long-term residents. Long-term residence in Romania is generally available after five years of continuous legal stay, provided the applicant demonstrates stable income, accommodation, and integration into Romanian society. This status significantly expands employment mobility and may eventually lead to permanent residence within the European Union framework.

Once permanent residence (long-term residence) in Romania is obtained, a pilot gains a significant advantage in terms of employment mobility within Europe. Romania is a full member of the European Union, and as of 2025 it also participates in the Schengen Area, which allows free movement across most EU countries without internal border controls. Long-term residents in Romania benefit from EU Directive 2003/109/EC, which provides enhanced mobility rights for third-country nationals who have obtained EU long-term residence status. This makes it substantially easier to relocate and obtain employment within other EU member states.

As a result, pilots who obtain Romanian long-term residence may legally pursue employment opportunities with leading European airlines, subject to airline hiring policies and national employment regulations. These include major carriers such as Lufthansa, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air, among many others operating across the European aviation market. Because these airlines operate under the EASA regulatory framework, pilots holding EASA licenses and European residence status are often far more competitive candidates when applying for airline positions within the EU.

Students will receive the following flight crew licenses during this program:

This is an instuctor employment program. To facilitate a healthy relationship between the students and the instructors, pilots (prospective flight instructors) who are enrolled into our Pathway Program are not alllowed to live in the same campus as ab-initio students. Pathway pilots are required to rent their own accommodation and commute to training/work at the academy using own transport, like all the other employees. Therefore, living expenses, including accommodation, are not included in the program cost estimate.

The flight training center is located in Tuzla, Romania, a coastal town on the Black Sea known for its quiet environment and favorable flying conditions. The cost of living in the area is relatively low compared with most European training locations. Students typically rent private accommodation, such as a personal room in a shared house or multi-room apartment, with monthly rental costs generally ranging between $500 and $750 per month, depending on the property and amenities. In addition, international students enrolled in an approved study program are permitted to work part-time for up to 20 hours per week while holding a Romanian student visa, which can help supplement living expenses during the training period.

The Full Program Cost Estimate

The full cost estimate is based on student's compliance with the EASA flight training curriculum, and estimated government fees. The cost of this program is broken down into the following segments: [a] basic cost of EASA ATPL and FI ratings: €42,010.00 EUR; [b] CAA/EASA fees: €3795.00 EUR; [c] government fees (medical, visa): €300.00 EUR; [d] basic and advanced flight instructor internship reservation: $1950.00 USD; [e] administrative, consulting and employment placement assistance fees: $950.00 USD.

Additional Fees

Should a student fail any of the required check-rides, or not adhere to the curriculum set forth by the flight school, he/she will be liable for additional fees resulting from the additional training hours. Such fees will be billed separately and depend on the type of additional training and type of aircraft or FTD.

So, What is Included in the full estimated cost?

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:

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.

Our company 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 >>>

Please note: Aerocadet does not provide flight training sponsorships. Please read the student loan information located via the above link thoroughly before applying for enrollment. 

To enroll into this program, an applicant must have the following documents:

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.

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