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Take-Off #8 – One school, two licenses – our combined FAA/EASA program

Take-off is Our New Newsletter for Aspiring Pilots

If you’re wondering which flight license is right for you—FAA or EASA—let us explain why the combined training at Hillsboro Aero Academy is your best choice. While EASA training in Europe is often significantly more expensive and time-consuming, our combined program offers you the best of both worlds.

Why Choose Combined Training?

Completing just the FAA training as a foreign student in the USA, even with an F1 visa, does not qualify you to fly in Europe. If you only pursue the FAA track, you’ll face a long and costly license conversion process once you return to Europe. This is where the combined training program at Hillsboro Aero Academy becomes a clear advantage.

The FAA training in the USA is known for its efficiency and quick access to flight hours. In just a few months, you can earn your Private Pilot License (PPL) and start gaining flight experience right away. At Hillsboro Aero Academy, you get an additional advantage: the opportunity to pursue EASA training alongside your FAA program. This means that while completing your FAA Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot License (CPL), you simultaneously start your EASA theory and eventually work towards your EASA CPL parallel to the FAA Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI) phase. This integration saves significant time—something rarely achievable in a purely European program.

The Advantage: More Flight Hours and Faster Progress

With the FAA license, you can start logging flight hours early in your training, taking advantage of the ideal year-round weather in the Pacific Northwest. Unlike Europe, where weather conditions might delay training, here you benefit from faster progress and the opportunity to log far more flight hours than you would in a purely European program.

EASA License: Global Career Opportunities

By obtaining both FAA and EASA licenses, you’ll be qualified to work in the USA and Europe. This dual-approach opens doors to global career opportunities, and with the F1 visa, you can work in the USA for up to 23.5 months after completing your training, gaining invaluable flight hours. This option is exclusive to combined FAA and EASA training in the USA. Additionally, if you want to explore flying opportunities in Canada, Africa, or Asia, converting your licenses is often straightforward, as many regulatory bodies recognize FAA or EASA standards—and you’ll have both.

Time Investment for EASA Theory

The EASA theory constitutes a significant part of the training and is more intensive than its FAA counterpart. Over 9-12 months, you’ll complete 13 written exams, gaining comprehensive knowledge required for the European market. The best part? This theory is covered in parallel with your FAA training, so you don’t lose time or momentum. In Europe, you might spend 6-12 months solely in classrooms or on computers without flying.

Conclusion: One Program, Two Licenses—Maximum Advantage

The combined FAA and EASA training at Hillsboro Aero Academy offers not only a comprehensive and efficient training pathway but also the flexibility to work on both continents. By integrating both systems, you save time, money, and gain international opportunities—a clear advantage over purely EASA training in Europe.

FAQs

We’ve created an extensive list of frequently asked questions about pilot training on our website. Make sure to check it out! https://en.flyhaa.de/faq

Webinars And Events

We regularly hold webinars and live events all over Europe, where we inform about our school and the training we offer. You can sign up here for our next events: https://en.flyhaa.de/webinar/