Easa PPL in The U.S
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 4
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From: Copenhagen, Denmark
Easa PPL in The U.S
Hi guys,
I am a European national who recently decided to start my aviation career. I wish to pursue this, starting with committing to a PPL. I am very interested in doing an Easa PPL but in the United States. Understandably, very few schools in The U.S. offer this certificate, particularly as a standalone modular course. Most Schools offer a fully integrated professional Easa program exclusively without a modular way.
I am on the hunt for all the information I can obtain about flight schools in the U.S that are sevis approved, can offer me an M-1 visa, while simultaneously offering Easa PPL.
For now I have found:
Fly EFT - European Flight Training
Florida Flyers (of which I have heard bad things)
Thanks a lot for reading!
I am a European national who recently decided to start my aviation career. I wish to pursue this, starting with committing to a PPL. I am very interested in doing an Easa PPL but in the United States. Understandably, very few schools in The U.S. offer this certificate, particularly as a standalone modular course. Most Schools offer a fully integrated professional Easa program exclusively without a modular way.
I am on the hunt for all the information I can obtain about flight schools in the U.S that are sevis approved, can offer me an M-1 visa, while simultaneously offering Easa PPL.
For now I have found:
Fly EFT - European Flight Training
Florida Flyers (of which I have heard bad things)
Thanks a lot for reading!
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Copenhagen, Denmark
Well, although I would like to fly commercially in the U.S., the odds of me getting a green card are quite slim. It is, therefore, quite likely that getting the Easa first is just the easiest, shortest, and cheapest option rather than having to convert.
This is what I have been told countless times. But my thought is that I would like to experience what it's like to fly in the U.S. and while I'm doing my PPL gain enough experience to be better positioned to make a solid decision on where I want to continue. However, what are your thoughts?
Thanks
This is what I have been told countless times. But my thought is that I would like to experience what it's like to fly in the U.S. and while I'm doing my PPL gain enough experience to be better positioned to make a solid decision on where I want to continue. However, what are your thoughts?
Thanks
Joined: Dec 2005
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 4,973
Likes: 326
From: Hong Kong
There are two reasons to want a PPL:
1. You just want to be a private pilot, in which case EASA is the most appropriate for you.
2. You want to be a commercial pilot and you need a PPL to start the modular process, in which case ANY ICAO PPL is acceptable. In that case they're is nothing to convert because you'll never use it, and they'll give you a PPL when you do your CPL course.
Training in the US is a great idea but choose wisely. Get an FAA private with an instrument rating and 50 hours IPC IFR. Your EASA IR conversion will be training to proficiency and a regular CPL course.
1. You just want to be a private pilot, in which case EASA is the most appropriate for you.
2. You want to be a commercial pilot and you need a PPL to start the modular process, in which case ANY ICAO PPL is acceptable. In that case they're is nothing to convert because you'll never use it, and they'll give you a PPL when you do your CPL course.
Training in the US is a great idea but choose wisely. Get an FAA private with an instrument rating and 50 hours IPC IFR. Your EASA IR conversion will be training to proficiency and a regular CPL course.
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 252
Likes: 15
From: Augusta, Georgia, USA (back from Germany again)
I'm a big fan of "train where you will fly." Do PPL wherever you live, work, want to make connections, and want to fly. Then use FAR 61.75 to get an FAA Private Pilot Certificate piggybacked on your EASA license and go do 50 hours of fun time building.
You can do this on a tourist visa since it's not flight training. No TSA fingerprinting.
If you think you'd like to use the EASA-FAA Bilateral Agreement to get a real FAA Certificate, you can pursue this while you are doing the time building.
I can't offer help w/ specific schools to do what you've asked, but I've shared my thoughts on your idea. In my approach you could easily fly 3-5 hours a day because you're trained. Fewer days. Lower travel costs. Less bureaucracy.
Find an airplane you can rent for a dry rate. Go high. Go slow. Go far. Can burn little fuel. Read about "Carson Speed" and how to implement this.
You can do this on a tourist visa since it's not flight training. No TSA fingerprinting.
If you think you'd like to use the EASA-FAA Bilateral Agreement to get a real FAA Certificate, you can pursue this while you are doing the time building.
I can't offer help w/ specific schools to do what you've asked, but I've shared my thoughts on your idea. In my approach you could easily fly 3-5 hours a day because you're trained. Fewer days. Lower travel costs. Less bureaucracy.
Find an airplane you can rent for a dry rate. Go high. Go slow. Go far. Can burn little fuel. Read about "Carson Speed" and how to implement this.
Joined: Dec 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 424
From: GA, USA
The way I still recommend is to do 0-CPL in the US under FAA regulations then back to Europe for conversion training.
Cheaper that way.
Find a US state that is somewhat more seasonal then just rainy season and fire season.
Do not go to an “EASA” school in the US.
You’ll fly on N-registered airplanes in US airspace with US trained instructors that have the bare minimum of EASA syllabus familiarity.
Its a farce.
Also if you don’t like the school upon arrival you have very little options in getting your visa transferred as these ‘EASA’ schools tend to be mortal enemies.
Cheaper that way.
Find a US state that is somewhat more seasonal then just rainy season and fire season.
Do not go to an “EASA” school in the US.
You’ll fly on N-registered airplanes in US airspace with US trained instructors that have the bare minimum of EASA syllabus familiarity.
Its a farce.
Also if you don’t like the school upon arrival you have very little options in getting your visa transferred as these ‘EASA’ schools tend to be mortal enemies.
Joined: Dec 2005
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 4,973
Likes: 326
From: Hong Kong
The FAA require 250 hours for a CPL, EASA only require 200 hours. So it's really not as cost effective to convert beyond PPL/IR unless you plan to stay for a year and instruct. In that case go for it - and do your CPL from the right seat.
Joined: Jan 2005
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 303
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From: NA
Unless you have another legal reason to be in the US, Part 61 (cheaper, unstructured) training may not be an option.
Good luck.
Joined: Dec 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 424
From: GA, USA
- Cost per flight hour
- Cost of conversion
- Value added of being able to do time building on an IFR flightplan etc etc
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 734
Likes: 10
From: London, GB
"The FAA require 250 hours for a CPL, EASA only require 200 hours. So it's really not as cost effective"
As awair notes, foreign nationals would be enrolled on a Part 141 course which has reduced requirements. Also, some Part 141 flight schools are approved for the commercial in fewer than 190 hours. I think 160 hours is the lowest I've seen.
Even for those foreign nationals who enrol on a Part 141 then do the testing on the basis of meeting the Part 61 requirements, a situation that is more common for pilots who have already done some training elsewhere, the 250 hours can be partly made up by shared hour building, ie safety pilot time.
cantwaittostartflyin I also think it's nuts to go to the US for an EASA PPL course. Better to do an FAA one. There are hundreds of SEVP-certified Part 141-approved FAA flight schools that can offer you a well-polished FAA private pilot certificate. If you have a falling out with the training school or fancy a change of location, you can quite easily find another training provider. On returning to Europe, you'll be able to use the US–EU bilateral agreement to convert the FAA pilot certificate to an EASA (EU or Swiss only) PPL by passing an EASA PPL skill test as well as obtaining an EASA Class 2 medical certificate. There's no geographical limitation on where that skill test occurs, so you could return to the US and do it in the same training area with an EASA flight examiner, once the US pilot certificate has been issued and verified by the intended EASA state of licence issue.
As a temporary alternative, you might be able to obtain a 28-day foreign licence validation from Trafikstyrelsen for use on aeroplanes registered in Denmark. It doesn't require an EASA medical or any tests or exams, but it does require one or more acclimatisation flights with an instructor. It's normally valid on any of 28 days in the calendar year.
Alternatively, you might consider doing a Canadian PPL whose training syllabus is much more closely aligned with the European one. If you're an EEA national, you can enter Canada as a visitor without a visa for up to six months and you may pursue a PPL in that time. There's no equivalent to the TSA security threat assessment and examiner fees are lower. You'd avoid about 1 000 USD in fees with this route. A Canadian PPL can be converted to an EASA PPL once you have 100 hours of total experience, as well as passing two EASA PPL exams, an EASA PPL skill test, and having a valid EASA Class 2 medical. The abovementioned foreign licence validation, if Denmark offers one, could be used for a year or two to build up flight time, depending on what you intend to do with the licence.
As awair notes, foreign nationals would be enrolled on a Part 141 course which has reduced requirements. Also, some Part 141 flight schools are approved for the commercial in fewer than 190 hours. I think 160 hours is the lowest I've seen.
Even for those foreign nationals who enrol on a Part 141 then do the testing on the basis of meeting the Part 61 requirements, a situation that is more common for pilots who have already done some training elsewhere, the 250 hours can be partly made up by shared hour building, ie safety pilot time.
cantwaittostartflyin I also think it's nuts to go to the US for an EASA PPL course. Better to do an FAA one. There are hundreds of SEVP-certified Part 141-approved FAA flight schools that can offer you a well-polished FAA private pilot certificate. If you have a falling out with the training school or fancy a change of location, you can quite easily find another training provider. On returning to Europe, you'll be able to use the US–EU bilateral agreement to convert the FAA pilot certificate to an EASA (EU or Swiss only) PPL by passing an EASA PPL skill test as well as obtaining an EASA Class 2 medical certificate. There's no geographical limitation on where that skill test occurs, so you could return to the US and do it in the same training area with an EASA flight examiner, once the US pilot certificate has been issued and verified by the intended EASA state of licence issue.
As a temporary alternative, you might be able to obtain a 28-day foreign licence validation from Trafikstyrelsen for use on aeroplanes registered in Denmark. It doesn't require an EASA medical or any tests or exams, but it does require one or more acclimatisation flights with an instructor. It's normally valid on any of 28 days in the calendar year.
Alternatively, you might consider doing a Canadian PPL whose training syllabus is much more closely aligned with the European one. If you're an EEA national, you can enter Canada as a visitor without a visa for up to six months and you may pursue a PPL in that time. There's no equivalent to the TSA security threat assessment and examiner fees are lower. You'd avoid about 1 000 USD in fees with this route. A Canadian PPL can be converted to an EASA PPL once you have 100 hours of total experience, as well as passing two EASA PPL exams, an EASA PPL skill test, and having a valid EASA Class 2 medical. The abovementioned foreign licence validation, if Denmark offers one, could be used for a year or two to build up flight time, depending on what you intend to do with the licence.
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Los Angeles
