FAA EASA CPL joint program cockpit training — dual licence pilot students

FAA + EASA Joint CPL Program: Why This Dual Licence Beats a Single Licence

BySuraj Admin

This guide breaks down HAA’s FAA EASA CPL joint program in full. If you’re choosing between a standard FAA-only CPL and a joint FAA+EASA program, the question isn’t really “which is cheaper” — it’s “which license actually gets me hired.” Here’s the honest breakdown.

What the FAA EASA CPL Joint Program Actually Is

Hillsboro Aero Academy (HAA), through its partnership with Austria-based RotorSky, is the only flight school in the US offering both F-1 visa sponsorship and EASA-certified training for both airplane and helicopter students, in one location, under one program.

What’s included:

  1. Full FAA Professional Pilot Program — PPL, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot Certificate, CFI, CFII, and Multi-Engine Instructor Rating
  2. EASA CPL with ATPL credit, EASA Multi-Engine Piston Instrument Rating (MEP IR)
  3. Full credit toward EASA Airline Transport Pilot (ATPL) Theory

Why It Costs More — and What You’re Actually Paying For

Based on HAA’s 2027 published rates, here’s the full cost breakdown for the joint program:

Airplane Program (FAA + EASA):

  • Flight Training (FAA + EASA): $102,754
  • EASA Program Fee: €10,500
  • Miscellaneous (visa, medical, governmental fees): $8,220 + €7,086
  • Grand Total (estimate): $119,489

Helicopter Program (FAA + EASA):

  • Flight Training (FAA + EASA): $96,450
  • EASA Program Fee: €9,850
  • Miscellaneous (visa, medical, governmental fees): $4,330 + €3,245
  • Grand Total (estimate): $115,245

Figures from HAA’s official 2027 rate sheets. Rates are subject to change — for the latest confirmed pricing, contact SAC or check directly with HAA

The Real Reason This Matters: What Happens Without It

This is the part most comparisons skip. An FAA-only license is not automatically valid for commercial flying in Europe:

  • Since 2022, pilots residing in an EASA member state must hold an EASA license to fly — even on US-registered (N-reg) aircraft
  • Converting an FAA license to EASA after the fact typically requires passing all 14 EASA ATPL theory exams, an EASA medical, and a skills test — commonly a year or more of additional work
  • A temporary validation route (TIP-L) exists, but it’s capped at private-pilot privileges only, expires after 5 years, and cannot be used for paid commercial flying

In other words: an FAA-only pilot who later wants a European airline job is doing the EASA program anyway — just later, slower, and separately. The joint program front-loads that work while you’re already in training, instead of bolting it on afterward at a higher real cost in time and money.

Why This Is a Job-Search Advantage, Not Just a Credential

  1. You qualify for both US and EU hiring pools from day one — most FAA-only graduates can only apply to US/FAA-aligned carriers until they separately convert.
  2. EASA’s Frozen ATPL pathway lets you apply for First/Second Officer roles at just 200 hours — far earlier than typical FAA-only progression, since the FAA has no equivalent frozen ATPL concept.
  3. Recruiters read dual certification as reduced onboarding cost — an airline hiring a dual-rated pilot doesn’t need to sponsor or wait on a later conversion.
  4. It signals seriousness — completing the harder, more expensive path during training is a legitimate differentiator against otherwise-similar CPL candidates.
FAA EASA CPL ground school classroom, international students in joint program training

Who Should Consider This Program

This program fits students who:

  • Want to keep both US and European airline employers genuinely open as career options.
  • Can commit to a longer, more intensive program (18–21+ months, per HAA’s published estimates).
  • Have the financial capacity for the added EASA component on top of standard FAA training costs.

It’s a deliberate investment in optionality — not the right fit if your career goal is narrowly US-based from the start.

Explore the Programs

Verify This Yourself

Questions About Whether This Fits Your Goals?

Every student’s career plans, timeline, and budget are different. Talk to a counsellor — we’ll walk through whether the dual-licence path is the right call for you, honestly, before you commit.

Have a question about this topic?

Our team at Sudisha Aviation Consultant is here to help. Reach out via our student enquiry form and we will respond promptly.

Contact SAC

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