How Does the Training Work, and What Are the Costs?

Theoretical Module - 9 Subjects

Officially, the first flight license is called the Private Pilot License for single-engine piston airplanes that land on... land (because yes, some planes can also land on... non-land, like water). And since you can't say that every time you introduce yourself, the shorter version is PPL(A) SEP(land), which stands for "Private Pilot Licence for Single Engine / Piston / Land." Even so, it sounds complicated, so from now on, we'll refer to it as PPL(A) or simply PPL.

For the curious ones, where there's an "A" in parentheses, it could also be an "H" for Helicopter, so now you know what PPL(H) means.

Following this logic, it’s already clear what PPL(A) SEP(sea) could mean. And here’s how aviation isn’t so complicated if you have a little patience.

According to EASA regulations (European Aero Space Agency), theoretical knowledge for PPL must cover the following subjects:

• Aeronautical Legislation

• Human Performance

• Meteorology

• Communications

• Principles of Flight

• Operational Procedures

• Flight Performance and Planning

• Aircraft General Knowledge

• Navigation

Distance learning solutions are already available, so you can start today to go through the above subjects. It’s preferable to study everything in English, take the exams in English, and later practice all communications in English. It’s not mandatory, but it’s much more practical for those moments when you want to hop in your plane and land on a Greek beach two hours later.

Practical Module - At Least 45 Flight Hours

The flight training program starts gradually; the first sessions won’t exceed 30 minutes, but you’ll be in the pilot’s seat from the very first minute.

Just as in driving school, you quickly realize it’s not hard to keep the car on the road. Similarly, it’s not difficult to keep the plane in flight. And if you struggled with parallel parking, you’ll need a bit of practice here too before you can perfectly master takeoffs and, especially, landings. The visual references you learned from your driving instructor apply in principle to flight school as well—only now, it’s about height above the ground or speed relative to... air (what?). Yes, relative to air, because once you start flying, you’ll look at the wind differently. We’ll talk about that at the airfield.

The 45 hours don’t pass quickly, but they’re intense, especially after you begin flying solo. From experience, we can say this doesn’t happen the next day—you’ll need to master those "parallel parkings" (i.e., perfect landings without the instructor’s intervention), which typically happens after about 15 hours of flight with an instructor. Once you overcome the nerves of being alone in the air and the "baptism" that no one will warn you about beforehand, you’re practically a pilot.

Of course, real training starts now. You’ll practice many so-called "special cases" and learn how to handle various unforeseen situations, from an engine failure during flight to low-altitude navigation in reduced visibility, rain, and other conditions your instructor will teach you. It’s their duty to send you to the "skill test" (practical exam) only once they’re confident you can handle any flight-related situation.

So, How Much Does It Cost?

The fun described above costs between 8,000 and 16,000 euros on average. There are also extreme options, as a significant portion of the cost depends on the aircraft you use during school. Continuing the analogy with driving school, you’d probably prefer to learn to drive on a newer Skoda or Golf with a manual transmission to get the hang of it, rather than on a prehistoric Dacia 1300. Similarly, training on a Mercedes AMG doesn’t make sense either—you’d just burn three times more fuel while weaving between cones.

In Romania or nearby, you can find various Aviation Schools, some more suitable than others. If your dream is to become an airline pilot, look for an "integrated school," where you can quickly advance past the basic license (PPL, remember?) and then complete the modules required for commercial aviation (because that’s what the "C" in CPL stands for—Commercial Pilot Licence) or airline transport (ATPL or Airline Transport Pilot Licence).

If your dream is to fly for personal interest, PPL is exactly what you need, and you can do it with us under the following conditions:

• Price (updated for 2025): 11,500 EUR

• Online theoretical module with classroom explanations

• Practical module on new aircraft

• Payment plans available

• Special rental rates for leisure flights

• Bases in Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca

We’re waiting for you to take off!