How to Become a Professional Pilot (EASA)

If your goal is to fly professionally — from scenic flights to airline cockpits — your training follows a clear EASA pathway. In this guide, we’ll break down the typical steps from your first licence (PPL) to a Frozen ATPL, plus the additional courses you’ll need to apply to airlines. We’ll also explain modular vs integrated ATPL training and how students can cut costs without sacrificing quality.

Step 1: PPL (Private Pilot Licence) — minimum 45 flight hours

Your journey usually starts with the PPL, which requires a minimum of 45 hours of flight training. With a PPL you can fly privately (non-commercial), meaning you can fly with friends or solo — but you can’t get paid for flying.

Step 2: Night Rating — around 5 flight hours

After the PPL, many pilots add the Night Rating (typically about 5 hours). This allows you to fly at night and builds confidence with procedures, navigation, and airport operations in lower visibility.

Step 3: ATPL Theory (start in parallel)

While you build experience after the PPL, you should begin your ATPL theory. This is the theoretical foundation required for airline pilots and is a major milestone on the professional path.

Step 4: Instrument Rating (IR)

The Instrument Rating teaches you to fly in cloud and poor weather using instruments and IFR procedures. To start IR, you typically need:

• at least 50 hours of solo cross-country flying, and

• completed ATPL theory.

The IR course usually includes around 50 hours of dual flight time with an IR instructor.

Step 5: CPL (Commercial Pilot Licence)

After IR, you continue to the CPL.

To start CPL training you typically need:

• 150 hours total time, and

• 100 hours PIC (Pilot in Command).

CPL training is usually 15 hours, and 5 hours must be completed on a “complex” aircraft (variable pitch propeller + retractable landing gear).

What is a “Frozen ATPL”?

Once you complete CPL + IR + ATPL theory, you hold what pilots commonly call a Frozen ATPL. This means you have the commercial licence and ratings needed to work professionally, while you continue building experience toward a full ATPL.

With a Frozen ATPL, pilots often start with commercial jobs on smaller aircraft, depending on the operator and local opportunities — for example scenic flights, towing, and similar entry-level flying.

Want to Fly for an Airline? You’ll Need a Few More Courses

If your goal is an airline job (multi-crew, larger aircraft), you’ll typically add:

• MEP (Multi-Engine Piston) class rating — around 6 flight hours

• MEP/IR — around 5 flight hours

• MCC (Multi-Crew Cooperation)

• UPRT (Upset Prevention and Recovery Training)

After these, you’re generally ready to start applying for airline positions (requirements vary by airline).

Summary: The Professional Pilot Path

• PPL theory + PPL practical (min 45h)

• Night Rating (~5h)

• ATPL theory

• Time building: 50h solo cross-country

• Instrument Rating (IR) (~50h dual)

• Time building toward 150h total + 100h PIC

• CPL (15h incl. complex aircraft)

• MEP + MEP/IR

• MCC

• UPRT

Modular vs Integrated ATPL: Which One Should You Choose?

There are two common ways to complete professional pilot training:

Integrated ATPL

A full-time, structured program where you complete everything in one package. It’s best for students who want a fixed schedule and a single training provider.

Modular Training

You complete licences and ratings step-by-step, often choosing different schools for different phases. This offers more flexibility and can reduce total cost.

In many cases, the price difference can be significant (exact totals depend on school, aircraft, location, and exam fees):

• Integrated programs can be around €120,000

• Modular training can sometimes be completed closer to €60,000

If you want maximum structure and don’t want to plan each step, integrated may suit you. If you want flexibility and cost control, modular is usually the better option.

How to Cut Costs (Without Cutting Quality)

1) Save the most during time building

One of the biggest expenses is hour building (often around 100 hours combined to meet IR/CPL prerequisites). In integrated programs, the hourly cost can be much higher because you’re paying the school’s aircraft, structure, and sometimes instructor time.

With modular training, you can choose where to build hours and sometimes rent aircraft at much lower rates — which can save tens of thousands of euros across the full journey. For example, in many integrated programs, hour building can cost something like €300/hour. With modular, you can sometimes find aircraft for as low as €80/hour for solo flying — and you can fly where you want, plan real trips, and gain experience naturally.

That difference can mean saving €22,000 (or more) just on hour building alone.

2) Use time building to gain real experience

Hour building doesn’t have to be repetitive local flying. It can be some of the best experience you’ll get: cross-country planning, flying with your friends, visiting new airports, meeting other pilots, and improving decision-making. You can even share the cost of your flight with other people by posting your flights on flight-sharing platforms like Panoramic Flights Croatia and save even more money!

3) Combine training smartly

In some cases, you can reduce costs by planning your CPL “complex aircraft” hours efficiently — for example, aligning them with multi-engine training where possible (depending on aircraft availability and school policies). This way you can avoid paying extra for the MEP course.

Need Help Planning the Cheapest Route to the Airlines?

Here at Flight School Croatia, we can help you choose the smartest modular structure and avoid unnecessary expenses while keeping training quality high. Contact us and we’ll point you in the right direction.

Contact us!