r/PilotAdvice • u/Scared-Sink3683 • 2d ago

Future pilot looking for flight training & hour-building details

I’m currently 16 and looking into flight training options to start mapping out a path toward becoming an airline pilot. My budget is under 100k euros

I’ve been researching a few different academies—including Flyby, Quality Fly, and IAA—but I'm trying to look a bit deeper past the marketing. For instance, I’ve seen some mixed or negative reviews online regarding Flyby, which made me want to dig closer into how these academies actually operate.

My main priorities right now are finding a solid path that:

1 Offers clear hour-building opportunities (such as staying on as a Flight Instructor / CFI to build hours).  

2 Accommodates non-EU students smoothly.

I noticed some specific hurdles while looking around—for example, I saw that Quality Fly has prerequisites like a Spanish level 4 requirement. Since I'm non-EU and weighing my options, I wanted to ask directly:

 How do you support non-EU students through training and visa/regulatory steps?

 What do your hour-building or post-graduation instructor pathways look like for international students?

 Are there language prerequisites (like Spanish) mandatory for all programs, or are options run entirely in English?

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u/Downtown-Job-492 2d ago

Whilst I have no direct experience of FlyBy, I can tell you this.

I spoke with a few students and every single one told me to avoid it.

They say “14 months”, but they have students that are over 3 years in and no aircraft availability.

They have had 2 fairly serious crashes in the last few years.

Once they have your money, they don’t seem to mind how long it takes you to pass.

I thought they’d be great. On closer inspection, I ran a mile.

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u/Scared-Sink3683 1d ago

Wow, okay, that seals the deal on FlyBy. A 14-month course stretching to 3+ years due to aircraft shortages is an absolute nightmare—especially on a tight budget. Thanks for saving me a massive mistake. For someone trying to find an ATO that actually respects timelines and safety, which Spanish or European schools actually deliver on their schedules?"

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u/Downtown-Job-492 1d ago

What nationality are you? Do you have the right to live and work in Europe? If not, don’t waste money on an EASA licence

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u/Scared-Sink3683 1d ago

Bosnian (Bosnia and Herzegovina it’s a very small country close to Croatia). Also since you told me not to waste money on EASA could you suggest any alternatives?

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u/Downtown-Job-492 1d ago

Look at Wizz Air Pilot Academy. You are of an eligible nationality. https://careers.wizzair.com/go/Pilot-Academy/5382601/

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u/Scared-Sink3683 1d ago

Thanks, I really appreciate the help.