The 1970’s were considered by many to be the glory days of aviation, airline pilot training in the UK and Europe was very expensive as a result of the high demand for pilots and a limited supply of Flight Training Organisations. Indeed, training options for prospective airline pilots were limited to just a few schools in the UK where you were a Cadet with your training costs paid for (sponsored) by a national airline or you had to be quite wealthy and “connected”.

In the USA by contrast, although demand for pilots was still high, supply was plentiful. By the early 1980s the cost difference between Europe and the USA to train as a pilot was huge - the problem was however, there was little or no opportunity to convert from an FAA, (American), to a license accepted in Europe as the politician's refused to accept reciprocity. 

In the mid 1980, the UK introduced Modular Training options for airline pilots and the so called "Ab-initio Self Improver Route" was born. This allowed training to be completed in stages, starting with the Private Pilots License (PPL) working all the way to a Frozen Airline Transport Pilots Licence, (FATPL) after 700 hours of flight experience. 

In 1991, Captain Adrian Thompson, an experienced British Airline Training Captain and the founder of Ormond Beach Aviation, (OBA), now the Euro American School of Aviation, (EASA), saw the opportunity to offer UK CAA PPL training in the USA at a fraction of the price it was available for in the UK and Europe. 

OBA began with two C150’s and a Piper Seminole and operated from a small Office and Hangar purchased at the Ormond Beach Municipal Airport. Thompson’s initiative to training pilots in the USA to meet European licensing regulation and requirements proved very successful and training operations expanded rapidly over the next 10 years because of gaining a reputation of delivering very affordable and high quality PPL training in a timeframe impossible to achieve in Europe due to weather and the limited supply of aircraft.

Many students came from UK and Europe to train for recreational PPL purposes as well as “Self Improvers” who initially obtained their PPL at OBA returning to add additional ratings and build flying hours towards their dream of becoming an Airline Pilot. 

By the mid 1990, it was clear that modular training was gaining momentum because it gave the most flexibility and affordability. After the EU JAA harmonization regulations in 1999 only 200 hours was now required for a FATPL. The Modular Training route literally “took off” and today remains the only sensible option for self funded FATPL candidates. 

EASA operates a fleet of thirty-two Cessna and Piper aircraft, all wholly owned by the company, not borrowed or leased from third parties.  This gives us total control and flexibility over our aircraft fleet. 

EASA wholly owns its Florida facilities. These include Flight Training accommodation totaling 8,500 sq. ft. and 12,500 sq. ft. of aircraft maintenance, repair and parts facilities and a Self-Service Fuel Farm providing 24,000 gallons of storage for aviation fuel.

EASA continues the inherent sound business philosophy that has secured our continuity and success -

As EASA has trained over 10,000 pilots in the nineteen years up to 2009, it seems that our philosophy works and we will continue to lead the way with the “Next Generation in Flight Training”.

The addition of the new EASA EU training facility at Leeds Bradford International Airport, UK, which will provide JAA ground school for the JAA PPL through to the JAA ATPL and flying training for JAA PPL, JAA CPL and JAA Instrument Rating completes the EU – USA connection allowing seamless pilot training and qualification from inception to completion. 

On behalf of EASA and its team of dedicated staff, I look forward to welcoming you.

Captain Adrian Thompson
President & CEO