Category: News

Last Friday, we organised a New Year’s reception for all our training instructors, a great opportunity to open the year festively. During this pleasant gathering we wanted to express our pride in our fantastic team of instructors, now led by John van Limburg Stirum for the second year. A long track record We are particularly proud of the instructors who have been committed to training our pilots for years. During the reception we awarded special Wings to the instructors who have been associated with EPST for 5 years: Andreas Lelempsis, Ronald Beukema, Tim van Ham, Jo Schoenmaker and Henk Jan […]

Start your career with EPST the European flight academy Have you ever dreamed of soaring through the skies and exploring the world as a pilot? At the European Pilot Selection & Training (EPST), we offer a comprehensive commercial pilot training programme that prepares you for a successful career with international airlines. Our courses are accredited by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and lead to the highly regarded European EASA ATPL(A) – INTEGRATED licence. Why should you choose for a European flight academy? EPST is renowned for its rigorous selection process, ensuring that only the most suitable candidates are […]

Completing your ATPL license and finishing your MCC/APS course at EPST in Utrecht are monumental achievements. But these milestones are just the beginning. As you step into the professional world and start applying for jobs, your next big challenge will be obtaining a type rating. In this blog, we will discuss what a type rating is, how many you can have, and offer tips on how to prepare effectively. What exactly is a type rating? A type rating is a certification on your pilot’s license that allows you to fly a specific type of aircraft. Each aircraft requires its own […]

The first solo flight is a moment that you will never forget as a pilot, it is an adventure in itself. That is why we always enjoy hearing stories about the first important milestone that our students experience in the plane. Recently, it happened for Yorick Huiskes and Justin Hammami: they were allowed to fly alone for the first time. How did they experience their adventure? Yorick Huiskes: “Throttle on full power: the adrenaline is rushing through your body!” For Yorick, this day could have arrived soon enough: “You have been working towards this moment for a while and of […]

Last week, the Portuguese coastal town of Cascais hosted the European Aviation Training Symposium – EATS for short. Director Eric Duijkers attended the event on behalf of EPST, together with Jack Damen from our partner Compass. In the Estoril Congress Centre, a stone’s throw away from Lisbon, guests from over 50 countries visited the symposium from 5 to 7 November. With more than 1000 guests, EATS is the largest event focusing on the training aspect in aviation. The symposium is intended as a platform to continuously improve the quality of training methods and facilities in aviation. EPST shares this goal, […]

September and October are busy months at EPST: traditionally, many students start their flight training abroad during this period. Curious about how the run-up to this exciting time is experienced through the eyes of a former student? Then listen to the this episode of the podcast ‘Pilotenpraat’, recorded at EPST (available in Dutch only). In recent weeks, we have said goodbye to various groups as they left for Switzerland and Norway. Three students make the journey up north In September, Doede, Tjebbe and Roy made the journey to the picturesque village of Arendal, on the Norwegian coastline. They have now […]

John van Limburg Stirum, our Head of Training, flew his very last scheduled flight for Transavia in August. He will now enjoy his retirement, as of September. It may have been a flight like any other, but from a decorated cockpit John admitted that he had experienced a day with turbulence – in an emotional sense, this time. Once John had put the plane on the ground for the last time, a festive afternoon awaited him. How does John look back on this day? ‘It was a day with a laugh and a tear’, says John. ‘My social media was […]

Last month, we saw another group aspiring pilots embark on the journey of a lifetime. The destination? Aero Locarno! Lourens, Mark, Nausika, Casper, Nander, and Joost have arrived in Switzerland and started their programme. Locarno has a lot in store for them: living in a beautiful area in Switzerland, Italy almost literally around the corner and a full immersion in a new culture, and in Lake Maggiore. But above all: an incredible amount of flying hours, against a backdrop of snow-capped Alpine peaks. We wish these six great students all the best, and a great time! In September, a large […]

What is it like to learn to fly in Greece? Global Aviation in Megara, Greece, is one of our three training locations. EPST graduate Okke Sloots took his first steps as a pilot here, and followed the entire program. He reflects on his time on the Greek coast with great pleasure. Curious about his story? Then read further! Okke’s experience in one word? “Fantastic!” He enthusiastically tells that he undoubtedly had the time of his life in Greece. Besides the fact that there was a lot of studying to be done, there was also plenty of time for relaxation and […]

Pilots have a great responsibility to monitor the safety of their aircraft, their passengers and their own. EPST believes it is vital for pilots to have the right tools for recognizing threats and to adequately respond to them. That is why our pilots recently followed Dyami’s Risk Management, Security and Resilience training. Today’s risks Society is constantly changing and this means that threats in aviation are constantly evolving. The Dyami team incorporates experts with the latest insights, which makes this training incredibly valuable. What are the current threats and what is going on in the world now? These are important […]