US Flight Training Group Hillsboro Aero Academy Targets European Aspiring Pilots with November 2026 Milan Recruitment Event

Italy – US-based flight training organisation Hillsboro Aero Academy (HAA) has announced an in-person professional pilot training information seminar in Milan, Italy, targeting aspiring pilots interested in completing their flight training in the United States. The event forms part of the academy's international student recruitment activities, introducing prospective European students to its FAA and EASA training pathways and US student visa options.

• The seminar will take place on Sunday, November 22, 2026, at 14:00 CET at the NH Milano Congress Centre in Assago, Milan. Ashley Souza, Senior Airplane Admissions Representative and Talent Acquisition Manager at Hillsboro Aero Academy, will host the session.
• Attendees will receive information on HAA's professional pilot training programs, including its dual FAA/EASA training pathway, F-1 and M-1 student visa options, admission requirements and the process of pursuing professional pilot qualifications in the United States.
• Hillsboro Aero Academy's F-1 visa pathway allows eligible international graduates to apply for post-training practical training and employment authorisation, potentially enabling them to gain further flight experience as flight instructors. The M-1 pathway provides an alternative for students seeking vocational flight training without the same post-training employment opportunities.
• The academy is also listed as an exhibitor at Pilot Careers Live Milan on November 21, 2026, at the same venue, providing an additional opportunity to engage with prospective students ahead of its dedicated November 22 seminar.
• AFM previously reported that Hillsboro Aero Academy and Aviation Connect held a pilot recruitment seminar in Bangkok in August 2026, with Ashley Souza among the academy's representatives. The event presented FAA and joint FAA/EASA training pathways to prospective international students.
• Hillsboro Aero Academy delivers fixed-wing training at its Hillsboro and Redmond campuses in Oregon. Its published airplane fleet includes 43 Cessna 152s, 26 Cessna 172s and nine Piper Seminoles, supporting single-engine and multi-engine training.

About Hillsboro Aero Academy
Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Hillsboro, Oregon, Hillsboro Aero Academy is an FAA Part 141 flight training organisation providing professional airplane and helicopter pilot training across three Oregon locations. In August 2026, the academy reported operating 102 training aircraft, comprising 81 fixed-wing aircraft and 21 helicopters, and averaging approximately 85,000 flight hours annually. The academy has trained students from more than 75 countries and offers joint FAA/EASA pilot training pathways.

Source: Ashley Souza, Hillsboro Aero Academy