If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a commercial pilot, OSM Aviation Academy offers one of the most direct and reputable pathways to turn that dream into reality. With a long history of excellence and a proven training model, OSM guides students from zero experience to fully qualified commercial pilots through our Airline Ready® program, which takes approximately 20 to 24 months to complete.
OSM Aviation Academy has been training pilots since 1963 and now operates in Norway and the United States. Our academy stands out thanks to its strong, active connections with the airline industry. OSM has official partnerships with Norwegian Air Shuttle, Widerøe, and Norse Atlantic Airways, giving students a clear, realistic pathway into the cockpit. The results speak for themselves: an impressive 92% of graduates are employed within a year. Many students also go on to fly for other major airlines such as SAS, Wizz Air, BRA, KLM, Transavia, Emirates, Ryanair, TUI, Brussel Airlines, Eurowings, British Airways and several others across Europe.
The Airline Ready® program is an integrated training pathway designed to provide everything needed to obtain a EASA and FAA Commercial Pilot License, with Multi-Engine and Instrument Rating, as well as a frozen Airline Transport Pilot License. A key advantage of this program is the structured two-year journey split between the United States and Norway, and therefore you gain both licences.
During Year 1, students train in the USA, where the focus is entirely on developing their flying skills. This includes both basic flying and more advanced flying.
In Year 2, students return to Norway to complete the theoretical and advanced operational components of their training. This includes ATPL theory, a refresher course, A-UPRT (Advanced Upset Prevention and Recovery Training), the skill test, and the APS/MCC course, which is conducted using a Boeing 737NG simulator. By completing the practical flying first and then transitioning into theory and airline-style operations, students graduate with a well-rounded set of skills tailored to modern airline requirements.
To begin training, applicants must have completed high school or an equivalent apprenticeship program, or be at least 23 years old. The admission process includes an online assessment consisting of an English test, a personality test, and a series of abilities evaluations such as logical reasoning, multitasking, and spatial awareness.
Candidates must also hold both a FAA medical certificate and a Swedish Class 1 EASA medical certificate before the first day of school. These are required due to the structure of the program, which spans both the USA and Norway.
Your training journey will combine ground school, flight training, simulator sessions, crew resource management, multi-engine flying, instrument flying, and the APS/MCC course. By moving from flying in the USA to advanced theoretical and airline-focused training in Norway, you build both hands-on practical confidence and the technical knowledge needed for professional operations.
Graduates leave OSM with a frozen ATPL and are immediately ready to apply for airline positions. The academy supports students by offering interview preparation, and those who have secured an airline assessment may borrow the academy’s simulator when available. With a 92% job-placement rate within one year, OSM Aviation Academy continues to be one of the most successful pilot training pathways in Europe.
Life at OSM Aviation Academy is intense, structured, and deeply rewarding. Students train under experienced instructors in a supportive environment, surrounded by a motivated peer group. The Arendal campus in Norway regularly hosts open days where future students can explore the facilities, meet the team, and get a feel for what the program is like.
OSM Aviation Academy offers one of Norway’s most efficient, internationally structured, and industry connected routes into professional aviation. If you are passionate about flying, meet the entry requirements, and are prepared to commit to full-time training, the Airline Ready® program can guide you from beginner to commercial pilot in two years, starting with hands-on flying in the USA and finishing with airline focused training in Norway.
