Degree and licence
Pilotaj is a full-time bachelor's program at Özyeğin University's Faculty of Aviation and Aeronautical Sciences (Havacılık ve Uzay Bilimleri Fakültesi) in Istanbul. Students who complete it receive a bachelor's degree in Pilotaj (Bachelor of Professional Flight Program) and are entitled to an ATP(A) frozen licence from SHGM, Türkiye's Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Training follows ICAO rules and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency's (EASA) modular ATP standards. Alongside flight training, students take an academic program covering airline and corporate aviation.
What is a "frozen" ATPL? You hold a commercial pilot licence with instrument and multi-engine privileges and have passed the ATPL theory. The licence "unfreezes" into a full ATPL once you gain the airline experience the rules require.
Flight training with AYJET
Theory is taught by the university's Pilotaj department. Flight training is delivered by AYJET Anadolu Yıldızları Uçuş Okulu under a training cooperation protocol. AYJET's primary base is Hezarfen Airport in Istanbul; it also trains at Balıkesir, Dalaman, Bursa Yenişehir and Tekirdağ Çorlu airports.
| Single-engine trainers | 26 Diamond DA20 Eclipse, 11 Sonaca S201 |
|---|---|
| Multi-engine | 6 Diamond DA42 TDI/NG |
| Aerobatic | 2 Zlin Z242L |
| Simulators | Diamond DA40/DA42 convertible simulator, Alsim AL200, Elite devices, Boeing 737NG |
Fleet as reported by AYJET in August 2026; the school updates it regularly.
Graduation requirements
- At least 240 ECTS credits, with a minimum DD/S grade in every course
- 213:00 hours of flight time
- A cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 out of 4.00
- The mandatory internships, completed on time
Airline pathway: the Pegasus protocol
Özyeğin University and Pegasus Airlines signed a cooperation protocol for Pilotaj students. Students who pass Pegasus's selection process during their studies can be accepted into type-rating training after graduation, to be trained as second officers at Pegasus.
Under the Pegasus Second Officer Candidate Program described by the university, Pegasus covers the flight-school fee, the type-rating cost and a training allowance; the pilot repays them from the first month of employment. Selection and places are decided by the airline, so check the current terms before relying on them.
Careers after graduation
With PPL and ATPL theory, flight training and an academic degree, graduates can work for airlines in Türkiye and abroad, in general aviation, at flight schools and at universities that teach aviation. They can also apply for master's programs.