Benefits of the Pilot Training in Switzerland - European Flight Academy

Pilot training in Switzerland

YOUR BENEFITS

You would like to participate in the pilot training in Switzerland and later on be a pilot for SWISS or Edelweiss, the Swiss Lufthansa Group airlines? Then you can apply for the airlines’ aid program and conclude what is called a “declaration of intent to hire”. This declaration is a type of binding agreement to conclude an employment contract (Vorvertrag) with one of the two airlines stating that you will be a pilot for said airline after your training. Additionally, you will also enjoy financial benefits because, under this model, the airlines contribute to the training costs.

Overview

THE ADVANTAGES OF THE DECLARATION OF INTENT TO HIRE

With the binding agreement to conclude an employment contract (Vorvertrag), you have the best prospects for joining your desired Swiss airline after successful completion of the training.

Our Lufthansa Group pilots are excellently trained. Clearly, such comprehensive training costs money. If you conclude the declaration of intent to hire with SWISS or Edelweiss, you will not have to finance the training completely on your own. The financing of the training for future SWISS or Edelweiss pilots is split into three parts:

At the beginning, you pay your own contribution of CHF 35,000.
SWISS or Edelweiss will provide you with a training loan in the amount of CHF 45,000 (for Swiss nationals) respectively CHF 69,000 (for EU/EFTA citizens) with a minimal interest rate. You will comfortably pay back this training loan out of your salary as a pilot.
Additionally, you will receive federal subsidies in the amount of CHF 60,000 (for Swiss nationals) respectively CHF 36,000 (for EU/EFTA citizens) – details can be found under VFAL (Verordnung über die Finanzhilfen für Ausbildungen im Bereich der Luftfahrt, the Swiss ordinance on financial aid for aviation training).

Take the first step now

STEPS TO TAKE TO GET TO THE PILOT TRAINING WITH A DECLARATION OF INTENT TO HIRE

The job of a pilot is unlike any other – that is why the training is preceded by a selection process that determines whether or not an applicant is suited for this profession

1. Obtaining the certificate by the Deutsches Luft- und Raumfahrtzentrum (DLR, German Aerospace Center) or submission of your SPHAIR certificate*: You have two options to qualify for the selection process:

1. You begin your selection process by taking the DLR test. Only after having successfully obtained the DLR certificate can you apply with the corresponding document. You can find more information on the DLR certificate here.

2. If you have a SPHAIR certificate* (the SPHAIR certificate must contain a recommendation for the professional pilot career; for SPHAIR certificates issued before May 2024, a new certificate containing a corresponding verification code must be downloaded from the SPHAIR website) that is not older than 5 years on the day of Step 2 in the “Lufthansa Group Assessment” selection process, this allows you a Fast Track Assessment, and you can apply directly with this certificate. However, please note that without a DLR certificate, you are only eligible for a cockpit job with the Swiss airlines SWISS and Edelweiss. For a group qualification, for example, to start with Lufthansa or Eurowings, you need a DLR certificate with the required rating.

2. Submission of your application: Having successfully obtained the DLR certificate with the required rating or with a SPHAIR certificate*, you can now apply for the Swiss training model at the European Flight Academy. You can find the applicants’ portal, the pre-requisites, and the documents to be submitted here.

3. Lufthansa Group assessment: We are looking forward to getting to know you better in the context of our assessment and will invite you to the assessment after you have applied.

4. Pre-airline fit: Depending on which prerequisites you already meet, the pre-airline fit will include a supplementary interview with airline-specific content as well as a simulator exercise. It will be of further advantage to you if you have already successfully completed a SPHAIR course. If your flying ability is rated “standard” or higher, you will be exempt from the simulator exercise, for example. If the intention is to conclude a declaration of intent to hire with SWISS or Edelweiss, a positive result in the pre-airline fit is required.

5. After successfully passing all selection steps, you will complete your medical. After this we will sign a training contract with you and discuss your ideal starting date for the courses.

6. Welcome to the European Flight Academy!

Make use of the opportunity presented to you through the declaration of intent to hire by SWISS and Edelweiss and register for the DLR test now or apply with your SPHAIR certificate*.

You can register for the DLR test here

Apply directly here with your SPHAIR certificate*

*Entry after EFA only possible at SWISS and Edelweiss; the SPHAIR certificate must contain a recommendation for the commercial pilot career; for SPHAIR certificates issued before May 2024, a new certificate containing a corresponding verification code must be downloaded from the SPHAIR website; the SPHAIR certificate must not be older than 5 years on the day of Step 2 in the “Lufthansa Group Assessment” selection process. Therefore, we recommend that all interested parties submit their application well in advance of the 5-year deadline.