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 Rahmen- und Darlehensvertrag. 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. You also benefit from financial advantages: The airlines participate in this model with attractive financing programs.

Overview

The advantages of the Rahmen- und Darlehensverträge

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.

The training financing allows you to start your commercial pilot training with a framework and loan agreement at SWISS without personal funds. The following conditions apply for training financing with SWISS:

You will receive a training loan from SWISS of CHF 80,000 (Swiss citizens) or CHF 104,000 (EU/EFTA citizens) (if you contribute your own capital, you can take out a lower loan amount).
In addition, you will receive government subsidies of CHF 60,000 (Swiss citizens) or CHF 36,000 (EU/EFTA citizens). Details about the government subsidies can be found under Aviation Training Financing (VFAL).
You can repay the training loan after your training from the start of your employment with CHF 1,000 per month over 80 months* (Swiss citizens) or CHF 1,000 per month over 104 months* (EU/EFTA citizens) with your pilot salary.

*Plus interest according to the guidelines of ESTV

Download Financing Model SWISS

The following conditions apply for training financing with Edelweiss under the corresponding framework and loan agreement:

Edelweiss supports the training for all students equally with a financing volume of CHF 80,000 (Swiss citizens and EU/EFTA citizens) (you can also take out a lower loan amount)
In addition, you will receive government subsidies of CHF 60,000 (Swiss citizens) or CHF 36,000 (EU/EFTA citizens) (VFAL). Due to the lower state subsidy for EU/EFTA citizens, a personal contribution of CHF 24,000 remains, which must be provided as own capital for the training.
The personal contribution is due in two payments: The first payment of CHF 10,000 is due before the training starts, and the second payment of CHF 14,000 is due during the training
You can repay the training loan after your training, from the start of your employment with CHF 1,000* per month from your pilot salary.

*The accrued interest will be settled with the final payment. The interest rate is determined annually in January according to the guidelines of the ESTV.

Take the first step now

Steps to take to get to the pilot training with a Rahmen- und Darlehensvertrag SWISS/Edelweiss

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 Rahmen- und Darlehensvertrag 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 Rahmen- und Darlehensvertrag 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.