Overview of the costs of pilot training

Because of the recognition of equivalence pursuant to the Federal Law on Educational Support (BAföG), it has been possible since October 1st, 2019, to apply for educational aid for the duration of the training at the European Flight Academy.

As a rule, every student registered with EFA at the training location in Germany is eligible to apply for educational aid. An application can be filed once the training agreement has been signed. The relevant documentation will be provided upon request following conclusion of the training agreement. If approved, educational aid will be provided starting with the month in which the training commences; at the earliest, however, with the month in which the application is filed.

For the time spent in the USA in the context of the training, an application for educational aid is to be filed with the competent international office, in this case the Studierendenwerk Hamburg – Amt für Ausbildungsförderung (Student Services – Office for Education Funding (BAföG-Amt)).

Those of our students that intend to apply for a job in one of our Swiss airline operations (SWISS International Airlines and Edelweiss Air) after their training might be eligible for financial aid for the pilot training in the form of so-called federal financial aid

Under certain circumstances, suitable candidates will be eligible for financial aid for the ATPL training. The financial aid in this context will amount to a maximum of 50 percent of the eligible costs of the training. The financial aid for persons who are not of Swiss nationality and who specifically come to Switzerland for the relevant training will amount to a maximum of 30 percent of the eligible costs.

Eligible costs are deemed to be those costs that are invoiced by the training institution for the training itself (in particular learning material) as well as costs of rent for training aircraft, simulators, and comparable facilities, inasmuch as these costs are to be borne by the candidates themselves.

Disbursement of the financial aid will take place after the successful completion of the training and following the conclusion of an employment agreement with a Swiss airline operation guaranteeing employment for a duration of at least three years.

You can find more detailed information on this on the website of the Bundesamt für Zivilluftfahrt (BAZL, Federal Office of Civil Aviation): https://www.bazl.admin.ch/bazl/de/home/fachleute/regulation-und-grundlagen/spezialfinanzierung-luftverkehr--wofuer-es-gelder-gibt.html

Contributions by the cantons

Contributions by the cantons for the training course with the degree of “Dipl. Pilot/-in HF” (officially recognized by the Swiss educational system)

Since the academic year 2015/2016, the Interkantonale Vereinbarung über Beiträge an die Bildungsgänge der höheren Fachschulen (HFSV, Inter-Cantonal Agreement on Contributions for Educational Programs at Technical Colleges) has been the basis for the equitable access of students to the educational programs at technical colleges. In particular, the Inter-Cantonal Agreement provides for the amount of the contributions that a canton makes to the education of its students.

The study programs at the technical colleges are funded in part by these cantonal contributions, provided, however, that our students meet certain requirements while pursuing their training, including, but not limited to, having a place of residence in Switzerland.