DLR DLR test questions
Short, direct answers to what everyone googles before the DLR test – with links to the in-depth articles.
Basics
How long does the DLR test take?
The Lufthansa Group / EFA Berufsgrunduntersuchung (BU) reportedly runs one day, roughly 7:45am to 6pm. The self-pay DLR Pilot Certificate is also a single day, around 8am to 5pm in Hamburg. Neither timing is officially guaranteed.
How much does the DLR test cost?
Going through the Lufthansa Group Berufsgrunduntersuchung (BU) costs nothing for the test itself. The self-pay DLR Pilot Certificate officially costs 417.69 EUR plus VAT in 2026, according to the DLR.
Where does the DLR test take place?
The Lufthansa Group Berufsgrunduntersuchung is held in Hamburg. The DLR Pilot Certificate is offered in Cologne and Hamburg, with Vienna added from October 2026 - always as an in-person appointment.
How many people pass the DLR test?
Various sources put the pass rate for the Berufsgrunduntersuchung (BU) at roughly 20-25%, with roughly another 20-25% of those then passing the Firmenqualifikation (FQ) - an estimated overall 4.5-5.5% of all applicants.
What Are the Requirements for the DLR Test?
Requirements depend on which procedure you're taking. The self-paid DLR Pilot Certificate only requires a minimum age of 16. The SWISS/EFA Switzerland route asks for at least 17 years, a Matura-level qualification, English and German at B2 or above, and a height between 160 and 198 cm.
What Are Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the DLR Test?
"Stage 1" refers to Lufthansa Group/EFA's one-day Berufsgrunduntersuchung (BU) in Hamburg. "Stage 2" is the following two-day Firmenqualifikation (FQ), with group exercises, an interview, and simulator work. The self-paid DLR Pilot Certificate doesn't have this two-stage structure at all.
Which Airlines Require the DLR Test?
Lufthansa Group requires the Berufsgrunduntersuchung (BU) through the European Flight Academy. SWISS/EFA Switzerland alternatively accepts a DLR or SPHAIR certificate as a first step. Many other airlines without their own procedure ask for the self-paid DLR Pilot Certificate instead.
What Is the DLR Certificate?
The DLR Pilot Certificate (DLR-Zertifikat Cockpit) is a paid self-funded assessment for anyone targeting a flight school or airline without its own DLR procedure; instead of pass/fail, it results in an evaluation against EASA criteria.
What's the minimum age for the DLR test?
For the DLR Pilot Certificate, the DLR states a minimum age of 16 (under-18s need a parent as the contracting party). To apply to SWISS/EFA Switzerland, EFA requires you to be at least 17 years old.
What Is Tested in the DLR Test?
The DLR test combines computer-based performance tasks (concentration, memory, spatial reasoning) with knowledge tests in English, technical subjects and sometimes physics, plus a personality questionnaire.
What English Level Do You Need for the DLR Test?
The DLR test includes an English knowledge test called ENS, aiming for Rating A or B. If you score C or D, many airlines and flight schools additionally require a recognised B2 certificate.
What Maths and Physics Level Does the DLR Test Require?
The DLR test can include maths/physics knowledge questions plus a mental arithmetic module (KRN); the level, per experience reports, is roughly secondary-school, with formulas like F=ma or U=RI.
How much do pilots earn at Lufthansa and SWISS?
According to media reports from autumn 2025, starting first officers earn about CHF 89,000 a year at SWISS, around 90,000 EUR at Lufthansa and around 74,000 EUR at Eurowings. Experienced captains reach about CHF 220,000 (SWISS) or up to around 300,000 EUR (Lufthansa). These are media figures, not pay scales.
How much does pilot training cost?
At the Lufthansa Group's European Flight Academy, pilot training costs 130,000 EUR (Germany) or CHF 150,000 (Switzerland) according to EFA, as of September 2026. Extras such as the DLR certificate and medical come on top. Financing models cut your own share to 10,000 EUR or as little as CHF 0.
How do you finance pilot training?
At EFA in Germany you pay 10,000 EUR yourself; the education fund Brain Capital covers 120,000 EUR (repaid at 12 % of gross pay over 11 payment years, from 30,000 EUR a year). In Switzerland a federal contribution plus a SWISS loan cover the CHF 150,000; own share CHF 0 (Swiss) or CHF 24,000 (EU/EFTA).
What pilot aptitude tests are there?
The best-known pilot aptitude tests are the DLR test (Lufthansa Group, SWISS), COMPASS, PILAPT, ADAPT, Aon (cut-e) and the Vienna Test System, plus SPHAIR, airline procedures such as KLM's and air force selection. Almost all test mental arithmetic, spatial reasoning, memory and attention.
What does a pilot aptitude test assess?
Almost every pilot aptitude test covers four areas: cognitive skills (mental arithmetic, spatial reasoning, memory, concentration), knowledge (technical, physics, English), psychomotor skills with joystick and multitasking, and personality. The weighting and task formats differ between procedures.
Procedure & results
Can you repeat the DLR test?
For the DLR Pilot Certificate, a retake is possible after a recommended 6-month wait, and every test part has to be redone. For the Lufthansa BU, the airline decides individually whether and when a retake is possible.
What Does a DLR Test Day Look Like?
For the Lufthansa/EFA screening, experience reports put the test day at roughly 7:45am to 6pm; for the self-funded DLR Pilot Certificate in Hamburg, roughly 8am to 5pm – both in person, combining performance and knowledge tests.
DLR Test Results – When, and How Long Are They Valid?
The DLR Pilot Certificate doesn't produce a simple pass or fail — instead you get an assessment against EASA criteria, and the certificate stays valid for 2 years. For Lufthansa's BU, anecdotal reports say results typically arrive within about 2 weeks, and a passing BU result never expires.
What happens if you fail the DLR test?
For the Lufthansa BU, the airline decides whether and when a retake is possible, often only after a long wait or not at all. The DLR Certificate has no pass/fail, only an assessment; a new one is possible after 6 months, redoing every test part.
Can you prepare for the DLR PSY personality questionnaire?
You can only prepare for the PSY personality questionnaire in a limited sense, since there are no right answers. What tends to help is answering honestly and consistently rather than gaming it, being well rested, and reading questions carefully — faked answers often show up in consistency checks and later interviews.
What comes after the DLR test?
After the DLR test you receive a certificate with ratings (A to D), valid for 2 years. With the Lufthansa Group, the next steps are the application to the European Flight Academy, the assessment centre, the Class 1 medical and, after training, the airline fit; SWISS adds a pre-airline-fit interview.
Preparation
What is the MIC test (joystick test) in the DLR test?
MIC (Monitoring & Instrument Coordination) is a computer-based DLR test part where you use a joystick and pedals to monitor and control several instruments at once. Because it needs real hardware, no app trains it, including the DLR Test Trainer.
What is the personality test in the DLR test?
The DLR test includes a personality questionnaire. In the DLR Pilot Certificate, "personality" is one of four areas in the EASA-based assessment. There are no "right" answers — answering honestly and consistently is generally seen as better than trying to game it.
How Long Should You Prepare for the DLR Test?
Anecdotal reports commonly mention around 2–3 months of preparation with roughly 20–45 minutes of daily practice. Actual time needed varies a lot depending on your starting level and which procedure you're taking — consistency matters more than the raw number of weeks.
How do I prepare for the DLR technical test (TVT)?
The TVT knowledge test checks basic technical understanding (mechanics, electrics, hydraulics, heat, optics, everyday technology) as multiple choice. Sensible prep means refreshing basic formulas and mechanics with books or notes, then practising regularly with realistic sample questions, for example in the DLR Test Trainer.
How can you train MIC for the DLR test?
MIC can only be trained to a limited extent, since it needs a joystick and pedals. What you can realistically practise is the underlying skill — watching and reacting at the same time (dual-task) — for example with flight sims or gamepad tracking drills. The DLR Test Trainer does not cover MIC.
Can you prepare for the DLR test with an app?
An app can get you familiar with the DLR test's computer-based test types and give you practice working under time pressure. The DLR Test Trainer covers 10 test types, but not MIC – and no training app can guarantee you'll pass the DLR test.
When should you book the DLR test for 2027?
If you want to start pilot training in 2027, aim to sit the DLR test about 8 to 12 months before your target course. The EFA asks for at least 6 months from application to course start, and the DLR recommends waiting 6 months before a retake. Book as soon as your preparation is solid.
Can I use a DLR test app for other pilot aptitude tests?
Yes, for the cognitive parts. Mental arithmetic, spatial reasoning, memory, concentration, technical knowledge and English are also tested by COMPASS, PILAPT, ADAPT, SPHAIR and air forces. No app covers joystick tasks, personality or group exercises, and the exact format comes from official materials.
What is the best app for the DLR test?
It depends on your goal. In a feature comparison of seven DLR apps (October 2026), only DLR Test Trainer combines 10 test types, exam simulation, adaptive levels, error analysis, offline use, no account, iOS and Android, and 4 languages. For MIC with a joystick you need PilotentestTraining or SkyTest.
How do I prepare for a pilot aptitude test?
Train the core skills almost every pilot aptitude test checks for 6 to 8 weeks, 20 to 45 minutes a day: mental arithmetic, spatial reasoning, memory, concentration, technical knowledge, physics and English. In the last two weeks, practise the exact format of your test with the official materials.