DLR 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).
Very few people can pay 130,000 EUR or CHF 150,000 out of their own pocket, and on the route through the European Flight Academy (EFA) you do not have to. The Lufthansa Group and SWISS work with financing models in which you repay most of the cost only once you are earning as a pilot. The information below comes from the official EFA, SWISS and BAZL (Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation) pages, as of September 2026. It is a neutral overview, not financial advice.
How does financing work at EFA in Germany?
You contribute 10,000 EUR yourself, and the remaining 120,000 EUR is financed by the education fund Brain Capital. This is not a classic loan with a fixed instalment but an income-dependent repayment:
| Item | Rule according to EFA |
|---|---|
| Own contribution | 10,000 EUR |
| Covered by Brain Capital | 120,000 EUR |
| Repayment starts | from 30,000 EUR annual income |
| Amount | fixed percentage of gross pay over 11 payment years; 12 % when the full amount is financed |
| Cap | with a cockpit job at a Lufthansa Group airline, an interest rate of 8.0 % is not exceeded |
| End | after 20 years at the latest |
According to EFA, there is also a Lufthansa Group support programme that can cover the 10,000 EUR own contribution for qualified applicants. Eurowings offers its own benefits and an intention to hire. The training is also eligible for BAföG, the German state student funding; whether you qualify is decided by the responsible BAföG office.
How does financing work with SWISS in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, financing is made up of a federal contribution and a loan from SWISS. The training price of CHF 150,000 is due in three instalments (40,000 / 50,000 / 60,000).
| Component | Swiss citizens | EU/EFTA citizens |
|---|---|---|
| Federal contribution (VFAL, via BAZL) | CHF 60,000 | CHF 36,000 |
| SWISS training loan | CHF 90,000 | CHF 90,000 |
| Own share | CHF 0 | CHF 24,000 (10,000 + 14,000) |
According to EFA, you repay the loan in 90 monthly instalments of CHF 1,000, plus interest at the rates set by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (ESTV). The condition is a positive pre-airline-fit interview. According to the SWISS newsroom on 11 March 2025, no advance financing has been required since June 2025; SWISS puts its need at around 110 new pilots a year. The terms for Edelweiss are still being agreed, according to the EFA page.
Which conditions should you know about?
- Federal contribution: according to BAZL, the funding requires, among other things, that you start employment with a Swiss air operator (AOC) within one year of graduating. BAZL recommends obtaining your Class 1 medical before applying.
- Income-dependent does not mean free: with Brain Capital, the total you repay depends on your later income. Read the contract terms in full and run the numbers for different salary paths.
- Extras stay with you: the DLR certificate, medical, US visa and iPad are not part of the financing. See How much does pilot training cost?.
- Selection comes first: financing is tied to the selection process, in Switzerland for instance to a positive pre-airline-fit. The first step is the DLR certificate; the requirements are listed under DLR test requirements.
What does that mean for your pay in the first years?
The instalments come off your gross pay: 12 % in Germany when the full amount is financed, CHF 1,000 a month plus interest over seven and a half years in Switzerland. The salaries media report for Lufthansa, Eurowings and SWISS are listed under How much do pilots earn?.
You will find all figures with sources in the article Pilot training: costs and financing; the Swiss route is described in How to become a SWISS pilot.
ImportantTerms change. Only the current information from EFA (Germany, Switzerland), SWISS and BAZL is binding. Get independent advice before you sign anything.