Soon, more than two percent of pilots in the Lufthansa Group, which includes not only Lufthansa itself but also other airlines (in particular, Austrian, Swiss, Eurowings, Brussels Airlines), will retire. To prevent a shortage of personnel, by 2020 Lufthansa alone plans to train and hire 120 new specialists. The group will need about 500 employees in total.
As Deutsche Welle notes, flight schools in Germany prepare graduates directly for carriers: Lufthansa operates its own academy, European Flight Academy.
Requirements for pilots in Germany
The main requirements for applicants to the academy: completed secondary general education (high school diploma or equivalent), good knowledge of English, citizenship of Germany or an EU country (recently, a permanent residence permit in the EU is also sufficient).
Regarding age, candidates must be 18 years old by the start of training. You can fill out an application and submit it through the official website. Those who pass the selection are invited to entrance exams in Hamburg or Bremen.
In addition to a medical examination, a background check to exclude a criminal past (Zuverlässigkeitsüberprüfung), and a drug test, applicants undergo a group exam consisting of two parts. First, applicants must demonstrate technical knowledge and quick reaction. According to academy representatives, it is enough to have a good knowledge of basic school physics and mathematics, as well as an understanding of why an airplane flies. The ability to think logically, concentrate, make decisions instantly, and work on multiple tasks simultaneously is also assessed in this exam.
Further stages of selection depend on which training program the student chooses: obtaining an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) or a Multi-crew Pilot License (MPL). Applicants for the second program, in addition to good English, will also need German. In the exam, they will be asked to translate a short text from English into German. In addition, knowledge of basic aviation English terminology is required.
MPL examiners pay special attention to how future pilots work in a team and solve complex problems together. Important skills are stress resistance and the ability to quickly resolve conflicts. There are no deadlines for submitting applications or taking exams, so you can send your documents at any time.
Pilot training with a job guarantee
The ATPL program is a classic training system that has been used for decades in flight schools. MPL is a relatively new program focused on teamwork. Within this system, training is oriented toward a specific type of aircraft, most likely the Airbus A319 or A320, depending on the airline's needs.
Pilot training at European Flight Academy takes place in two countries – Germany and the USA. ATPL program students study for 20 to 22 months without breaks, MPL for 24 to 28 months. All students spend the first year only on theoretical coursework. Simultaneously, they can obtain a bachelor's degree in "aviation business" at the Saarland University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft des Saarlandes) or "management and technology of aviation systems" at Bremen University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule Bremen). Then future pilots go to American cities for their first flying lessons. The transfer of practical training to the USA is due to the fact that in Phoenix, the capital of Arizona, and Vero Beach, Florida, weather conditions do not interfere with students' training flights.
Both programs are fee-based: ATPL costs 60,000 euros for the entire course, MPL – 80,000 euros. This amount includes insurance for early termination of studies due to health reasons. Additionally, you can apply for a state BAföG scholarship. Students have several payment options: pay the full amount before starting training, take an interest-free loan with installment payments, or pay after employment.
The last option is the most popular among students. Students sign a contract with the academy stating that they will start repaying the tuition fee only after being hired by one of the airlines of the Lufthansa Group. Over several years, pilots will have between 5 and 15 percent (depending on choice) deducted from their salary after taxes each month. If a pilot cannot find a job within the first five years after graduating from the academy, they do not have to pay for their training.
Pilot career in Germany
The starting salary in Germany as a first officer on regional flights is from 45,000 euros per year before taxes. After that, the pilot can transfer to long-haul operations with a salary from 50,000 euros gross per year.
It usually takes about seven to eight years to achieve the rank of captain. Then the pilot as captain returns to work on short-haul routes with a starting salary from 65,000 euros. The highest paid are captains on long-haul flights – they earn from 80,000 to 120,000 euros gross per year.
Additionally, pilots after graduating from European Flight Academy can move to other airlines if they meet their requirements. ATPL and MPL licenses are recognized throughout Europe; in Asian countries, additional qualifications may be required.