An aircraft of the airline SWISS is on final approach.

Financing of your pilot training in Switzerland

Overview on financial aid, government subsidies, and Rahmen- und Darlehensvertrag SWISS and Edelweiss

Financial aid

The financing possibilities

Very few young people are able to finance the pilot training out of pocket. We have compiled options on this page that you as a Swiss citizen can avail yourself of to finance your training so that your dream job of pilot does not have to remain a dream. We are currently working on other aid and will add relevant information on this page as appropriate.

 

At the moment we are offering the following financing options:

Three student pilots are working on a training aircraft in a hangar.

Government subsidies

Subsidies for higher technical colleges

Contributions by the cantons for the training course with the degree of “Dipl. Pilot/-in HF” (officially recognized by the Swiss educational system)
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 higher technical colleges (HF, Höhere Fachschulen). 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 higher technical colleges are funded in part by these cantonal contributions, provided, however, that our students meet certain requirements, including, but not limited to, having a place of residence in Switzerland (while pursuing their training).
Any cantonal contributions that may be granted flow directly into the financing of the training and are already reflected in the stated training price. They are not paid out additionally to the students.

It should be noted that the training is currently not offered on a cost-covering basis. The actual training costs are higher than the training price charged to students. The cantonal contributions help to partially reduce this difference.

A training aircraft is flying over snow-covered mountains.

Financing provided by airlines

Rahmen- and Darlehensverträge by the SWISS and Edelweiss Airlines

In Switzerland, for pilot training, you have the opportunity to receive a framework and loan agreement from Lufthansa Group Airlines SWISS and Edelweiss even before starting the training.
 

The prerequisite for this is a positive outcome in an additional selection step, known as the Pre-Airline-Fit (Board-positive).
 

Once you have received this approval, along with your framework and loan agreement, you can take advantage of financing benefits.

 

The financing model of SWISS.

With SWISS, Swiss citizens can start their training without the need for their own capital. For EU/EFTA citizens, a personal contribution of CHF 24,000 remains.

  • You will receive a training loan from SWISS in the amount of CHF 90,000. This applies to both Swiss citizens and EU/EFTA citizens. If you contribute your own capital, you can also take out a lower loan amount.
  • In addition, you will receive government subsidies of CHF 60,000 for Swiss citizens or CHF 36,000 for EU/EFTA citizens. Details on government subsidies can be found under Aviation Training Financing (VFAL).
  • Due to the lower level of government funding through VFAL for EU/EFTA citizens, amounting to CHF 36,000, a personal contribution of CHF 24,000 remains for EU/EFTA citizens. This amount must be contributed as own capital for the training.
  • The personal contribution is due in two instalments: the first instalment of CHF 10,000 is due before training starts, 30 days before the beginning of the theory phase. The second instalment of CHF 14,000 is due during training, 30 days before the start of the SEP phase.
  • After your training, once you start employment, you can repay the training loan from your pilot salary in monthly instalments of CHF 1,000 over 90 months.*

SWISS Financing Model for Download

*plus interest according to the guidelines of the ESTV

Payment rates

Payment by training phase

We invoice you before the respective training sections, so you don't have to provide the entire training sum at once.

The Swiss training phases and payment rates are structured as follows:

BASIC TRAINING COSTS FOR COMMERCIAL PILOTS IN SWITZERLAND (ATPL)

Training costs will become due in 3 rates before the respective training step:
Rate Time period Costs
1. Rate Phase 1: Basis Theorie; Phase 2: Advanced Theorie und Initial Flight Training 40.000 CHF
2. Rate Phase 3: Advanced Sichtflug und Initial Instrumentenflug 50.000 CHF
3. Rate Phase 4: Advanced ATPL Theorie; Phase 5: Multi Engine Training und Europäisierung; Phase 6: MCC 60.000 CHF
Total basic costs = 150.000 CHF*
*The cost contributions paid by the canton of residence under the laws governing scholarships pursuant to the Interkantonale Vereinbarung über Beiträge an die Bildungsgänge der höheren Fachschulen (HFSV, Inter-Cantonal Agreement on Contributions for Educational Programs at Technical Colleges) have already been deducted from the training costs.

The conditions for the Edelweiss funding programme are currently still being coordinated and will be published here shortly.

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Contact

We are here for you

European Flight Academy

Just ask Betty!

 

Our voice assistant Betty is available by phone 24/7 and is happy to help you quickly and easily.

 

And if Betty can't answer your question, she'll connect you with our team during our service hours:

Mon–Fri, 10:00–12:00 & 13:00–16:00 (CET), excluding public holidays.