The Lufthansa European Flight Academy (EFA) is one of Europe's most prestigious airline-backed pilot training programs. As the training arm of the Lufthansa Group, EFA offers a direct pathway to the cockpit of Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines or Eurowings. With its legendary DLR selection test and the Take-off Promise job guarantee, it attracts thousands of applicants from across Europe every year.
Program Overview
EFA replaced the former Lufthansa Flight Training (LFT) and Airline Training Center Arizona (ATCA) under a single brand. The program delivers a fully integrated ATPL(A) training that takes approximately 22 months from day one to type rating readiness. Cadets train across three locations: ground school in Bremen, initial flight training at Rostock-Laage, and the majority of flight hours in Phoenix/Goodyear, Arizona where the weather permits year-round flying.
Selection Process
The EFA selection is a two-stage process conducted by the DLR (German Aerospace Center) in Hamburg. It is widely regarded as the most rigorous pilot selection in Europe, with an overall pass rate of just 3-5%.
Stage 1: DLR BU (Berufsgrunduntersuchung)
The BU is a two-day basic aptitude assessment at the DLR facility in Hamburg. It tests cognitive abilities, psychomotor coordination, spatial orientation, multitasking, mathematics, physics and English proficiency. The test battery is computer-based and includes both individual and group exercises. Approximately 80% of candidates are eliminated at this stage.
Stage 2: Firmenqualifikation (FQ)
Candidates who pass the BU are invited back for the Firmenqualifikation — a company-specific assessment. This includes a structured interview, personality assessment, and additional group exercises focused on CRM (Crew Resource Management) competencies. The FQ evaluates whether you fit the Lufthansa Group culture and pilot profile. About 50% of BU passers also clear the FQ.
Costs and Financing
The total training cost is approximately EUR 120,000. Under Lufthansa's current financing model, cadets pay only EUR 10,000 upfront. The remainder is covered through an Income Share Agreement (ISA): you begin repaying after you start earning as a pilot at a Lufthansa Group airline. This dramatically lowers the financial barrier compared to self-funded training.
Training Structure
The integrated ATPL(A) program lasts approximately 22 months and follows a structured sequence:
After completing the program, graduates receive a frozen ATPL and proceed to type rating on their assigned aircraft at their designated Lufthansa Group airline.
How OnlinePilotTraining.com Helps You Prepare
The DLR test is notoriously difficult, but the core skills it measures — coordination, multitasking, spatial orientation, working memory, mathematics and physics — can all be trained. On OnlinePilotTraining.com, you can practice with adaptive modules that target exactly these competencies. Our sensorimotor exercises build the muscle memory needed for the psychomotor components, while our cognitive tests sharpen the processing speed and accuracy the DLR demands.
Tips for Applicants
Start early. The DLR tests psychomotor skills that require weeks of practice to develop. Begin training at least 6-8 weeks before your test date.
Brush up on maths and physics. The DLR includes a dedicated maths/physics section. Revise secondary school level algebra, trigonometry, mechanics and thermodynamics.
Learn basic German. While the test is available in English, some group exercises and the FQ interview may include German elements. Knowing the language signals cultural fit.
Practice under time pressure. The DLR is heavily speed-based. Simulate timed conditions during your preparation to build accuracy under pressure.