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Below you will find the most frequently-asked questions on various aspects of our pilot training programmes, together with our answers.
Please choose your topic:
- Entry requirements
- Application procedure
- Working conditions & terms of employment
- Miscellaneous
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
What level of foreign-language proficiency do I need to have?
Your knowledge of German and English should be at least Council of Europe Level B2 . You’ll find more precise details of these requirements in the document download section on www.swiss.com/career.
Do I need to have a particular educational qualification?
If you wish to join the SWR long-and-short -haul pilot corps, you’ll need to have a baccalaureate or equivalent or have passed the "Berufsmatura / Fachhochschulreife". For the SWU short-haul pilot corps, you’ll need to have completed the highest level of non-high-school secondary education (e.g. “Sekundarschule A” for Canton Zurich, “Bezirksschule” for Canton Aargau) and have had at least three years of professional training.
Is it an advantage to be able to speak any further languages apart from German, English and French?
Yes: any additional language skills will come in useful in your dealings with our customers, who come from all over the world.
I don’t speak French. Will this count against me?
In gerneral it is not a disadvantage. However, French skills will be required at a future stage in the career of a SWISS pilot.
What does “average height ” mean in the requirements profile?
You should be between 160 and 198 centimetres tall.
Is there an age limit for SWISS applications?
Candidates should be between 20 years and their 33rd birthday when they apply.
Do I need to be fit for military service to apply to become a pilot?
No: being unfit for military service does not automatically disqualify you from applying for pilot training. But if your unfitness is for medical reasons, you may have problems passing your Class 1 medical examination.
Are there any further requirements I need to meet to apply for pilot training?
The requirements you will need to meet to be accepted for SWISS-financed pilot training are shown on our website and on www.swiss.com/career.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
What documents will I need to submit in my application?
You can download our application documentation in PDF form from www.swiss.com/career.
When should I apply?
If you meet the basic requirements, you can apply any time you wish. Our aptitude assessments are held throughout the year.
When are the interviews held?
The interviews, are the last phase in the aptitude assessment, and may be held between two and four months after the first assessment tests.
How is the aptitude assessment structured?
You’ll find full details of our aptitude assessments on the www.swiss-aviation-training.com or www.swiss.com/career.
Where are the aptitude assessments held?
They are held at the Swiss International Air Lines Flight Crew and Management Assessment Center, which is close to Zurich Airport.
How can I best prepare for my aptitude assessment?
You will find various providers of such “preparation” online. The www.sphair.ch website, for instance, offers a few practice exercises, though these are not identical to the tests used by SWISS. For the subject tests (in geography, mathematics etc.), you will find summary guidelines in our document download section. You will also receive some preparatory documentation for the flight trainer tests once you have successfully completed the first two assessment levels.
What proportion of applicants gets through the aptitude assessment?
On average, between 15 and 20 per cent of applicants will pass all the levels of our aptitude assessment process. This may seem to be a low pass rate; but most people are good at a few specific things, and only a small percentage of the population have the combination of natural skills – language, mathematical, psychomotor and technical – that the pilot’s profession requires.
How long will I have to wait after the last assessment day until I learn if I have been accepted?
You will receive notification by email within one to three days.
How is the aptitude assessment structured?
You’ll find full details of our aptitude assessments in the “Pilot Basic Training ” sections of the www.swiss-aviation-training.com and on www.swiss.com/career.
Do I need to submit any additional application documents if I apply to SWISS?
You application will consist of four documents: the application form, the visual acuity form, the medical questionnaire and the registration fee form. The application form also tells you what additional documents – copies of references etc. – you will need to include.
If I already have a private pilot licence, will this be credited to my training?
A valid JAR private pilot licence may be credited to your training, provided you have accumulated a certain minimum number of flying hours.
If I already hold a private pilot licence, what effect will this have on the application procedure?
None: you will undergo the same selection procedure (with the same selection criteria) as any other candidate.
Do I need to have passed the Class 1 Medical to apply?
No: you will not need to pass the Class 1 Medical until you have successfully completed the first three levels of the aptitude assessment. If you have concerns about whether you will pass this medical, however, it is advisable to clarify this in advance.
WORKING CONDITIONS & TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
If I pass my aptitude assessment, when will I receive my SWISS employment contract?
As soon as all the details have been finalised (and provided you meet all the requirements) .
Can I work part-time if I wish?
Not initially, no: after finishing your SWISS-financed training, you will be required to fly full-time for at least two years. After that, part-time employment is an option.
Will I be put onto short-haul or long-haul flights?
You will initially be assigned to short-haul services (within Europe). Later you’ll be assigned to medium-haul flights, and later still you’ll be put on long-haul routes. Initially, though, once you’ve completed your type rating, you’ll serve as a First Officer on the Avro RJ100 or the Airbus A320/A330.
Will I need to live in the Zurich area?
SWISS doesn’t insist on it, but you’ll probably find it a lot more practical to do so, at least while you’re initially assigned to short-haul rotations.
If my rotations involve night stops outside Switzerland, will I have to arrange and pay for the hotel accommodation myself?
No: your hotel accommodation will be arranged and paid for by SWISS.
Will I be provided with accommodation during my training?
Swiss AviationTraining cannot provide any accommodation for its trainees. We will, however, be pleased to help you find some. Many of our trainees get together with their classmates to share a house or apartment.
Will I receive any training pay during my time with Swiss AviationTraining?
No , because you will not be a Swiss AviationTraining employee.
MISCELLANEOUS
What do I need to bear in mind in terms of my personal appearance?
You should be of generally “normal” condition (e.g. not excessively overweight or underweight); visible piercings (including tooth and tongue piercings) are not permitted during working hours, i.e. whenever you are in uniform and during your basic training; and any tattoos must be covered by your uniform (your skirt in the case of female employees), and may not be covered by make-up or plasters instead.
When are training courses held?
Swiss AviationTraining holds basic ATP training courses four times a year, i.e. every three months. SWISS type rating courses are held as and when required – sometimes as frequently as one a month.
Can I take any time off during my basic training for private matters, like looking for an apartment or visiting the doctor?
Yes, but you will have to prove to the Swiss authorities that you are attending your courses regularly, and any absences will be recorded via an absence form.
Will I have any vacation during my training?
Yes: the 18 months of full-time training will include around two to three weeks of vacation.
If I have special dietary needs, how compatible is this with the pilot’s profession?
It depends what they are. In the end, it is a doctor who will determine whether you are fit to fly. Strong medication can certainly not be taken immediately before flight duty.
How far in advance do SWISS pilots receive their duty rosters?
The monthly duty rosters are issued on the 24th of the previous month. All pilots are issued with their own log-in to view their roster online.
If I am accepted for SWISS-financed training but do not pass part of the aptitude assessment, can I still train at Swiss AviationTraining on a privately-financed basis?
Basically yes, as long as you have passed the first three levels of the aptitude assessment.
If I have any questions about my personal situation, who can I discuss these with?
Swiss AviationTraining holds information events every month that will give you the chance to discuss any questions you may have with the people concerned. On top of this, once you pass the aptitude assessment, you will be invited for a personal discussion of your individual training ahead.
What do all these abbreviations mean?
PPL = Private Pilot Licence
IFR = Instrument Flight Rules
VFR = Visual Flight Rules
CPL = Commercial Pilot Licence
SEP = Single Engine Piston
MEP = Multi Engine Piston
IR = Instrument Rating
JAA = Joint Aviation Authorities
JAR = Joint Aviation Requirements
FAA = Federal Aviation Authorities
FCL = Flight Crew Licensing
HPA = High Performance Aircraft
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