European Flight Academy: job prospects and advice

[Blank2710]

Hello Everyone!

I'm in need of your advice: especially of those of you who work in the Lufthansa group and/or those who did their licenses at European Flight Academy.

My question in need of an answer is: WHAT ARE THE REAL ODDS OF BEING HIRED BY A LUFTHANSA GROUP AIRLINE AFTER HAVING COMPLETED EUROPEAN FLIGHT ACADEMY'S ATPL PROGRAM?

Here's briefly my story to give you a better picture: becoming a pilot has always been my lifelong dream, however I didn't get my chance to embark on this journey until now. I spent the last two years gathering information, and I hopefully plan to start my training in 2020.

However, I don't have all the required funds to complete a full ATPL course at the moment, so my only options are getting an unsecured loan (nearly impossible in Italy, where I come from), get accepted into a Cadet program (either sponsored or offering a secured loan), pay for it myself while working or enrolling in a program that offers financial aid.

For these reasons, I sent my application to European Flight Academy's ATPL course. This choice seems very appealing to me because of the good reputation of the school, the ability to "finance" the course by paying it off later on when you are hired in the Lufthansa group and of course the job prospects.

In the school presentation they said "we haven't had a single student so far who completed our program and didn't get hired by a Lufthansa group", however this is not a cadet program and nothing is guaranteed.
Moreover, should I be accepted into this course, I would have to relocate away from home for about two years, and being an integrated course it would be nearly impossible to work and study, so this means I should take into account no less than an extra 20.000 euros (non eligible for funding) for housing and living expenses.

My other main alternative is a modular course from an FTO near where I live. I visited the school and I was left with a very good impression: their offer is very solid, the cost is about the same as EFA's ATPL, however should I go for this route there would be no need to relocate: I own my house so I would pay no rent/mortgage, have a normal life while doing the course staying close to my friends and family, and I could PROBABLY be able to work at the same time in order to finance it.
Moreover, I was told that from 2020 on they are planning to offer a financing option via an affiliated bank, so this makes this program even more appealing.
However, after completing the program I would be on my own when looking for a job (actually, I was told that the school is discussing an agreement with a well known low cost airline to recruit FOs from the graduates, but it's not confirmed yet).

So the bottom line is, should I be accepted into both programs, the most important thing I will take into account my decision would definitely be the odds of finding employment, and given the overall more costs involved (relocation, ecc.) I would go on with EFA only if the chances of landing the first job would be sensibly higher.

I'd like to know your opinion over this, and I thank you in advance for your time

[Arnuxs]

Bump. I myself am interested in peoples experiences with EFA.

I know there is some german financing programe called Bafög for whitch you do not need to hold a german passport I wonder what are the odds of getting that...

[JulianB]

I'm in a similar situation. Applied last month.

To be honest, if you manage to pass through the selection you should not think twice about it. I mean, getting a top notch training without any upfront payment? They apparently can freeze your training debt up to 5 years in case you don't get a job offer from LH group during that period. In the end you get a shiny fATPL from a reputable School half the price of other reputable schools and with a zero interest unsecured loan. I'd take it!

There is a problem however: It sounds too good to be true. I am very skeptical about it. I haven't found much in english about the LH BQ selection but comments are rather discouraging. I have no problem with it being very hard, if you really want this, you will prepare properly and chances are that you'll be among the 10% who pass it. It does not matter if many aspects of it are not aviation related. The point of certain tests is to select disciplined, focused and goal oriented people. On the other hand, there seems to be a more ambiguous, esoteric aspect of the selection that many people have labeled it as "random". I don't know what to think about it.

I get even more skeptical when it comes to the deferment payment model. Will they really be so nice to pre-finance your training without any kind of security or guarantor? I wouldn't be surprised if it comes out that you'd have to secure it against your house.

If Anyone knows more about it, please let us know.

[F3LD]

Most of the Lufthansa Group Airlines plan on hiring from their flight school (EFA) first. Already now this is happening, as EFA Students will get priority over people which are already on the waiting list at Lufthansa Cityline/Eurowings for example.
Since there are many Airlines in the Lufthansa Group the chances of getting a job are usually good, however right now hiring is on a low due to restructuring (AuA/EW e.g.)

Regarding the Payment of the Training Costs it is really one of the best things out there. I selected on paying the 80k after my training once I start working within the Lufthansa Group and only had to pay a administration fee upfront. There was no such things as securing your house or anything or having a guarantor.

[JulianB]

Originally Posted by F3LD

Most of the Lufthansa Group Airlines plan on hiring from their flight school (EFA) first. Already now this is happening, as EFA Students will get priority over people which are already on the waiting list at Lufthansa Cityline/Eurowings for example.
Since there are many Airlines in the Lufthansa Group the chances of getting a job are usually good, however right now hiring is on a low due to restructuring (AuA/EW e.g.)

Regarding the Payment of the Training Costs it is really one of the best things out there. I selected on paying the 80k after my training once I start working within the Lufthansa Group and only had to pay a administration fee upfront. There was no such things as securing your house or anything or having a guarantor.

Thanks for the Feedback! That sounds Great!

Can you tell us something about the selection?

Many Thanks!

[F3LD]

I did the MPL Selection with the DLR and have no idea about the ATPL Selection.
On Pilotenboard (German Forum) you can find more information regarding the selection also user sharing their experience from the selection

[Arnuxs]

Do you need german language for ATPL? On their site it was listed that only fluent english was needed but in an email they replied to me it was listed that either ger/fr/it was also needed...
Also does anybody know about BaFöG support from german government for students? Online I found that international students can get it but an email from EFA told me it's only avaliable for germans.
The prices also confuse me before I found that ATPL costs 60 k eur, and MPL 80 k, now I only find one price: 90 k...
The emails they reply to me are also not very helpful, copy paste most of the time...
I'm so confused now...

[F3LD]

They have changed the Requirements for English only to English + one Language of either the ones listed above since many Group Airlines where you can end up have Language Requirements e.g. for Air Dolomiti you would need Italian

And also training costs are now 90k

[Arnuxs]

Originally Posted by F3LD

They have changed the Requirements for English only to English + one Language of either the ones listed above since many Group Airlines where you can end up have Language Requirements e.g. for Air Dolomiti you would need Italian

And also training costs are now 90k

Ow I think I checked in december and it as 60 k and no extra langeage requirements. I guess I'm one month too late.

And then they complain about pilot shortages...