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Where to train

Germany

Europe

Airline preparation for pilots who already hold a license: MCC, APS MCC and type rating courses in a Boeing 737 NG simulator in Berlin, under EASA rules.

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  • EASA MCC and type ratings License
  • Schengen visa C Student visa

01 Overview

Flight training in Germany.

Germany trains and licenses pilots under the same EASA rules as every other EU country. The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), the federal aviation authority, is the licensing authority for professional pilot licenses such as the ATPL, CPL and MPL. Licenses issued by one EASA state are recognised by all the others: 31 states in total, the 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

This guide covers Germany as the step after the license, not as a route from zero to the airline. The German school on Aviation Connect, SKY4u Aviation Service in Berlin, trains pilots who already hold a license and has no course for beginners. Its courses take a licensed pilot towards the airline cockpit: a 2-day jet orientation course (JOC), an 8-day multi-crew cooperation course (MCC), the extended APS MCC, the 25-day Next Generation Course, type rating training and base training in a Boeing 737. The simulator training runs in a Boeing 737 NG simulator at Lufthansa Aviation Training Berlin, a short distance from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER).

Because each course lasts days or weeks, most pilots from Asia-Pacific come for a short stay, on a Schengen visa or, with some passports, without a visa. Each course is booked and paid on its own, so this guide gives the price of every course instead of one total budget.

Key facts

Primary training
EASA MCC, APS MCC and type rating courses for licensed pilots; no training from zero
Typical duration
2 days (JOC) to 25 days (Next Generation Course); no duration published for type ratings
Course fees
EUR 999 for the JOC up to from EUR 10,990 (about USD 12,320) for type rating training
English requirement
ICAO Level 4 or higher endorsed on your license; SKY4u publishes no entry level
Medical requirement
A valid medical certificate, EASA Class 1 for airline pilots; the first Class 1 examination at an aero-medical centre (AeMC)
Training base
Lufthansa Aviation Training Berlin, a short distance from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)
Visa for non-EU pilots
Schengen short-stay visa (type C) or visa-free entry, up to 90 days in any 180; national visa (type D) beyond 90 days
Aviation authority
Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), under EASA rules recognised in all 31 EASA states

Coming home with this license? See what your home country asks for a license conversion.

02 Costs

What training in Germany costs.

At SKY4u you pay per course, and almost every price is a starting price. The jet orientation course costs EUR 999 (about USD 1,120) as an offer price. The MCC starts from EUR 2,990 (about USD 3,350), the APS MCC from EUR 5,990 (about USD 6,710) and the Next Generation Course from EUR 8,690 (about USD 9,740). Type rating training starts from EUR 10,990 (about USD 12,320), and base training in a Boeing 737, the take-offs and landings in the real aircraft, is a separate course from EUR 5,500 (about USD 6,170). The course fee covers admission, theory lessons, simulator time and course material. No date is printed with the prices and VAT is not mentioned, so ask for a written quote before you book.

Accommodation and travel to and from training are not included in any course fee. SKY4u names the MEININGER Airport Berlin as its partner hotel and also lists the Holiday Inn Berlin Airport and service apartments in Berlin, all without prices. A shuttle links the training centre, the Holiday Inn and BER; the airport shuttle runs every 30 minutes and costs EUR 3. On top come the visa, EUR 90 (about USD 100) for a Schengen visa if your passport needs one, and the travel health insurance the visa requires. There is no single budget for Germany: what you pay depends on the courses you book and how long you stay.

Estimated costs · EUR

  • Jet orientation course (JOC), 2 days About USD 1,120, an offer price. 4 hours of theory and 8 hours in the Boeing 737 NG simulator, manual included. Starts every Friday. Estimated range EUR 999 per course
  • MCC multi-crew cooperation, 8 days, from About USD 3,350. 25 hours of theory and 20 hours in the Boeing 737 NG simulator, as an initial course or a refresher. Starts every Monday. Estimated range EUR 2,990 per course
  • APS MCC (airline pilot standard), 15 days plus days off, from About USD 6,710. 35 hours of online CBT, 35 hours in the classroom, 40 hours in a Boeing 737 NG FNPT II simulator and 15 hours of briefings. Estimated range EUR 5,990 per course
  • Next Generation Course (NGC), 25 days, from About USD 9,740. CBT, JOC, MCC, CRM, line oriented flight training and screening preparation: 40 hours of theory and 68 hours in the simulator, CBT and manuals included. Estimated range EUR 8,690 per course
  • Type rating training, from About USD 12,320. One starting price for the B737, A320, B777, B787 and CRJ. The listed content (CBT, JOC, cockpit procedures, FMC familiarisation, LOFT) runs in a fixed base simulator; no full flight simulator hours or skill test are named, and base training is sold separately. Ask which types SKY4u trains today and for a written quote for your type. Estimated range EUR 10,990 per course
  • Base training in a Boeing 737 (six circuits), from About USD 6,170. The final stage of a type rating: take-offs and landings in the real aircraft, which SKY4u states it arranges with a partner airline it does not name. Estimated range EUR 5,500 per course
  • Accommodation (partner hotel MEININGER Airport Berlin) Not included in any course fee. SKY4u also lists the Holiday Inn Berlin Airport and service apartments in Berlin but publishes no prices: ask for the current rate when you book. Estimated range Not listed per night
  • Schengen short-stay visa (type C) About USD 100. Only if your passport needs a visa for Germany. Children aged 6 to under 12 pay EUR 45. Estimated range EUR 90 one-time
  • National visa (type D), for stays over 90 days About USD 84. Only for a stay of more than 90 days. Minors pay EUR 37.50. Estimated range EUR 75 one-time
  • Travel health insurance for the Schengen visa Required for the visa: valid in the whole Schengen area for the entire stay, with cover of at least EUR 30,000 (about USD 33,600). Compare policies from insurers in your home country. Estimated range Not listed
  • Type rating skill test, examiner and license fees Not named in the type rating price. Ask SKY4u what its quote includes, and ask your licensing authority for its fee to enter the rating in your license. Estimated range Not listed

Starting prices of SKY4u as checked on 1 Nov 2026; no date is printed with them and VAT is not mentioned. There is no total budget, because SKY4u sells single courses to licensed pilots and publishes no accommodation prices. Confirm the visa fee with the German mission handling your application. USD figures use our site's exchange rate of 26 Oct 2026.

Your own total for the route and the school you have in mind, living costs included: an honest range in about 30 seconds, no email needed.

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Estimate your budget for Germany

03 Visa

Your student visa for Germany.

SKY4u's courses with a published duration last from 2 to 25 days, so most pilots come for a short stay. Germany is part of the Schengen area, and a short stay means up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across all Schengen countries. Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland need no visa at all.

Whether you need a visa for a short stay depends on your passport. Citizens of Australia, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, holders of Hong Kong and Macao SAR passports, and holders of Taiwan passports with an identity card number can enter without a visa. Citizens of China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Mongolia, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos need a Schengen short-stay visa (type C) before they travel. It costs EUR 90 (about USD 100) and needs travel health insurance with at least EUR 30,000 of cover. Apply at the German embassy or consulate for your place of residence, no earlier than six months and generally no later than 15 days before the trip; processing a complete application takes up to 15 calendar days.

For a stay of more than 90 days, for example several courses booked back to back, you need a national visa (type D) before you travel. It costs EUR 75 (about USD 84), can take several months, and is followed by a residence permit from the immigration office in Germany. The official categories for longer stays are built for study, language courses, school and vocational training, so the German mission decides which category fits a flying course. For either visa, ask the embassy to confirm the category for your course and dates before you apply; our free school advisory helps you prepare the questions.

A visa or a visa-free stay for a course does not allow you to work in Germany. Since 10 Apr 2026 the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully running: it records the fingerprints and facial image of non-EU travellers on a short stay at the Schengen border.

Schengen visa C

Schengen short-stay visa

The visa for a stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, valid in the whole Schengen area. Every SKY4u course with a published duration, from the 2-day JOC to the 25-day Next Generation Course, fits inside that limit. Ask the German mission to confirm that this category covers your course and dates before you apply.

Duration

Up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Apply no earlier than six months and generally no later than 15 days before the trip; processing a complete application takes up to 15 calendar days.

Who can apply

  • A passport of a country whose citizens need a visa for Germany, for example China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand or Vietnam
  • Application in person at the German embassy, consulate or visa application centre responsible for your place of residence
  • Travel health insurance valid in the whole Schengen area for the entire stay, with cover of at least EUR 30,000
  • Proof that you pay your living and travel costs from your own money or income, or a formal obligation (Verpflichtungserklärung) from a sponsor in Germany
  • The documents on the purpose of your trip that the mission lists; ask SKY4u for a written booking confirmation with your course dates
  • The visa fee of EUR 90 (EUR 45 for children aged 6 to under 12)

Pros

  • Processing takes up to 15 calendar days for a complete application
  • Valid in the whole Schengen area
  • Long enough for every SKY4u course with a published duration (2 to 25 days)

Trade-offs

  • No work of any kind is allowed
  • No online application yet: you apply in person
  • Every day in any Schengen country counts towards the 90 days in 180
  • Document lists differ between missions: always use the checklist of the mission handling your file
Official information

Visa D

National visa

The visa for a stay of more than 90 days, for example several courses booked back to back. It is applied for before travel and followed by a residence permit in Germany. The official categories for longer stays are built for study, language courses, school and vocational training, so the German mission decides which category applies to a flying course.

Duration

Processing can take up to three months, sometimes longer. After arrival you apply for a residence permit at the local immigration office before the visa expires.

Who can apply

  • Application before travel at the German mission responsible for your place of residence, or online through the Consular Services Portal (digital.diplo.de)
  • In many cases, the consent of the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) at your future place of residence in Germany
  • Proof of funds: the amount depends on the purpose of the stay and is set by the mission, in some categories through a blocked bank account (Sperrkonto)
  • Health insurance for the whole visa period that broadly matches German statutory cover; travel insurance generally does not suffice beyond 90 days
  • The visa fee of EUR 75 (EUR 37.50 for minors)

Pros

  • Covers a stay of more than 90 days
  • Allows travel in the other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period
  • Citizens of Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea may instead enter without a visa and apply for the residence permit in Germany

Trade-offs

  • Can take several months: plan well ahead
  • The categories are built for study, school, language courses and vocational training, so the fit for a flying course is decided case by case
  • A second step in Germany: the residence permit from the immigration office
Official information

No visa (90 in 180 days)

Visa-free short stay

Citizens of several Asia-Pacific countries need no visa for a short stay in Germany. They may stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period, the same limit as with a Schengen visa, and may not work.

Duration

Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Who can apply

  • A passport of Australia, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea or the United Arab Emirates
  • A Hong Kong or Macao SAR passport, or a Taiwan passport with an identity card number
  • Registration of your fingerprints and facial image in the Entry/Exit System at the Schengen border

Pros

  • No application and no visa fee
  • Long enough for every SKY4u course with a published duration (2 to 25 days)

Trade-offs

  • No gainful employment is allowed
  • Every day in any Schengen country counts towards the 90 days
  • For more than 90 days you need a national visa or, with some passports, a residence permit applied for in Germany within 90 days of entry
Official information

04 Requirements

English and medical: what you need.

English

Under EASA rules a pilot license carries a language proficiency endorsement, and the minimum is ICAO Level 4 (operational). The endorsement shows the language, the level and the validity date: Level 4 is re-evaluated every 4 years, Level 5 every 6 years, and Level 6 (expert) needs no re-evaluation. In Germany the test is taken at a body recognised by the LBA.

SKY4u publishes no English entry level for its courses and does not state the course language. The training contract can be made in English or German. Ask the school in which language your course runs before you book, and check that the English endorsement on your license is valid for the whole stay.

Medical

SKY4u publishes no medical requirement for its simulator courses. Base training in the real aircraft and the issue of a type rating are different: the application for a type rating asks for your medical certificate, and airline pilots hold an EASA Class 1 medical. A pilot has to carry the medical certificate, so bring it with your license and keep it valid for the whole stay.

In Germany the first (initial) Class 1 examination must take place at an aero-medical centre (AeMC). The LBA's list names FLYMED MAC Main Airport Center in Frankfurt, the Aeromedical Center LH Group in Frankfurt and Hamburg, the aero-medical centre of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Cologne, Aeromedical Center Germany in Stuttgart and the German Air Force's aero-medical centre in Cologne. None of them is in Berlin. The LBA also publishes a list of aero-medical examiners (AMEs) for Class 1.

A medical certificate issued in an EU country is accepted in all 31 EASA states. If your license comes from outside the EASA system, ask your home authority which medical certificate it accepts for a course or rating done in Germany.

What the medical and the English test involve: read the guide.

05 Training there

Training and living in Germany.

Germany for the step after the license

Germany's place on Aviation Connect is not the first license but the step after it. A license with an instrument rating does not yet put you in an airline cockpit. Before a first type rating on a multi-pilot aeroplane such as the Boeing 737 or the Airbus A320, EASA rules ask for an MCC certificate, unless the MCC is combined with the type rating course or the pilot already has 500 hours in multi-pilot operations in commercial air transport.

SKY4u in Berlin runs this stage. The JOC introduces jet handling, with manual flying and raw data operation, in two days; it is not one of the EASA prerequisites for a type rating. The MCC trains leadership, teamwork, decision making and communication in a multi-pilot jet cockpit over eight days. SKY4u describes the APS MCC as an extended MCC to EASA's airline pilot standard (AMC2 FCL.735.A), with 40 hours in the simulator. The Next Generation Course combines CBT, JOC, MCC, CRM, line oriented flight training and screening and interview preparation in 25 days. Type rating training and base training in a Boeing 737 follow from there.

Prerequisites for a first type rating on a multi-pilot aeroplane

  1. A license with a multi-engine instrument rating An instrument rating for multi-engine aeroplanes (ME IR) and at least 70 hours as pilot in command on aeroplanes.
  2. ATPL theory passed The ATPL theoretical knowledge exams completed. SKY4u's APS MCC is aimed at newly qualified pilots with a CPL, the ATPL theory exams and an ME IR.
  3. MCC or APS MCC certificate A certificate of completion of an MCC course, unless the MCC is combined with the type rating course or you have at least 500 hours in multi-pilot operations in commercial air transport. SKY4u sells the MCC in 8 days from EUR 2,990 and the APS MCC in 15 days plus days off from EUR 5,990; ask which approved training organisation issues the certificate.
  4. Upset prevention and recovery training (aUPRT) An advanced UPRT course, unless an exception applies, for example when you already hold another multi-pilot type rating. SKY4u's course list has no aUPRT course, so plan it with another school.
  5. Type rating course, skill test and base training Theory, simulator training and a skill test on the type, passed within 6 months after the type rating course starts, then take-offs and landings in the aircraft. SKY4u lists type rating training from EUR 10,990 and base training in a Boeing 737 from EUR 5,500; ask which approved training organisation runs the course and the skill test.

SKY4u in Berlin at a glance

  1. Boeing 737 NG simulator

    Simulator training runs in the Boeing 737 NG simulator of SKY4u's partner SIM4u. Ask SKY4u for the simulator's qualification level.

  2. At Lufthansa Aviation Training

    SKY4u's offices are on the second floor of the Lufthansa Aviation Training centre at Schützenstraße 10, 12526 Berlin, a short distance from BER.

  3. Weekly starts

    The JOC starts every Friday and the MCC every Monday, and individual dates can be arranged. The Next Generation Course and type ratings start on request.

  4. Five aircraft types listed

    SKY4u lists type rating training for the B737, A320, B777, B787 and CRJ, with one starting price of EUR 10,990 (about USD 12,320). Ask which of these types it trains today and under which approval.

  5. Base training with an airline

    For the Boeing 737, SKY4u states that it arranges the six circuits in the real aircraft with a partner airline, from EUR 5,500 (about USD 6,170). No airline is named, so ask which one and when.

  6. Partner hotel and shuttle

    The MEININGER Airport Berlin is the partner hotel. A shuttle links the training centre, the Holiday Inn Berlin Airport and BER.

Worth knowing

Before you book: who confirms your training

An MCC certificate and a type rating application are confirmed by the approved training organisation (ATO) that ran the course, and your licensing authority checks them. Before you pay, ask SKY4u in writing which ATO issues your certificate and signs your forms, and confirm with your licensing authority, the LBA or your home authority, that it accepts them. We help you with the questions, free of charge.

Worth knowing

One license system, 31 countries

Germany applies the same EASA rules as every other member state, and licenses issued by one EASA state are recognised by all the others: the 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. A course or a rating done in Germany gives no right to work there: a short stay for training does not allow gainful employment.

07 8 questions

Questions about training in Germany.

Can I learn to fly from zero in Germany through Aviation Connect?

Not today. SKY4u, the German school on Aviation Connect, trains pilots who already hold a license: jet orientation, MCC, APS MCC, the Next Generation Course and type ratings. It has no course for students without a license.

For a route from zero to a frozen ATPL, look at our guides for other EASA countries. A license issued in any EASA state is recognised in Germany, so you can come to Berlin for the airline preparation afterwards.

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What is the difference between the MCC, the APS MCC and the Next Generation Course?

The MCC is the standard multi-crew cooperation course: 8 days at SKY4u, with 25 hours of theory and 20 hours in the Boeing 737 NG simulator, from EUR 2,990 (about USD 3,350). SKY4u describes the APS MCC as an extended MCC to EASA's airline pilot standard (AMC2 FCL.735.A): 35 hours of online CBT, 35 hours in the classroom, 40 hours in the simulator and 15 hours of briefings over 15 days plus days off, from EUR 5,990 (about USD 6,710).

The Next Generation Course packs CBT, a JOC, MCC, CRM, line oriented flight training and screening and interview preparation into 25 days, with 40 hours of theory and 68 hours in the simulator, from EUR 8,690 (about USD 9,740). It is not stated whether it ends with an MCC certificate, so ask before you book if you need the certificate for a type rating.

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Is EUR 10,990 the full price of a type rating?

Not necessarily. EUR 10,990 (about USD 12,320) is a starting price for type rating training, the same figure for every type listed (B737, A320, B777, B787 and CRJ). The content named for it is CBT, a JOC, cockpit procedures training, FMC familiarisation and line oriented flight training in a fixed base simulator. No full flight simulator hours and no skill test are named.

Base training, the take-offs and landings in the real aircraft, is a separate course from EUR 5,500 (about USD 6,170) for the Boeing 737. Ask SKY4u for a written quote for your type that lists the simulator hours, the skill test and examiner fees, and base training.

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Do I need a visa for a two-week course in Berlin?

It depends on your passport. Citizens of Australia, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, and holders of Hong Kong and Macao SAR passports or Taiwan passports with an identity card number, can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa.

Citizens of China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and the other countries on the German visa list need a Schengen short-stay visa (type C). It costs EUR 90 (about USD 100), needs travel health insurance with at least EUR 30,000 of cover and proof that you can pay your stay, and processing a complete application takes up to 15 calendar days. Apply no earlier than six months and generally no later than 15 days before the trip. Ask the German embassy to confirm that this category covers your course and dates.

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Is accommodation included in the course fee?

No. Accommodation and travel to and from training are not included in any SKY4u course fee. The school names the MEININGER Airport Berlin as its partner hotel and also lists the Holiday Inn Berlin Airport and service apartments in Berlin, without prices.

A shuttle links the training centre, the Holiday Inn and BER; the airport shuttle runs every 30 minutes and costs EUR 3.

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My license is not an EASA license. Can I still take these courses?

SKY4u publishes no rule on where your license comes from. What matters is whether your own licensing authority accepts the result.

Before you book, ask your home authority whether it accepts an MCC certificate or type rating training done in Germany, and ask SKY4u which approved training organisation issues the certificate and signs the forms. We help you with both questions, free of charge.

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In which language are the courses taught?

SKY4u does not state the course language. The training contract can be made in English or German. Ask the school before you book.

For the license itself, EASA asks for a language proficiency endorsement of at least ICAO Level 4, with a validity date.

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Can I work in Germany during or after the course?

No. A Schengen visa or a visa-free short stay does not allow gainful employment in Germany, and an MCC certificate or a type rating gives no right to work there. Work in Germany needs a residence title that allows it.

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