DLR Exam TrainerWhere does the DLR test take place?
The Lufthansa Group Berufsgrunduntersuchung is held in Hamburg. The DLR Pilot Certificate is offered in Cologne and Hamburg, with Vienna added from October 2026 - always as an in-person appointment.
Where the DLR test takes place depends on which procedure applies. The Berufsgrunduntersuchung (BU) run by the Lufthansa Group / European Flight Academy (EFA) reportedly takes place in Hamburg, at the home of the Aviation and Space Psychology department of the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The self-pay DLR Pilot Certificate (DLR-Zertifikat Cockpit) is offered at the official DLR locations in Cologne and Hamburg, with Vienna added as a third location from October 2026. Applicants entering through SWISS / EFA Switzerland can, according to EFA, also take the certificate test in Zurich or Milan.
DLR Pilot Certificate: in person only
The DLR Pilot Certificate can only be taken as an in-person appointment - according to official information, there's no online or remote option. Current locations are Cologne and Hamburg, with Vienna being added as a third site from October 2026. Older reports sometimes mention Zurich as a location for the certificate directly through the DLR - that's outdated and no longer listed officially.
SWISS / EFA Switzerland: Hamburg, Zurich, or Milan
For applicants going through the SWISS / European Flight Academy (EFA) Switzerland pathway, EFA states that the DLR or SPHAIR certificate test is available in Hamburg, Zurich, or Milan. Which location is available in any given case depends on scheduling. The later stages of the EFA selection process - an assessment center with interviews, group exercises, and psychomotor tasks - take place, according to EFA, in Hamburg or Zurich.
Lufthansa BU: Hamburg
For the Lufthansa Group BU, reported experience points to Hamburg as the only test location. Travel costs to get there are partly reimbursed - exact details are given in the airline's invitation letter. The following Firmenqualifikation (FQ) also happens as part of the airline's selection process, and the exact location can vary by airline and year.
| Procedure | Locations |
|---|---|
| Lufthansa Group BU | Hamburg |
| DLR Pilot Certificate | Cologne, Hamburg, plus Vienna from Oct. 2026 |
| SWISS/EFA certificate step | Hamburg, Zurich, or Milan |
TipPlan your travel with plenty of buffer, especially given an early start time like Hamburg's roughly 8am. Preparing for the day with typical tasks like the path figures test or instrument reading lets you focus on concentration once you're there.
Locations can change, as the addition of Vienna from October 2026 shows. Only the current information given with the DLR's or the relevant airline's or flight school's invitation is binding.