Fly New Aircraft
Class ratings on the aeroplanes alpaviation flies every day — Diamond DA42, the Pilatus PC-12 and PC-6, Cessna single-engine turbines, and the Piper M500/600. Trained on type, in Switzerland, by instructors who fly these aircraft commercially.
Aircraft Class Ratings
Single-pilot ratings on five aircraft families — from the multi-engine DA42 to the pressurised SET turboprops.
Multi-Engine Piston
Diamond DA42
Authorises pilot-in-command privileges on multi-engine piston aircraft. Trained on the Diamond DA42 with Garmin G1000 — a modern, widely-flown training twin. The first step into multi-engine flying and a prerequisite for the professional path.
Pilatus PC-12
Pilatus PC-12
The Pilatus PC-12 — Switzerland's flagship single-engine turboprop and the workhorse of executive, charter, and utility operations across Europe. Single-pilot rating includes systems, pressurised operations, and high-altitude procedures. Classified SP HPA: an Instrument Rating is mandatory before training begins.
SP HPA classification — IR(A) is mandatory before training can begin
Pressurised aircraft operations included in ground school
Pilatus PC-6 Porter
Pilatus PC-6 Porter
The Pilatus Porter — a tailwheel turboprop with a half-century of mountain, utility, and parachute work behind it. Short-field, rough-strip, alpine. Tailwheel experience is strongly recommended before starting; the PC-6 is unforgiving of underdeveloped tailwheel handling.
Tailwheel experience is strongly recommended — the PC-6 is a tailwheel aircraft
Cessna Single Engine Turbine
Cessna C208 Caravan / Cessna 210 Silvereagle
Single-engine turbine rating covering the Cessna C208 Caravan and Cessna 210 Silvereagle — versatile workhorses for utility, IFR, parachute, and cargo operations. Quick course for pilots already comfortable on complex singles.
Piper M500 / M600
Piper M500 / Piper M600
The Piper M500/600 — pressurised, turboprop, owner-flown segment. M500 and M600 covered together. Classified SP HPA: an Instrument Rating is required before training, and the rating includes pressurisation and oxygen system handling.
SP HPA classification — IR(A) is mandatory before training can begin
Pressurisation and oxygen system covered in ground school
Instrument & Night
Fly in all conditions, day and night
Instrument Rating
Authorises flight in IMC conditions throughout Europe and worldwide.
Competency-Based Instrument Rating
Modular, competency-based route to the IR(A). Reduced hours where instrument experience is already held.
Practical hours reducible to a minimum of 10h
Night Rating
Authorises VFR night flying. One theory evening, no written examination.
No formal written examination — just one theory evening
Operational Endorsements
Extend what and where you can fly
Unusual Attitude Prevention & Recovery
Bristell B23 / FFA AS202 Bravo
FOCA-certified UPRT school. Mandatory since 2019 for CPL(A), ATPL(A) and all initial multi-pilot or HPA ratings. Five hours of theory, three hours of dual-control flight on the Bristell B23 and the FFA AS202 Bravo.
Mandatory for CPL(A), ATPL(A) and all initial ratings on multi-crew or HPA aircraft
Tailwheel Differences Training
Piper PA-18 Super Cub
Authorises the operation of tailwheel aircraft. Logbook endorsement — not a separate rating.
Differences training in accordance with FCL.710 — logbook endorsement, no separate certificate
Glider Towing
On request
Authorises the towing of gliders.
Banner Towing
On request
Authorises the towing of advertising banners.
Radiotelephony Endorsements
Language authorisations for Swiss and European airspace
VFR Radiotelephony
Mandatory language authorisation for radiotelephony in Swiss and European airspace under VFR. Available in German, English, French and Italian.
Available in DE, EN, FR and IT
FOCA national endorsement — not EASA Part-FCL
IFR Radiotelephony
English language authorisation for IFR operations. Issued together with the IR(A).
English is the mandatory language for IFR communications
Instructor Certificates
Looking to teach? alpaviation offers the full FI(A), CRI, and IRI(A) instructor training programme — including the BAZL FI Refresher Seminar.
See Instructor TrainingReady to Fly One of These?
Tell us which aircraft. We'll lay out the prerequisites, the timeline, and what your training week looks like.
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