Terms and conditions

1. Scope

(1) These general terms and conditions (“Terms”), in the version in force at the time of booking, apply to all contracts for ICAO language proficiency tests, ICAO training sessions and PreChecks concluded between GAT – German Aviation Training, owner Tim Hittinger, Max-Planck-Straße 22, 72810 Gomaringen, Germany, VAT identification number DE447151927 (“GAT”), and its customers (“customer”).

(2) A consumer is a natural person acting for purposes outside any trade, business, craft or profession they may carry on.

(3) Deviating or conflicting terms of the customer do not apply unless GAT expressly agrees to them.

(4) For questions, complaints and objections, customer service can be reached by phone at +49 7072 1352530 or by email at info@german-aviation-training.de. Customer service replies in English or German.

2. Services

(1) GAT organises and conducts online, by video conference via Zoom, English language proficiency tests for pilots (language proficiency assessment under FCL.055, Annex I (Part-FCL) to Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011), as well as ICAO training sessions and PreChecks. The tests are conducted as the “ICAO Level” test of the language testing body LTB 112 in Leonding (Austria), which is certified and supervised by the Austrian civil aviation authority Austro Control GmbH. The second rating and the issue of the certificate are carried out by LTB 112.

(2) The services offered include:

1. the Levels 4–6 test (open test), which certifies Level 4, 5 or 6 depending on performance, without the level having to be chosen in advance;
2. the Level 4 only test, with somewhat easier tasks, which certifies Level 4 at most;
3. the ICAO training session (45 minutes, test simulation with level estimate) and the PreCheck (20 minutes, short level estimate); training sessions and PreChecks are not tests and do not lead to a language proficiency certificate. If the customer later takes a test with GAT, the test is conducted by an examiner other than the one who gave the training.

(3) The result depends solely on the performance shown in the test. GAT does not guarantee that the customer will pass or reach a particular level.

(4) The language proficiency endorsement on the licence is made by the authority competent for the customer’s licence: for Italian licences, ENAC. GAT is not a centre certified directly by ENAC. Since 30 August 2022, ENAC has accepted online language proficiency tests delivered by language testing bodies approved by EASA states under FCL.055, provided that the candidate’s identity, security and confidentiality are ensured throughout the test. The final decision on the endorsement lies with ENAC. Authority charges (currently €32 in stamp duty for reprinting an ENAC licence) are not included in the price. Details are explained on the page ICAO online test and ENAC licence.

(5) Service descriptions on the website describe the main characteristics of the services and do not constitute guarantees beyond those provided by law and these Terms.

3. Booking and conclusion of the contract

(1) The presentation of services on the website is not a binding offer but an invitation to the customer to submit an offer by making a booking (paragraph 2).

(2) Tests, training sessions and PreChecks are booked in the online calendar of the booking service eTermin, which is accessible from the Book page. By clicking the “Order with obligation to pay” button (English booking page) or the “Ordine con obbligo di pagare” button (Italian booking page), the customer submits a binding contractual offer and proceeds to payment. On the contract language, see section 11(2) and (3).

(3) The contract is concluded when the payment by PayPal or credit card has been completed. After payment, the customer receives the booking confirmation by email, which serves as confirmation of the contract.

(4) If the payment is not completed within 15 minutes of the booking, the booking is cancelled automatically and no contract is concluded.

4. Prices

(1) All prices are final prices in euros and include VAT.

(2) A surcharge may apply on certain dates, for example on public holidays; public holidays are those of the German state of Baden-Württemberg, where GAT is based. Any surcharge and the total price are shown in the booking calendar for the selected slot before the booking is completed; the total price shown is binding.

(3) Any vouchers are valid only for GAT services and are deducted from the base price, not from any surcharges.

(4) The customer bears the costs of their own internet connection and technical equipment, as well as any authority charges (section 2(4)).

5. Payment

(1) The following payment methods are accepted: PayPal and credit card.

(2) Payment is made in advance, at the time of booking; the slot is confirmed immediately after payment.

6. Slots, rescheduling and cancellation

(1) Tests, training sessions and PreChecks take place online via Zoom. The customer receives the access details by email. Calendar times are Italian time: Italy and Germany share the same time zone.

(2) Up to 24 hours before the start of the slot, the customer may move it to another available date or cancel it free of charge, using the links in the confirmation email or by informing GAT by email or phone. If the slot is cancelled by this deadline, the amount paid is refunded.

(3) After this deadline, the full fee is due and no refund is made, subject to paragraph 7.

(4) If the customer is not in the Zoom meeting within 15 minutes of the agreed start time, the entitlement to the service lapses and no refund is made.

(5) If the customer is unable to attend because of an unforeseen obstacle at short notice, for example illness, they may name another person to use the service in their place. GAT must receive this notice in text form (for example by email) at least 12 hours before the slot. For a test, the person named must also meet the requirements of section 7.

(6) If a slot cannot take place for reasons attributable to GAT, the customer may choose between a new date and a full refund of the amount paid.

(7) Paragraphs 2 to 5 do not limit the statutory right of withdrawal. As long as the right of withdrawal exists, a customer who is a consumer may withdraw even less than 24 hours before the slot; in that case the statutory effects described under Information on the right of withdrawal apply, not paragraph 3.

7. Conduct of the test

(1) Before the test, the customer sends GAT a copy of an identity document and enters the data needed for the certificate via the link received by email. On the day of the test, the customer joins the Zoom meeting about 5 minutes before the start and keeps the identity document and, if they hold one, their pilot licence at hand.

(2) At the start of the video call, the examiner verifies the candidate’s identity by comparing the document with the person on camera. If identity cannot be verified, the test cannot take place.

(3) Throughout the test, the candidate is alone in a quiet room, keeps their own camera switched on and uses no unauthorised aids or help from others. The examiner watches the candidate on video for the entire test.

(4) If unauthorised aids or help from others are used, or if there are well-founded doubts about identity, the examiner may stop the test; in that case no certificate is issued.

(5) The customer must not record tests in any form, in particular by video or audio, with AI-based transcription or summarising tools or in shorthand. Training sessions and PreChecks may only be recorded with GAT’s prior written consent.

(6) The customer must have a stable internet connection and working equipment (camera, microphone, speakers or headphones), which they can check before the test with the tech check. If the connection drops, the customer rejoins via the same Zoom link and the examiner agrees with them how to continue.

(7) The test is conducted in English.

8. Rating, result and certificate

(1) Each test is rated by two people, the examiner and a language expert (LPLE) of LTB 112, against the six criteria of the ICAO Rating Scale. The overall level is the lowest of the six scores. If necessary, Austro Control carries out an additional rating.

(2) The result and certificate are sent to the customer by email, normally within 24 hours of the test. The certificate is issued by LTB 112. On request, GAT also provides the documents on the approval of LTB 112 and on the examiner’s authorisation.

(3) If Level 4 is not reached, GAT communicates the result only to the customer, who may book a new test at any time.

(4) Under FCL.055, Level 4 must be reassessed every 4 years and Level 5 every 6 years; Level 6 requires no periodic reassessment. The validity date endorsed on the licence by the competent authority is decisive. How to submit the certificate to ENAC is explained in the guide to the ENAC licence endorsement.

9. Liability

(1) The customer’s statutory rights in the event of non-performance or defective performance remain unaffected.

(2) GAT is liable without limitation for intent and gross negligence and for damage resulting from injury to life, body or health.

(3) In the event of a breach of essential contractual obligations through slight negligence, GAT is only liable for foreseeable damage typical of the contract. Essential contractual obligations are those whose fulfilment makes the proper performance of the contract possible in the first place and on whose observance the customer may regularly rely. Otherwise, liability for slight negligence is excluded. As regards consumers, these limitations apply only to the extent permitted by the mandatory rules protecting them, in particular Articles 33 et seq. of the Italian Consumer Code.

(4) GAT has no influence on the decisions of aviation authorities, in particular on the endorsement of the level on the licence.

10. Personal data

(1) GAT processes the customer’s personal data in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) to the extent necessary for the booking, the performance of the service and the issue of the certificate.

(2) To issue the certificate, the necessary data, in particular name, date and place of birth and test date, are passed to the language testing body LTB 112. Bookings are handled via the booking service eTermin.

(3) Full details are set out in the privacy policy.

11. Contract text and language

(1) GAT stores the contract text. The booking confirmation email states the appointment details (service, date and time) and contains the withdrawal information and the model withdrawal form, as well as links to the binding German text of these Terms and to their translation in the language of the email (Italian or English); the customer can save or print both texts from their respective pages when booking. On request by email to info@german-aviation-training.de, GAT sends the customer the binding German text and the translation of these Terms in the version in force at the time of their booking.

(2) The contract language is German; German is the only language available for concluding the contract. Only the German text of these Terms (Allgemeine Geschäftsbedingungen) is binding. The Italian and English versions published on this website are translations for information purposes, intended to help the customer understand the content of the contract, the pre-contractual information and the withdrawal information; in the event of any discrepancy, the German text prevails. Mandatory consumer protection rules remain unaffected (section 12(1)).

(3) The pages of this website, the calendar of the booking service eTermin including the order button (section 3(2)) and the booking confirmation email are displayed in Italian and English to make them easier to understand; some texts of the booking service eTermin and some other automatic emails (for example the one with the link to the exam system) may appear in the other language or in German. Displaying them in one of these languages, booking via an Italian or English booking page and using Italian or English in correspondence do not make any language other than German the contract language (paragraph 2). Tests, training sessions and PreChecks are conducted in English; customer service replies in English or German.

12. Applicable law, jurisdiction and disputes

(1) The law of the Federal Republic of Germany applies, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). As regards consumers, this choice of law does not deprive them of the protection afforded by the mandatory provisions of the law of the country of their habitual residence (Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 593/2008, “Rome I”). For consumers habitually resident in Italy, in particular the provisions of the Italian Consumer Code (Legislative Decree No 206 of 6 September 2005) on distance contracts therefore continue to apply.

(2) For disputes with consumers resident or domiciled in Italy, the court of the consumer’s place of residence or domicile has mandatory jurisdiction (Article 66-bis of the Italian Consumer Code). For other consumers, the statutory rules on jurisdiction apply. For customers who are not consumers, the place of jurisdiction and performance is GAT’s place of business.

(3) GAT is neither obliged nor willing to take part in alternative dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration body.

(4) Should individual provisions be or become invalid or ineffective, the validity of the remaining provisions is not affected.

Information on the right of withdrawal

Withdrawal information based on the model in Annex 1 to Article 246a § 1(2) sentence 2 of the Introductory Act to the German Civil Code (EGBGB), corresponding to Annex I, Part A of Directive 2011/83/EU (for consumers in Italy: Article 49(4) and Annex I, Part A of the Italian Consumer Code), supplemented by the online withdrawal function. It applies to customers who are consumers. English translation for information purposes; the binding text is the German one (Widerrufsbelehrung). The Italian translation is on the Italian page.

Right of withdrawal

You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.

The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day of the conclusion of the contract.

To exercise the right of withdrawal, you must inform us (GAT – German Aviation Training, owner Tim Hittinger, Max-Planck-Straße 22, 72810 Gomaringen, Germany, phone +49 7072 1352530, email tim@german-aviation-training.de) of your decision to withdraw from this contract by an unequivocal statement (e.g. a letter sent by post or email). You may use the attached model withdrawal form, but it is not obligatory. You can also exercise your right of withdrawal online on GAT’s eTermin booking page, which you can reach from the Book page, using the withdrawal function link at the top of the page (labelled “Withdrawal” in the English version and, for now, “Vertrag widerrufen” in the Italian version). If you use this online function, we will send you an acknowledgement of receipt of the withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by email) without undue delay, including its content and the date and time of its submission.

To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.

Effects of withdrawal

If you withdraw from this contract, we shall reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (with the exception of the supplementary costs resulting from your choice of a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us), without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract. We will carry out such reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.

If you requested to begin the performance of services during the withdrawal period, you shall pay us an amount which is in proportion to what has been provided until you have communicated to us your withdrawal from this contract, in comparison with the full coverage of the contract.

Slot within 14 days: request for performance during the withdrawal period

If the selected slot falls within the withdrawal period, GAT only performs the service during that period at the customer’s express request. With this request, the customer also acknowledges that they will lose the right of withdrawal once GAT has fully performed the contract (§ 357a(2) and § 356(4) BGB; Article 51(8) of the Italian Consumer Code).

The request must be made by an active statement before performance begins: by ticking the relevant box (which is not pre-ticked) in the booking form, or by email to info@german-aviation-training.de, using wording such as: “I hereby expressly request that GAT begin performance of the service contract on [date of the slot], i.e. before the withdrawal period expires, and I acknowledge that I will lose my right of withdrawal once GAT has fully performed the contract.” Accepting these Terms does not count as a request.

If the selected slot falls within the withdrawal period and no request has been received before performance begins, GAT does not perform the service on that date: in agreement with the customer, the slot is moved free of charge to another available date (within the withdrawal period only once the request has been made) or, if the customer prefers, cancelled with a full refund of the amount paid. Section 6(3) and (4) do not apply in this case.

If the selected slot falls after the end of the withdrawal period, no request is needed.

End of the right of withdrawal and proportional amount

The right of withdrawal ends once the service has been fully performed, if performance began with the customer’s prior express consent and acknowledgement that they would lose the right of withdrawal once GAT had fully performed the contract (§ 356(4) BGB; Article 59(1)(a) of the Italian Consumer Code).

If the customer has requested performance during the withdrawal period and withdraws after performance has begun but before it has been completed (for example after the Zoom test session but before the result and certificate have been sent), they pay an amount in proportion to what has been provided up to the time they communicated the withdrawal, in comparison with all the services provided for in the contract (§ 357a(2) BGB; Article 57(3) of the Italian Consumer Code); GAT refunds the rest of the payments received. If the customer withdraws before the start of the slot, no amount is due and GAT refunds the full amount paid.

Withdrawal and free rescheduling: which applies?

The rescheduling and cancellation rules in section 6 are contractual provisions of GAT that apply in addition to the statutory rights and do not limit them:

• During the withdrawal period a customer who is a consumer may withdraw at any time, even less than 24 hours before the slot. The statutory effects described above apply, not the 24-hour rule.
• After the withdrawal period has ended, the rules in section 6 apply: free rescheduling and cancellation up to 24 hours before; after that the full fee is due.

Model withdrawal form

Under Annex 2 to Article 246a § 1(2) sentence 1 no. 1 EGBGB and Article 49(1)(h) of the Italian Consumer Code (Annex I, Part B). English translation for information purposes; the binding text is the German one (Muster-Widerrufsformular). The Italian translation is on the Italian page.

Note on completing the form: for GAT services, delete “of sale of the following goods” and “received on”, state the service booked (for example, Levels 4–6 test with the date and time of the slot) and the order date.

Last updated: October 2026