Free DLR test preparation app for the BU/GU pilot selection (2026)
Free DLR test preparation app for the 2026 BU/GU pilot selection: Brain Preflight gives you 5 free sessions every day for the DLR CBT skills, a free alternative to paid SkyTest software. Brain Preflight provides free daily iPhone practice for cognitive skills used in DLR pilot selection. Train memory, mental maths, spatial reasoning and divided attention with 5 free sessions each day, choosing any exercise. Installed exercises work offline. This guide includes worked examples and a three-week practice plan.
Choose the guide for your route: DLR-Test BU/GU kostenlos üben (German).
Comparing DLR prep apps? Read our free SkyTest alternative comparison.
Independent guide by the Brain Preflight app developer.
What is the DLR pilot certificate?
The DLR Certificate Cockpit reports an assessment of cognitive abilities, professional competencies, personality and social competencies. It is not itself an airline admission decision. Older descriptions of a fixed BU/FQ pathway may not describe the route you are applying for today.
European Flight Academy’s FAQ describes certificate ratings from A to D and separate requirements for applying. Check the current requirements for your chosen programme rather than converting a practice percentage into a certificate rating.
DLR’s preparation schedule
DLR provides preparation access with the invitation and recommends spreading the specified sessions over three weeks where possible. Use that material to learn the actual task instructions. Our plan below helps you organise supplementary work around it.
Plan your practice by skill
EFA lists mathematics, English and technical knowledge alongside memory, spatial, attention, psychomotor and multitasking skills. List the skills you want to work on, then choose a short practice session and review the mistakes you make.
Original practice examples with worked answers
Try these original practice examples before opening each explanation. Review the method, then try a fresh example using the same approach.
1. Mental calculation with a check
Calculate 15% of 240, then add 18.
Show answer and method
54. Ten percent of 240 is 24; five percent is half of that, 12. Add them to get 36, then add 18. Check the instruction order: adding 18 to 240 before taking 15% would solve a different problem.
2. Spatial reasoning with two turns
Imagine an arrow pointing east. Rotate it 90° anticlockwise, then 180° clockwise. Where does it point?
Show answer and method
South. East to north is the first turn. North to south is the second. Draw the intermediate orientation when reviewing an error; skipping that state can hide a reversed direction. This is a simple spatial warm-up, not a DLR test item.
3. A basic mechanics refresher
An ideal lever is balanced. A 20 N force acts 0.30 m to the left of the pivot. What downward force is needed 0.60 m to the right? Ignore the lever’s weight.
Show answer and method
10 N. Equal and opposite turning moments balance: 20 × 0.30 = F × 0.60. So F = 6 ÷ 0.60 = 10 N. Check the physical intuition: the longer arm needs less force. Both forces are perpendicular to the lever in this example.
A suggested three-week DLR preparation plan
Use this three-week framework to organise your sessions. Adjust the pace and focus to your starting point and appointment date.
| When | What to do | What to review |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1: understand | Complete the prescribed familiarisation and list unclear instructions. Review arithmetic methods and technical basics. | Keep an error log separating knowledge gaps, instruction errors and slips. |
| Week 2: practise deliberately | Continue the official schedule. Add short memory, spatial or attention drills for the weaknesses you identified. | Compare like-for-like practice settings. Review errors before increasing speed. |
| Week 3: consolidate | Return to the prescribed materials and review recurring mistakes. Practise working attentively in planned blocks with breaks. | Check appointment details and required documents. Keep the final evening light. |
Keep a simple practice log: date, exercise, difficulty, correct answers, time and one mistake to fix. Compare sessions with the same settings. Use the log to choose what to practise next.
Where Brain Preflight fits in DLR preparation
Practise arithmetic, memory, spatial reasoning and attention with Brain Preflight on iPhone. Pick an exercise, work through a short session and review your progress. Here is what you can practise in the app.
| Practice area | In Brain Preflight |
|---|---|
| Arithmetic and reasoning | Calculation grid and Logic sequences. |
| Memory and spatial skills | 2-back memory, Stacks and Cube nets. |
| Attention and multitasking | Shapes & colors and Psychomotor combine focused or divided attention practice. |
Brain Preflight at a glance
- Platform: iPhone.
- Languages: Available in 5 languages: English, French, German, Spanish and Dutch.
- Free access: five practice sessions per day, with an optional paid Premium tier.
- Offline practice: exercises run offline; online services and purchases require a connection.
- Scores: 1–9 practice levels to follow your progress across sessions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I retake the DLR certificate examination?
Yes. DLR currently states that certificate examinations can be repeated. Confirm booking conditions and the receiving airline or school’s requirements before arranging another attempt.
Which Brain Preflight exercises can I use in my DLR preparation routine?
Practise calculation and logic, 2-back memory, cube nets, attention and multitasking in short iPhone sessions. The daily practice mode and progress views help you organise your routine.
How does Brain Preflight track progress?
The app uses its own 1–9 practice levels, session history and progress views. Compare sessions on the same exercise and settings to decide what to practise next.
Official sources and editorial notes
- DLR: Certificate Cockpit — Certificate purpose, preparation and repeat examinations.
- European Flight Academy: FAQ — Certificate ratings, preparation access and application requirements.
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. The examples, suggested schedules and app comparisons are our own. Your invitation and the provider’s current instructions take precedence if a format or policy changes.
Comparing assessment routes? Read COMPASS preparation · cut-e / Aon preparation.