The BZF exam: process, fees and registration

BZF II, BZF I or AZF?

The Flugfunkverordnung (§ 2) distinguishes, among others:

• BZF II: radio on flights under visual flight rules (VFR) within Germany, in German.
• BZF I: radio on VFR flights in German and English.
• AZF: radio on VFR and IFR flights in German and English. The AZF is only available as an additional exam for BZF holders.

Requirements and registration

For the BZF you must be at least 15; you can take the exam up to three months earlier (§§ 3 and 8 FlugfunkV). The examining authority is the Bundesnetzagentur.

You register in writing with the application for admission to the exam. It must reach the Bundesnetzagentur at least 14 days before the exam date; the authority sets the date. The fee is payable in advance. Exam locations according to the form: Berlin, Bremen, Eschborn, Cologne, Leipzig, Munich and Reutlingen.

What does the exam cost?

The fees are set in Annex 2 of the Flugfunkverordnung:

• BZF II: €80
• BZF I: €95
• Additional exam from BZF II to BZF I: €80
• Repeating only the theory part: €56
• Repeating only the practical part: €63 (BZF II) or €75 (BZF I)

The theory part

Knowledge is tested in writing, in German: you tick the correct answer on the answer sheet. The questions come from the Bundesnetzagentur’s catalogue for BZF II and BZF I – 261 questions, valid from 1 May 2024. In the catalogue answer A is always correct; in the exam the answers are shuffled.

The Flugfunkverordnung does not set how many questions you get or how much time you have.

The practical part

According to Annex 1 of the Flugfunkverordnung:

• Preparing a VFR flight from and to an aerodrome with air traffic control, using official documents and publications.
• Radio communication for this flight with the prescribed phrases and procedures, including distress and urgency procedures – in German for the BZF II, in German and English for the BZF I.
• BZF I only: reading an English text from the aeronautical publications (about 800 characters) and translating it orally into German.

Passed?

An examination board of a chair and at least one assessor decides on the result. You pass if you have shown sufficient knowledge and skills in all parts (§§ 7 and 8 FlugfunkV).

Passed the theory in your PPL exam?

The Bundesnetzagentur recognises the theory exam for a pilot licence under EU Regulation 1178/2011 if all parts were passed. You then only take the practical part (€63 for BZF II, €75 for BZF I). The certificate for this is valid for 24 months from the theory exam.

From BZF II to BZF I

The BZF I is available as a full exam or as an additional exam for BZF II holders. The additional exam drops the theory part and the German radio part; flight preparation, radio in English and the English text remain. A failed additional exam is repeated in full at the full fee.

English: language proficiency is separate

If you use the radio in English, you need proof of your English skills (language proficiency) in addition to the radio certificate. The language test can also be taken at the Bundesnetzagentur and combined with the radio exam (§ 15 FlugfunkV).

Practice with BZF Hero

For the practical part, BZF Hero lets you fly real routes from and to aerodromes with air traffic control and talk to the controller by voice – in German, in English or mixed. In exam mode you talk without help. For the theory part, every catalogue question is included.

Sources (as of 27 October 2026, in German)

• Verordnung über Flugfunkzeugnisse (FlugfunkV)
• Verordnung über Luftfahrtpersonal (LuftPersV), § 7
• Bundesnetzagentur: Flugfunk
• Bundesnetzagentur: Antrag auf Zulassung zur Prüfung (PDF)
• Bundesnetzagentur: Antrag nur praktischer Teil (PDF)
• Bundesnetzagentur: Prüfungsfragen BZF II und BZF I (PDF)

No liability for accuracy. The Flugfunkverordnung and the Bundesnetzagentur’s current information are binding.