Q&A with Philipp Zeitel

Introducing Philipp Zeitel, Airways International’s new Regional Director – Australia, USA & Rest of the World.

Since joining Airways more than 14 years ago, Philipp has contributed to major advances in air traffic control training, selection and programme quality, including leading quality assurance across a broad range of training programmes.

In this Q&A, Philipp reflects on his career path, the perspectives he brings to this new regional role, and how he plans to support customers and strengthen partnerships across diverse global markets.

Philipp, what does your new role with Airways International mean to you, and what excites you most about this next chapter?

It feels like a logical next step after many years working across ATC training, recruitment, and quality management. Those roles have given me a solid grounding in what we do, how we do it, and what we are particularly good at. I’m looking forward to taking that knowledge into a commercial context; not just to drive growth and sales for Airways International, but also to provide solutions that customers actually need. 

Another big part of the appeal is the opportunity to broaden of Airways International and build stronger internal and external relationships.

You’ve been with Airways for more than 14 years, with roles in training, campus management, and quality assurance. How has your journey prepared you for this new role?

Starting in training delivery gave me a practical understanding of how Airways training services come together on the ground. In my role as Training Quality Manager, I then developed a deeper understanding of the regulatory frameworks and assessment methodologies that sit behind that delivery. My involvement in ATC recruitment and selection also gave me a clearer understanding of what makes a strong candidate, and how that shows up in training performance later on.

I think that combination gives me a good balance between the commercial side and the operational reality of training delivery. When you understand the complexities of ATC training and selection, building rapport with customers comes much more naturally.

Airways has achieved strong ATC training success rates in recent years. What’s contributed to that success, and how does it influence the way you approach global markets?

One big part is the consistency in how we run our selection process through SureSelect, the ATC selection tool developed by Airways International. We have been using this platform for a long time now, for selecting ATCs for Airways and other global ANSPs such as Airservices Australia, and ATC selection is really about finding the needle in the haystack.

Having purpose-built assessments for the ATC role, rather than relying on generic aptitude testing, makes a real difference. The SureSelect process is also delivered by people who understand the job (i.e. controllers, instructors and HR specialists) so we are assessing what actually matters operationally.

However, selection alone is not enough – the training side is just as important, both ab initio and on-job training. We focus on helping trainees succeed, especially when they hit difficult periods.

We know that many ANSPs globally are dealing with low ATC training pass rates, and that shapes how we approach the market. We’re not just offering a product – we can outline a process and methodology that has been proven over time. That tends to resonate because it’s grounded in real outcomes.

What opportunities do you see across the markets your role covers, and where do you anticipate the greatest potential for growth?

When it comes to our TotalControl simulators, I feel our offering is genuinely different. The quality of the visuals stands out, and just as importantly, our ability to respond quickly to customer needs. That flexibility matters a lot to ANSPs. We’re also seeing increasing interest in more scalable solutions like cloud-based simulators and mobile systems like Sim-in-a-Suitcase, which opens up markets that don’t have the infrastructure or resources for large fixed installations.

I also think AI is going to play a significant role in how simulation is used, and soon. There’s already growing momentum around AI-assisted sim piloting and exercise generation, which has the potential to improve training capacity, realism, and efficiency – all areas that are a big focus for Airways and many of our customers. At the same time, the global ATC shortage continues to drive demand for both our SureSelect offering and our ATC training delivery capability.

I think there is also a growing opportunity in consulting and know-how. Many ANSPs are looking for targeted support across a range of areas, which plays well to our strengths as an operational ANSP with a proven track record.

How are global expectations in the areas of ATC selection and competency-based training changing, and how is Airways positioned to respond?

One of the key learnings from our decades of experience in ATC selection and training is that training success doesn’t come from a one-size-fits-all approach. It comes from selecting the right candidates and giving them a training system that allows them to progress at an appropriate pace.

At the same time, while technology is evolving quickly, the importance of core controlling skills hasn’t changed. Situational awareness, decision-making, and communication remain fundamental, and competency-based training provides a strong framework to maintain those standards.

From an Airways perspective, that aligns well with how we’ve been operating. We’ve built strong outcomes by combining evidence-based selection with competency-based training, and by keeping a clear focus on both performance and adaptability.

What are your priorities for the next 6-12 months, and what message would you like to share with our customers and partners?

My priority right now is getting out and making new connections, and reinforcing existing ones. Whether that’s with current partners or potential customers, I want to have good conversations, understand what people are working on, what their pain points are, and where we might be able to help.

For those we haven’t worked with yet, I’m always open to a conversation. And for our customers and partners, I hope to continue the work we’ve already started together. I’m looking forward to catching up with many of you at Airspace World in Lisbon.