VAI scholarship winner Philipp Zahn has a passion for aviation In this VAI Daily series, discover how VAI scholarship recipients have turned opportunity into achievement—and how you can do the same. Are you ready to give your aviation education a boost? The VAI scholarship program is back for 2026, with scholarships available in aviation maintenance, commercial helicopter pilot ratings, and pilot safety. A benefit exclusively for VAI members, the scholarships help vertical aviation pilots, mechanics, engineers, and aspiring professionals cover the costs of their education and training. Not a VAI member? Join the association and enjoy access to the VAI scholarship program as well as a host of additional educational, safety, and other benefits. Then, learn more about the program and submit your application for a 2026 VAI scholarship by the submission deadline of Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. As the submission deadline approaches, we are highlighting past VAI scholarship winners in a series of articles in VAI Daily. In this installment, we talk with Philipp Zahn, 28, recipient of the 2025 WINCO Commercial Helicopter Pilot Rating Scholarship, presented by WINCO Powerline Services. Zahn shares his thoughts about his dream job, his greatest mentors, and more. VAI Daily: What inspires you about the idea of working within the vertical aviation community? Philipp Zahn: What attracted me most about vertical aviation is its diversity and openness. Almost every topic is being discussed [in the industry], and I’ve been able to gain highly interesting insights from other pilots and experts. VAI provides a strong foundation for all helicopter pilots and, by connecting pilots worldwide, strengthens exchange and safety best practices. This helps build a strong and resilient community, which I find very motivating and inspiring. How has the VAI scholarship helped you meet your education goals? The scholarship has been a great financial support, covering a significant part of the costs and relieving pressure on me as a student pilot. Since learning is already such a demanding task, the support from the scholarship has truly given me a clearer head in the cockpit. Additionally, attending VERTICON 2025 was a highlight of my pilot career to this point, as it allowed me to make valuable contacts and gain insights into the industry. What is your dream job in aviation? I’ve been involved in emergency services and firefighting since childhood. My dream job is to become an air medical or firefighting pilot. Those operational areas aren’t just a job for me—they’re a passion. I’m starting as a tour pilot at a colleague’s company, which will allow me to gain further valuable experience in the industry. Who is your greatest mentor and why? My greatest mentors are my flight instructors at my flight school, Veracity Aviation. They’ve always guided me with patience and the right advice. When I’ve been close to getting frustrated, they’ve helped me relax and enjoy flying again. Friedrich Karl from Germany has been an outstanding mentor, [trusting me], helping me find my way into the industry, and even recently taking me on my first crossing of the Alps—which is an absolute dream for any European pilot. What do you view as the biggest challenges facing the vertical aviation profession? The greatest challenge right now is the need for motivated and hardworking young student pilots who truly identify with the profession—not just as a job, but as a passion. Taking your first steps in the industry is particularly difficult in Europe, where barriers to entry remain in place despite the known shortage and high demand. Student pilots are eager to learn and are willing to follow all training and maneuvering guidelines and can therefore help raise aviation safety to new levels in the future.
