Aviation Performance Solutions Names Tom Waitkus Vice President of UPRT Solutions
Why It MattersThe leadership change shows UPRT providers building out sales and aircraft-specific training capacity as business aviation and airline pilots increasingly look for type-tailored upset recovery programs.
Aviation Performance Solutions (APS), a US-based Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) provider headquartered at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa, Arizona, has appointed Tom Waitkus as Vice President of UPRT Solutions. The appointment follows his previous leadership roles within the company, which continues to develop aircraft-specific UPRT programs for professional pilots.
Waitkus has more than 7,000 flight hours and over 20 years of aviation and business experience, including work as a Boeing 737 Captain, corporate and charter pilot, air ambulance pilot, cargo pilot and flight instructor. He previously served as Senior UPRT Advisor at APS before being promoted to Director of UPRT Solutions and Sales in 2023. His background also includes business development, marketing and corporate client relationship management, as well as managing safety operations at a Part 141 flight school and implementing safety management initiatives for FAA Part 121 and Part 135 operators.
APS earlier outlined a 2026 growth strategy focused on expanding its sales and pilot teams, increasing technology integration and developing its UPRT offerings, and subsequently introduced aircraft-family-specific training programs for Gulfstream, Dassault and Pilatus pilots. Established in 2005, the company delivers aircraft-based, simulator and virtual-reality training for airline, business aviation, military and other professional pilots, and operates a fleet of nine training aircraft: six Extra 300L aerobatic aircraft and three SIAI-Marchetti S211 jet trainers.
