Get to know us
SchleifAir is a specialised consultancy for organisations operating in complex, highly-regulated, and safety-critical environments.
Our approach transfers proven principles from aviation - particularly systems thinking, safety culture, human factors, and decision-making under uncertainty - into leadership, organisational design, and innovation: Aviation-grade thinking.
We support leaders, teams, and institutions in structuring complexity, making well-informed decisions, and building effective governance structures.
SchleifAir works internationally with companies, startups, associations, public institutions, and organisations in aviation, technology, and other highly regulated industries.
Founder & CEO
Christian Schleifer is an internationally active consultant, speaker, and aviation expert with extensive experience at the intersection of aviation, regulation, international governance, and organisational leadership.
His professional career combines operational aviation experience with leading roles in international institutions and global governance structures.
International Aviation Policy
From 2022 to 2025, Christian served as a member of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a UN specialised agency responsible for global civil aviation.
In this role, he acted as a State representative, diplomatic negotiator and chair of several international forums, including those addressing topics such as:
- global aviation strategy
- innovation policy
- climate targets and aviation CO₂ neutrality
- cybersecurity
- international governance and trust frameworks
European Standardisation
From 2014 to 2021, he served as Director General and CEO of EUROCAE, the leading European organisation for aviation standardisation headquartered in Paris.
During this period, he strategically advanced the organisation, modernised its processes, and strengthened its international cooperation.
Today, EUROCAE coordinates 48 international working groups with more than 3,500 experts from industry, authorities, and research institutions worldwide.
Technical & Operational Expertise
Christian served as a member of the ICAO Air Navigation Commission (ANC), the technical body responsible for developing global aviation standards. In 2012 and 2013, he was elected President of the Commission.
He is a licensed pilot, maintenance engineer and has spent many years working at the intersection of flight operations, airworthiness, certification, standardisation, policy and regulation. This combination of operational experience, regulatory understanding, and international governance expertise shapes the consulting approach of SchleifAir.