Tailwinds Academy of Aviation: Flight School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Tailwinds Academy of Aviation in Philadelphia, photo 1

Tailwinds Academy of Aviation in Philadelphia, photo 2

Tailwinds Academy of Aviation in Philadelphia, photo 3

Photos via Google Maps; they belong to their authors.

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
School Type: Local flight school
Training Focus: Pilot training
Home Airport: Northeast Philadelphia Airport (KPNE)
Google Rating: 4.9 (38 reviews)

Call (215) 677-1240 Get Directions Visit Website

Listing data is maintained editorially and confirmed with schools over time. Programs and pricing change; verify details directly before enrolling.

Hours

Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

See It on the Map

What Students and Pilots Say

★★★★★ 11 months ago

I did an intro flight with Jonathan Suarez at Tailwinds Aviation School and it was awesome. I was a little nervous at first, but Jonathan walked me through everything and made it feel really comfortable. The whole experience was amazing—and the landing was actually smoother than a lot of commercial flights I’ve been on! Awesome experience right here in Philly--flight school sounds very intriguing as well. Looking fo…
john nacey via Google

★★★★☆ 4 years ago

The communication before the scheduling was good and fast. What I really love about this company that they improve themselves and do their best to address any limitations. Bonnie Day the Office Manager is fantastic and a great person to work with. He was able to solve all issues immediately with no hesitation. The instructor was competent. We felt safe with him and he showed two maneuvers with us. Definitely we wil…
Dr. Ñeşreeñ Ñãssęr via Google

★★★★★ 2 years ago

Just got my PPL, and tailwinds made my journey fun and easy. Owner, instructors and staff, everyone is very professional and helpful. More than once their staff drove down to the airfield just to help me, they didn't charge a handful of my flights that I'd to discontinue (even due to weather), and every instructor was very approachable if I'd any questions. Special thanks to the owner Howard, Max, Brendan, Lauren and…
Ali Abbas via Google

★★★★★ 4 years ago

I started my flight training at another school and decided I needed a change. A friend with the hanger next to Howard suggested I look into Tailwinds and I've never looked back. Friendly experienced staff and well maintained aircraft make this a great place to learn to fly. The other benefit is training at a towered airport, it really gives you the full experience and helps sharpen your radio skills.
Scott Haskell via Google

Reviews via Google Maps; they belong to their authors and are not our endorsement.

Planning Your Training Here

Planning training at a local school like Tailwinds Academy of Aviation trades the academy's speed for flexibility and often meaningfully lower total cost. The pay-as-you-fly model keeps your money in your control, and training two to three lessons weekly around work is the proven rhythm, enough frequency to retain skills without the academy's all-in schedule. The variable to manage is momentum: local-school students who succeed book standing lesson slots, fly year-round, and treat ground study as homework rather than something that happens at the airport. Ask about aircraft scheduling depth, instructor availability on your target days, and examiner wait times in Philadelphia, the three friction points that stretch part-time timelines.

What Flying in Pennsylvania Teaches You

Pennsylvania's ridge-and-valley terrain wrote the textbook on mechanical turbulence: parallel Appalachian ridges that bend the wind into rotors and waves every gusty day. Students learn terrain-aware planning between Philadelphia's and Pittsburgh's Class B anchors, with weather that rotates through everything the mid-Atlantic owns.

How to Evaluate Tailwinds Academy of Aviation on Your Tour

Every school on this directory gets the same advice from us, because the fundamentals don't move. Walk the ramp and count how many aircraft are down for maintenance. Ask how many lessons a week they can actually schedule you, and how far out the booking calendar runs. Ask for first-attempt checkride pass rates and how long students wait for an examiner. And keep your money in your control: pay as you fly, or in small blocks with clear refund terms.

Then weigh the location itself. Training in Philadelphia means building your early hours in Pennsylvania weather and airspace, and both become part of your airmanship. Our school-selection guide covers the full vetting checklist, and the financing page maps scholarships and loans that apply at schools like this one.

Common Questions About Training at Tailwinds Academy of Aviation

How long would my training take here?

Part-time students flying two to three lessons weekly typically earn a private certificate in six to twelve months and a commercial certificate in two to three years, with pace set by your calendar and the weather. Consistency decides everything: standing lesson slots beat sporadic bursts by months.

What will it cost, and can I get help paying?

Get Tailwinds Academy of Aviation's current rates directly; published numbers age fast in this industry. Nationally, plan on $80,000 to $120,000 from zero time to commercial certificates before instructing pay starts offsetting costs. Our financing guide maps the loans, scholarships, and airline cadet programs that apply here, and several scholarship cycles go undersubscribed every single year.

How should I arrange a visit?

Call ahead and ask for a tour on a normal training day, not a quiet one. Use the directions button above to plan the drive to Philadelphia, arrive early enough to watch ramp operations, and bring the vetting checklist from this page. A school proud of its operation will show you everything; hesitation is itself an answer.

Get Matched

Considering Tailwinds Academy of Aviation? Tell us your goal and timeline and we'll line this school up against comparable options near you, with the financing routes and scholarship deadlines that fit. One form, no spam, a real reply within a business day.