Tailwind Aviation Academy offers a life-changing opportunity to Frankford High School students

PHILADELPHIA - Two months ago, Jonathan Suarez, a Tailwinds Aviation Academy scholarship recipient from Frankford High School, completed his first instructor check ride at Northeast Philadelphia Airport. 

A 2024 Frankford graduate, Suarez joined the Tailwinds program in the fall of  2022 and in less than three years he has reached a major milestone, becoming a certificated flight instructor - and it is his dream of paving the way for the generations behind him.

“I am more centered and focused on helping the new generation that is coming up through the Frankford program and to be able to show them the path that I took in order for them to be able to get all the certificates and be be successful,” said Suarez when asked about his future plans with aviation. “It is an honor and a pleasure to be able to plant a seed.”

The Academy, which was founded and launched by Howard Cooper, offers a scholarship program to students at Frankford High School.

And as it is written on the Philadelphia School District website, “The Frankford Aviation Academy is a one-of-a-kind program."

This program gives students the opportunity to train with flight instructors from Tailwinds to take steps towards earning a private pilot certificate. 

In the first year of the program, students take the “Science of Flight” course. After completion of the course they are able to decide which path they want to take. 

The program gives the students the opportunity to become a drone pilot, airplane pilot, or aircraft mechanic. 

Cooper, who has been an aviation teacher at Frankford since 2019, explained that Suarez has completed 300 hours out of a required 1500 hours that will make him eligible to be employed by an airline. 

“I know that flight training is a life-changing experience,” said Cooper. “These kids have learned so much, and they change, and it is a privilege for me to watch [Suarez] change.” 

Frankford students in the Philadelphia School District's "Aviation Capstone" course are participating in one of the pathways of the Aviation Academy. 

They train with flight instructors from Tailwinds to work towards earning their private pilot certificate. 

Students in the drone pilot and aircraft mechanic pathways take additional courses at Frankford, while those in the airplane pilot pathway start their training through Tailwinds during their 11th grade year.  

Currently, there are 50 students enrolled in the Aviation Academy and expectations are that the enrollment will grow to more than 70 students in the 2025-26 school year. 

Frankford High School student prepares for takeoff with Suarez.

The majority of the current students are in the first-year course. Most students in their second year of the program are enrolled in either the drone-pilot or aircraft mechanic courses. A select few are signed up for the airplane pilot program. 

The students in the pilot program have been training with their flight instructors since their 11th grade year and are able to fly solo in their airplane as they keep progressing towards getting their license. 

Two former students (class of '24) work for Tailwinds, one of them as a flight instructor. 

One of the12th graders earned his pilot's license in April, and is now working on getting his instrument rating which will allow him to fly in clouds and bad weather. 

The other 12th grader should be ready to take his final test to earn his pilot's license by the end of the school year. There is an 11th grader who is training as well, and should be ready to do his first solo flight by the end of the month.

As for Suarez, he was beaming when talking of what he's accomplished so far and the path he's blazed for future Frankford students.

“I am very proud of myself,” said Suarez. “It hasn’t been an easy journey to get here.”

Frankford High School students who are interested in following in Suarez's footsteps can learn how to apply for the program through the Philadelphia School District website.