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Is Flight Training Right For You?

727-461-5229

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About Us

Find Out More About Florida's Premier Flight School
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World Class Instructors & Staff

Unlike other flight schools, Tampa Bay Aviation offers twice the amount of aircraft and instructors which allows for better flexibility in your schedule to train and build up the flight hours that you need to attain your license. You’ll find that our highly professional culture is very friendly, approachable, and sociable, giving you the ability to feel at ease as you complete your training.

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Our Story

Tampa Bay Aviation began in 2012 with one helicopter and the dream to expand general aviation and the passion for flight to the Tampa Bay area. Since that time, we have grown to four locations providing charter, flight instruction, tours, and aircraft maintenance. It is our desire to maintain the “local” company presence, with the “global” reach that today’s aviation customers demand.

Our flight school fleet includes some of the most cutting-edge aircraft with advanced cockpits on par with commercial airliners. Our pilots and instructors are some of the most respected in the area, with the knowledge and experience for every level.

Tampa Bay Aviation has an aircraft for almost every mission and budget. From a helicopter that can drop you on the golf course to the largest King Air turboprop to reach halfway across the United States. Our CitationJet can whisk you away to hundreds of locations in the southeast and is one fuel stop away from the western US.

Whether you want to accomplish your lifetime dream to become a pilot, tour our beaches from the air, or charter a private aircraft to your own paradise, Tampa Bay Aviation can serve your needs.

Our Four Locations

Tampa Bay Aviation offers Private to ATP training in Fixed Wing and Rotorcraft Aircraft

Clearwater Airport

1000 North Hercules Ave.
Clearwater, FL 33765
Phone: 727-461-5229

ALBERT WHITTED AIRPORT

540 1st Street Southeast
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: (727) 461-5229

ST. PETE-CLEARWATER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

14609 Airport Parkway #210
Clearwater, Fl 33762

TAMPA EXECUTIVE AIRPORT

6530 Tampa Executive Airport Rd #242
Tampa, FL 33610

Meet the Crew

JASON PAUL

Chief Fixed-Wing Pilot

Bio coming soon

ISAIAH KARSEN

Assistant Chief Fixed-Wing Pilot

Isaiah was born and raised in Michigan. He attended North Western Michigan college where he earned his pilot ratings up to commercial license. During his commercial check ride process he had come down to Florida to fly (better weather) and finished his commercial, CFI, CFII, and MEI ratings. Isaiah was hired directly from our CFI class when a spot opened up. His goal is to earn his hours and work for a regional airline or a cargo company.

Isaiah has the following ratings:

  • Commercial: Airplane Single Engine Land, Multi Engine Land
  • Certified Flight Instructor: Airplane CFI, CFII, MEI

CARLO BIAGINI

Gold Seal Flight Instructor, Helicopter Flight Instructor

Carlo is from Santa Rosa, California and began instructing in airplanes in 1991. After 12 years of fixed wing instruction, he decided it was time for a change and began a new challenge instructing in helicopters. He considers himself fortunate to have joined the exceptional team at Tampa Bay Aviation in 2018. Carlo would eventually like to pursue a career in fire fighting, EMS, or Search and Rescue

Carlo Biagini has the following ratings:

  • Airline Transport Pilot: Helicopter, Airplane Multi Engine Land
  • Commercial: Helicopter, Airplane Single Engine Land
  • Flight Instructor: Helicopter CFI, CFII; Airplane CFI, CFII, MEI
  • Ground Instructor: Advanced, Instrument

ANGELO TSILIANOS

Angelo was born and raised in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Worked on the water as a Master Merchant Mariner (aka boat captain) since 2011, then began pursuing his childhood dream after taking an intro flight with TBA in 2020 and is currently working on becoming a flight instructor as he loves to teach and inspire others. He would like to eventually work for EMS and law enforcement.

Angelo holds the following ratings:

  • Commercial: Helicopter

TONY JOHNSTONE

Aerobatic Airplane Flight Instructor

Tony Johnstone, MD, has been flying since high school in 1967.  He has been instructing aerobatics and tailwheel since 2003 and has given over 2000 hours of dual in his Super Decathlon.  Tony also holds a CFII, MEI, ATP with 2 type ratings in jets, Commercial Seaplane and Glider ratings, and has been in the past designated Master CFI-Aerobatic.  He is a FAASTEAM rep with the Tampa FSDO and a retired general surgeon who practiced in Canada and then Kansas for a total of 30 years.  Tony worked as a demo/transportation pilot for Cessna in Wichita following his retirement from surgery.

Tony has the following ratings:

  • ATP: Airplane Multi-Engine Land
  • Type Rating:  C525, C560XLS
  • Commercial: Airplane Single Engine Land, Multi-Engine Land, Single Engine Seaplane, Glider
  • Certified Flight Instructor: Airplane CFI, CFII, MEI
  • Ground Instructor: Advanced
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