A Dream That Took Flight in Northeast Philly

CBS News recently covered a special Tailwinds Academy story: one of its very first high school students, Jonathan Suarez, is now a 20‑year‑old certified flight instructor who has returned to teach the next generation of Philadelphia pilots.

When CBS News Philadelphia first met Jonathan Suarez, he was a 16‑year‑old student at Frankford High School taking his very first steps into aviation through Tailwinds Academy of Aviation. Back then, he described himself as “getting one step closer to becoming what I want to be,” and those first lessons at Northeast Philadelphia Airport opened a door he hadn’t imagined was within reach.

Today, Jonathan is a certificated flight instructor (CFI) and a professional pilot, flying out of the same busy, towered airport where he once sat in the right seat as a nervous teenager. For him, aviation is both a career and a feeling.

“It’s the freedom,” he explained. “You’re in the airplane and you’re just free.”

Tailwinds’ Mission: Opportunity, Discipline, and Confidence

Tailwinds Academy of Aviation was founded by Executive Director Howard Cooper as Philadelphia’s only 501(c)(3) nonprofit flight school, with a clear mission: use aviation to open doors for young people and underrepresented communities. Through tuition‑based training and full scholarships for select Frankford High School Aviation Academy students, the program blends technical excellence with mentorship, discipline, and real‑world responsibility.

Students must be accepted into the program and maintain their grades, learning that flying is about more than stick‑and‑rudder skills. As Cooper puts it, the real impact is the “knowledge that they have succeeded at something very few people have” — the self‑confidence that comes from piloting an aircraft safely and professionally. That confidence is exactly what helped Jonathan, a first‑generation American, go “from being that kid in Philadelphia to being a professional pilot.”

From Student to Instructor: Jonathan’s Full‑Circle Story

With support from the School District of Philadelphia, Jonathan became one of Tailwinds Academy’s first Frankford High School students to begin formal flight training. Within a few years, he progressed from introductory lessons to earning his pilot certificates and instructor credentials, ultimately returning to the same school that launched his journey.

Now, as a CFI at Tailwinds, Jonathan is guiding new students through pre‑flight briefings, hands‑on flying, and the same busy KPNE airspace that sharpened his own skills. Recent students describe flying with him as “one of the best experiences of my life,” noting his calm presence, clear communication, and ability to make first‑time pilots feel both safe and empowered in the cockpit.

“One of the best experiences of my life.”

His story sends a powerful message to every student who walks through Tailwinds’ doors: this isn’t just a program, it’s a pathway. With dedication, support, and the right instruction, a teenager from Northeast Philadelphia can become a professional pilot — and then come back to help others climb even higher.

Opening the Skies to the Next Generation

Tailwinds Academy’s story with Jonathan Suarez is just one example of how accessible, high‑quality flight training can change a young person’s trajectory. From introductory 30‑minute lessons to full commercial and instructor‑level training, the school’s safety‑first, mentorship‑driven approach turns curiosity into competence and competence into confidence.

For Frankford High School students in the Aviation Academy, Tailwinds provides scholarship‑based flight training that can lead to a private pilot certificate and beyond — all while reinforcing discipline, academic excellence, and long‑term career vision. For tuition‑based students from across the region, the academy offers world‑class instruction at a towered airport, well‑maintained aircraft, and a supportive team that believes in every student’s potential.