About Us

Find Out More About Florida's Premier Flight School

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.

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 multiple 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 Executive Airport

1000 North Hercules Ave.
Clearwater, FL 33765
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

Sebastian Walker

CFI

Sebastian grew up in the mountains of Colorado, where he discovered his passion for aviation, earning his private and instrument rating. After moving to Clearwater, FL, he completed his Commercial, CFI, CFII training. He loves sharing aviation with others and is passionate about helping students feel confident, capable, and excited throughout their training journey.

Chalie Galliand

CFI

Chalie Galliand is a 20 year military veteran. He holds Certified Flight Instructor Rating for both fixed wing and helicopters. He was most recently an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies at AFROTC Det 158, University of South Florida. Prior to that assignment Chalie taught Physics and Astronautics at the United States Military Academy at West Point. In addition to academics, he was an assistant officer in charge of the West Point Flying Team.

Jae Kim

CFI

Jae grew up in Queens, NY and is an Air Force veteran, having proudly served as a Flight Engineer for most of his career. He translated his passion of aviation and completed his private pilot and instrument rating at Annapolis, MD. Upon his retirement from active duty, Jae moved his family to Florida and continued the rest of his training at Tampa Bay Aviation. Jae is excited to share his passion of aviation as an instructor and aspires to fly commercially in the future. In his free time, he enjoys living the Florida lifestyle with his family and two dogs.

Trevyn Sengpiehl

CFI

Trevyn was born and raised in Virginia and has always loved airplanes. He had his first orientation flight at 14 when he was in Civil Air Patrol and absolutely loved it then began taking flight lessons at 19 thinking it would be just a hobby. After graduating from Liberty University, he started a career with the fire department in his hometown. A few years ago, he decided to make his passion for flying into a career with a goal to fly for a major airline one day. He moved to Florida in 2023 and has since gotten all his ratings from Tampa Bay Aviation. Trevyn is married to his high school sweetheart and they have three daughters.

Christopher Turaniczo

CFI

Christopher is a dual rated CFII in helicopters and airplanes. He is a Tampa native who enjoys reading, biking, running, swimming and of course, flying.

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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