Tradewind Aviation Expands Into Southeast U.S.

Pilatus PC-12 NGX

A picture of a Pilatus PC-12 NGX.

Credit: Pilatus Aircraft Ltd - www.pilatus-aircraft.com

Tradewind Aviation, a U.S.-based charter company, announced its expansion into the Southeast with the opening of a new base near Palm Beach, Florida.

The new location serves as part of Tradewind’s “aggressive growth plans” for 2023, following the recent purchase of 20 Pilatus PC-12 NGX aircraft, as well as the addition of a new hangar facility at Hudson Valley Regional Airport in Poughkeepsie, New York.

According to the company, the new Florida location bolsters its accessibility in the region, particularly between the mainland U.S. and the Bahamas. The facility is set to open in September 2023 and will maintain a fleet of Pilatus PC-12 aircraft for on-demand travel.

“We are thrilled to be expanding with a new Southeast hub, allowing Tradewind to better serve our growing client base throughout the Southeast,” Tradewind Aviation Co-Founder and CEO Eric Zipkin says. “With over 20 years of operation, our move into the Southeast will be a big advantage for us and further elevate the Tradewind offering.”

In addition to its expansion, Tradewind Aviation recently announced its new partnership with United Aviate—United Airline’s pilot career training program. Through the program, candidates at Tradewind Aviation will have the opportunity to receive training via the charter’s private and scheduled operations across the country on Pilatus PC-12 and Citation CJ3 aircraft.

Pending acceptance, those candidates would then receive conditional offers as First Officers for United Airlines.

“At Tradewind, we pride ourselves on our team and reputation of fostering top talent in the aviation industry; this partnership presents an incredible opportunity for our team to continue to grow and master their skills as pilots while also creating meaningful long-term career pathways for our current pilots and others, including flight students,” Zipkin says.

Jeremy Kariuki

Jeremy Kariuki is Associate Editor for Business Aviation, based in Atlanta. Before joining Aviation Week in April 2023, Jeremy served as a writer for FLYING Magazine, FreightWaves and the Center for Sustainable Journalism.