About Us
Tidewater Flight Center is a new Diamond Flight Center in the Hampton Roads area which offers flight training and aircraft rentals. Tidewater Flight Center is centrally located at the Chesapeake Regional Airport and is the first flight school to offer flight training in a new Symphony 160, Diamond DA-40, and Diamond DA-20 aircraft. We offer courses for every license from Private through CFII and for nearly every add-on rating. Our training facility has over 800 square feet of dedicated training space in the Ruffin Hangar, which includes a computer system for weather and flight planning purposes and ample space for ground lessons.
Meet Our Staff
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Andrew Johnson Owner and President (757) 287-9617 andypilot1@hotmail.com Andrew has spent more than 2,000 hours instructing students of all ages. A pilot since he was 17 and a flight instructor since 20, Andrew prides himself on commitment to his students and the highest level of service to people of all skill levels. Flight instructing is truly his passion but his determination and dedication to his flight school and customers is the most important aspect of his business. |
| Tony Bobbsemple Chief Instructor (775) 313-6215 tonyprivate1@hotmail.com Tony holds a Gold Seal Flight Instructor Certificate and is also an Advanced/Instrument Ground Instructor. Tony has a degree in Aviation Flight Operations and first learned to fly in San Diego, California. He has many hours of flying experience having served as a Cargo, Charter and Scenic Tour Captain on various FAR 135 operations and now Chief Flight Instructor for Tidewater Flight Center. Tony has been flying for almost 14 years and is dedicated to the aviation profession. |
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Ed Capone Director of Maintenance (757) 366-8796 ed.capone.tfc@gmail.com Ed Capone holds the Mechanic Certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings (A&P) and the Inspection Authorization (IA). Ed has been in the aviation industry for 60 years as an A&P mechanic and also worked for US Airways as a mechanic for 20 years before coming to Tidewater Flight Center. Ed is a proud recipient of the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award, an FAA award which recognizes lifetime accomplishments of senior aviation mechanics. Ed is a dedicated professional in the field and is passionate when it comes to aircraft maintenance. |
| Timothy Miller Chief Inspector, A&P Mechanic (757) 376-9810 tim.miller.tfc@gmail.com Timothy Miller holds the Mechanic Certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings (A&P) and the Inspection Authorization (IA). His flight experience includes 2000 hours while holding a single and multi-engine commercial certificate with an instrument rating. He has a type rating in the Saab 340 and also holds a Boeing 707 Flight Engineer Certificate (FEX) with 4100 hours. Tim is a retired Aviation Maintenance Officer completing 24 years of Naval service with a tour of duty in the Blue Angels from 1992 to 1994. |
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Mike Zimmerman Assistant Chief Instructor (757) 450-9148 TIB85@yahoo.com Mike has been a CFI with Tidewater Flight Center since August 2008. Along with his Initial Flight Instructor certification from ATP, he has logged almost 3,000 hours with his experience as an Instrument Flight Instructor, a Multi-Engine flight instructor, and an Advanced/Instrument ground instructor. He has earned the coveted Gold Seal Flight Instructor certificate, issued by the FAA in recognition of an instructor who provides a great deal of flight instruction and whose students consistently pass their checkrides. In addition to offering flight instruction seven days a week, Mike enjoys giving back to the community through volunteering as a Check Airman with the Civil Air Patrol and as an EMT-B with the Princess Anne Courthouse Rescue Squad of Virginia Beach. |
| Tina Taylor Financial Administrator (757) 319-4971 tina.taylor@phrinc.com Tina has been with Tidewater Flight Center since February 2010. She has 3 years of accounting background in the aviation industry and has brought that experience with her to Tidewater Flight Center. She is available from 8-4 Monday through Friday to assist you with your needs. Please feel free to call or stop in to see her. |
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Karissa White Dispatcher (757) 319-4973 kwhite0911@live.com Karissa has been working with Tidewater Flight Center since July 2009. She is a full-time student at Tidewater Community College in Chesapeake, Virginia. Karissa will be available Monday-Friday from 8am to 4pm to assist you with scheduling, dispatching, and facility tours. |
| Amy Sipala Flight Instructor ~ CFI, CFII (484) 571-7523 sipala4@hotmail.com Amy completed her flight training at Averett University. Receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Management: Specialty in Flight Operations, she also led and participated in the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) flight team competitions as well as in Alpha Eta Rho, the aviation fraternity. Now a member of Tidewater Flight Center, she holds the CFI and CFI-instrument ratings and is available full time for instruction. |
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Julie-Anne Charmes Flight Instructor ~ CFI, CFII (757) 971-1377 jacharmes@yahoo.com Julie-Anne started flying in Cannes, France in 2005. She then moved to Florida where she graduated from Florida Tech where she received a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management and completed her flight training. She is a CFI and CFI Instrument instructor. Julie-Anne began her CFI career at F.I.T. Aviation, since then Julie-Anne has gone on to fly and work within the aviation community in Europe. She is available 7 days a week for flight instruction. |
| Julia Ayres Dispatcher (757) 647-1969 julia.ayres86@gmail.com Julia has been with Tidewater Flight Center since April 2010. She served in the Army from January 2005 to December 2007 with the 25th Infantry Division. Julia will be available Monday through Friday 4pm to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 6pm to assist you with scheduling, dispatching and facility tours. |
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