High Tide Aviation

High Tide Aviation is a flight school with training facilities at three airports: Cape Fear Regional Jetport in Southport, North Carolina, McKinnon St. Simons Island Airport in Georgia, and Wilmington International Airport in North Carolina. It provides Part 141 and Part 61 training in airplanes and helicopters, and a sister website runs coastal aerial tours.

Training programs

• Helicopter training, flown in a Robinson R44
• Ground school, sport pilot and private pilot
• Instrument rating, commercial pilot and flight instructor (CFI, CFII, MEI)
• Multi-engine rating and tailwheel training
• University program, and pilot proficiency and finish-up training
• Discovery and intro flights, and school tours

Each student is assigned a student support specialist. The school lists a Redbird FMX simulator, financing options and an insurance partnership for students.

Helicopters and fleet

The fleet page lists two Robinson helicopters for dual instruction only: an R44 Raven I and an R44 Raven II, the latter with a Garmin GTN 650xi navigator and digital primary flight display. The fleet also includes Cessna 172 rental aircraft, Beechcraft Bonanza and Baron B55 aircraft, and a Bellanca Citabria.

Aerial tours

The companion site flyhightide.com lists airplane sightseeing tours over the coast near Southport, Wilmington and St. Simons Island. It states that helicopter tours are currently unavailable.

Company facts

• Bases: Southport NC, Wilmington NC, St. Simons Island GA
• Training standards: Part 141 and Part 61
• Founding year: not stated on the pages reviewed