South Florida Flight School Dragon Flight Training Academy Acquired by Alpha-Tech Aviation Services

Acquisition preserves a Pembroke Pines aviation business and the legacy of co-founder Anh-Thu Nguyen while supporting continued pilot training in Broward County

PEMBROKE PINES, FL, UNITED STATES, August 7, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Dragon Flight Training Academy, a South Florida flight school based at North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, has been acquired by Alpha-Tech Aviation Services. The transaction positions the academy for its next chapter under experienced aviation ownership while preserving its presence within the Broward County aviation community.

Founded in 2021 by Raphael Schütz and the late Anh-Thu Nguyen, Dragon Flight Training Academy built a supportive community for aspiring pilots pursuing aviation certifications, advanced ratings and professional flight experience. The academy became known not only for flight instruction, but also for creating an environment in which students received personal guidance, encouragement and mentorship.

Dragon Flight Training Academy operates at 7201 South Airport Road at North Perry Airport, a prominent general aviation and flight-training airport in southern Broward County. Its programs have included discovery flights, private pilot instruction, instrument training, commercial pilot preparation, certified flight instructor training, multi-engine instruction, ground school and flight-time-building opportunities.

The acquisition included the academy’s established brand, training resources, operating infrastructure and aircraft used to support different stages of pilot development. The flight school’s fleet has included Liberty XL2 aircraft, a Cessna 172P and a Twin Comanche capable of supporting private, instrument and multi-engine flight training.

“This was much more than the sale of a South Florida business,” said Jake Tobin, Business Intermediary with Transworld Business Advisors of South Florida. “Dragon Flight Training Academy represents years of dedication to students, aviation education and the local flying community. Our goal was to identify a qualified buyer with genuine aviation experience who could appreciate what Raphael and Anh-Thu built and provide a foundation for the academy’s future.”

The transaction carries special significance following the passing of Dragon Flight Training Academy co-founder Anh-Thu Nguyen in July 2025 while attempting to circumnavigate the globe in her Lancair IV-P aircraft, Amelia.

Nguyen was an accomplished pilot, flight instructor, aerospace professional, airline first officer and advocate for women in aviation. She earned a master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics, pursued doctoral studies in aerospace engineering and worked with organizations including Boeing, Bombardier and Gulfstream before becoming a Boeing 757 and 767 first officer.

In 2018, Nguyen founded Asian Women in Aerospace and Aviation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging Asian women and girls to pursue opportunities in aerospace, engineering and aviation. In 2021, she and her husband, Raphael Schütz, co-founded Dragon Flight Training Academy at North Perry Airport. Students affectionately referred to Nguyen as “Mom” because of the personal care, hospitality and mentorship she extended throughout the flight-school community.

Nguyen’s influence extended well beyond the cockpit. She used aviation as a way to encourage students to pursue ambitious goals, overcome barriers and believe that careers in flight and aerospace were within their reach.

“Anh-Thu’s passion for aviation and her commitment to helping others were central to the culture of Dragon Flight Training Academy,” Tobin said. “It was important that the transaction respect that legacy while creating an opportunity for the school and its students to move forward.”

Asian Women in Aerospace and Aviation has continued Nguyen’s mission, including through an aviation scholarship established in her memory.

Alpha-Tech Aviation Services is an FAA- and EASA-certified aviation maintenance organization with roots dating back to 1991. The company provides maintenance, repair and operational support for commercial and cargo aircraft and maintains aviation capabilities in several major U.S. markets.

Its services include line and base maintenance, aircraft inspections, structural repairs, engine support, component replacement, aircraft-on-ground support and other technical aviation services. Alpha-Tech describes its organization as one of the longest-established line-maintenance providers operating at Chicago O’Hare International Airport and also maintains operations serving Miami, Orlando and Dallas–Fort Worth.

The acquisition brings together Dragon Flight Training Academy’s student-centered instructional platform and Alpha-Tech Aviation Services, Inc.’s broader aircraft maintenance and technical experience. Daniel Pichardo brings a complementary aviation background to the transaction as a Certified Flight Instructor with significant flight experience. His instructional expertise, combined with Alpha-Tech’s maintenance and technical capabilities, provides the new ownership group with experience spanning both aircraft operations and pilot training.

“Alpha-Tech Aviation Services extensive aircraft maintenance experience, combined with Daniel Pichardo’s experience as a Certified Flight Instructor and his significant flight time, created an ideal combination for the acquisition of Dragon Flight Training Academy. Together, that operational and instructional experience provides a strong foundation to support the academy’s continued growth and serve the next generation of pilots,” said Guillermo, President and Chief Inspector of Alpha-Tech Aviation Services, Inc.

North Perry Airport serves as an important general aviation hub for Pembroke Pines, Hollywood and the surrounding South Florida region. The airport supports substantial flight-training activity and provides access to the wider Miami–Fort Lauderdale aviation market.

Dragon Flight Training Academy’s location allows students to train within an active operating environment characterized by frequent general aviation activity, student operations and complex South Florida airspace. The airport’s location also provides convenient access from communities throughout Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

The sale reflects the continued importance of aviation education and technical aviation services to South Florida’s economy. By transitioning the academy to an experienced aviation buyer, the transaction helps preserve an established local platform through which aspiring pilots can receive instruction, gain flight experience and pursue careers in aviation.

Transworld Business Advisors of South Florida confidentially marketed the opportunity, identified and qualified prospective buyers, facilitated negotiations, and guided the parties through due diligence and closing. The Transworld Business Advisors aviation team that facilitated the transaction included Thomas R. Milana, Partner, and Jake Tobin, Business Intermediary. Together, they advise business owners, buyers, and investors on business sales, mergers and acquisitions, valuations, succession planning, and exit strategies. Their team confidentially manages each stage of the transaction process, including preparation, marketing, buyer qualification, negotiations, due diligence, and closing.

Jake Tobin
Transworld Business Advisors
+1 954-999-2233
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