Tailwind Aviation Insurance
Tailwind Aviation Insurance is an owner-operated aviation insurance agency in Shelbyville, TN, founded by Wayne Hitchcock, offering annual, quote-based coverage to individual pilots, flying clubs, commercial operators, flight schools, CFIs, students, and aircraft renters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersShelbyville, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Tailwind Aviation Insurance does
Tailwind Aviation Insurance is an independent, owner-operated aviation insurance agency headquartered at 113 Public Square S., Shelbyville, TN, governed by the laws of Tennessee. The company is operated solely by Wayne Hitchcock, a commercial pilot with an instrument rating (licensed since 1986) who has worked in aviation insurance for more than 26 years. It sells quote-based, annual aviation insurance policies to individual aircraft owners, flying clubs, commercial operators (agriculture aircraft, fixed base operators, air shows), and aviation educators (flight schools, certified flight instructors, students, aircraft renters), with sub-products spanning hangars, light sport aircraft, helicopters, and drones.
The product catalog is organized into three main coverage categories — Aircraft Owners Insurance, Commercial Aviation Insurance, and Flight School Insurance — covering liability, hull, physical damage, non-owned aircraft, CFI professional liability, hangar keepers liability, weather, and volunteer accident coverage. The agency does not develop proprietary technology; quoting, underwriting, and policy administration are handled through direct carrier relationships and manual consultation. Distribution is direct-to-customer via phone (931-205-0855), website contact forms, and in-person consultation at the Shelbyville office, with the owner acting as the sole point of contact across the customer lifecycle.
Revenue is generated through commissions on annual aviation insurance premiums placed with carrier partners; pricing is not publicly disclosed and is determined by aircraft type, usage, pilot experience, coverage limits, and risk profile. The company is privately held, bootstrapped, and shows no evidence of external funding, institutional investors, parent-company ownership, M&A activity, awards, or patents. Operating status is active as of a 2026 website copyright, with service restricted in practice to the Southeast US despite no explicit geographic limitations being stated.
Tailwind Aviation Insurance firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tailwind Aviation Insurance
- Legal name
- Tailwind Aviation Insurance
- Website
- https://tailwindaviationinsurance.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Tailwind Aviation Insurance is an owner-operated aviation insurance agency in Shelbyville, TN, founded by Wayne Hitchcock, offering annual, quote-based coverage to individual pilots, flying clubs, commercial operators, flight schools, CFIs, students, and aircraft renters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tailwind Aviation Insurance industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aviation Insurance
- NAICS
- Other Insurance Related Activities (52429)
- SIC
- Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Aviation Specialty (FSAJAGAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Aviation Hull Insurance (FSAJAHAC), Aviation Liability Insurance (Passenger & Third-Party) (FSAJAHAD), Airport & Ground Operations Insurance (FSAJAHAF), Aviation Cargo & Ground Handling Insurance (FSAJAHAE)
Keywords
Where Tailwind Aviation Insurance is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shelbyville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Tailwind Aviation Insurance business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Aviation Insurance Premiums: The company generates revenue through insurance premiums charged to aircraft owners, commercial operators, flight schools, and other aviation clients. Policies are tailored to specific coverage needs including liability, hull coverage, and physical damage protection.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Customized aviation insurance coverage tailored to client needs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Tailwind Aviation Insurance product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tailwind Aviation Insurance is an independent insurance agency that sells aviation insurance coverage directly to aircraft owners, commercial operators, and flight schools. Policies include liability, hull, physical damage, and specialized coverage for drones, helicopters, light sport aircraft, flying clubs, hangars, FBOs, agriculture aircraft, and air shows. The agency serves both individual pilots and commercial aviation businesses through personalized quote-based consultation led by owner Wayne Hitchcock.
Product overview
Tailwind Aviation Insurance is an independent aviation insurance agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of insurance products across three main categories: Aircraft Owners Insurance (covering flying clubs, hangars, light sport aircraft, helicopters, and drones), Commercial Aviation Insurance (covering agriculture aircraft, fixed base operations, and air shows), and Flight School Insurance (covering CFIs, aviation students, and aircraft renters). The company serves both individual pilots and commercial aviation businesses with tailored policies at competitive rates.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Aircraft Owners Insurance Comprehensive insurance coverage for aircraft owners including flying clubs, hangars, light sport aircraft, helicopters, and drones, providing liability protection, hull coverage, and physical damage protection tailored to individual owners and personal aviation assets.
- Commercial Aviation Insurance Business and commercial aviation coverage including agriculture aircraft, aero applications, fixed base operations (FBOs), and air shows, providing commercial liability, products coverage, flight training liability, and hangar keepers liability for commercial operators.
- Flight School Insurance Insurance coverage for flight schools, Certified Flight Instructors (CFI), aviation students, aircraft renters, and flight training programs, including CFI professional liability, student pilot coverage, and aircraft renter insurance with medical payments coverage.
Companies that use Tailwind Aviation Insurance
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Tailwind Aviation Insurance technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Tailwind Aviation Insurance partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Tailwind Aviation Insurance competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Global Aerospace: A leading aviation insurance underwriting pool serving airlines, corporate operators, and aerospace manufacturers. Comparable aviation specialty focus but operating as a multi-carrier pool with international scale.
- USAIG (United States Aircraft Insurance Group): A major aviation-specific mutual insurance group serving commercial operators, corporate flight departments, and FBOs. Comparable customer base across commercial and owner segments but at significantly larger scale and as a carrier.
- Starr Aviation: Aviation insurance division of Starr Companies providing hull, liability, and specialty coverage to corporate and commercial aviation clients. Comparable product suite with significantly broader scale.
- Avemco Insurance Company: A direct-writing specialty insurer focused on recreational and general aviation, including aircraft owners and renters. Closely comparable product scope to Tailwind but operates as a carrier rather than an independent agency.
- AssuredPartners (Aviation Practice): Large national brokerage with a dedicated aviation practice covering hull, liability, and FBO risks. Comparable product offering at much broader geographic and operational scale.
Direct peers
- BWI Aviation Insurance: Independent agency providing aviation insurance for individual pilots, FBOs, and commercial operators. Similar niche-focused agency model and customer overlap.
- AOPA Insurance Agency: Aviation insurance program offered through the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, focused on individual aircraft owners, renters, and CFIs. Directly overlapping customer base and product set with Tailwind's owner and flight school segments.
- Aviation Insurance Resources (AIR): Specialty aviation insurance brokerage focused on owner-flown and commercial aircraft. Comparable independent agency model with similar owner, commercial, and flight school product lines.
- Falcon Insurance Agency: Independent aviation insurance agency serving aircraft owners, FBOs, and flight schools with hull, liability, and specialty coverage. Closely comparable independent agency model serving the same niche customer segments.
- NBAA Insurance: Business aviation association-affiliated insurance programs for member operators and flight departments. Comparable specialty insurance distribution serving business aviation segment.
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Tailwind Aviation Insurance financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tailwind Aviation Insurance leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Tailwind Aviation Insurance funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tailwind Aviation Insurance M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tailwind Aviation Insurance
What does Tailwind Aviation Insurance do?
Tailwind Aviation Insurance is an independent insurance agency that sells aviation insurance coverage directly to aircraft owners, commercial operators, and flight schools. Policies include liability, hull, physical damage, and specialized coverage for drones, helicopters, light sport aircraft, flying clubs, hangars, FBOs, agriculture aircraft, and air shows. The agency serves both individual pilots and commercial aviation businesses through personalized quote-based consultation led by owner Wayne Hitchcock.
Is Tailwind Aviation Insurance a public or private company?
Tailwind Aviation Insurance is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Tailwind Aviation Insurance founded?
Tailwind Aviation Insurance was founded in -1.
Where is Tailwind Aviation Insurance based?
Tailwind Aviation Insurance is headquartered in Shelbyville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tailwind Aviation Insurance make money?
One revenue line is on record: aviation Insurance Premiums.
Who are Tailwind Aviation Insurance's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Global Aerospace, USAIG (United States Aircraft Insurance Group), Starr Aviation, Avemco Insurance Company and AssuredPartners (Aviation Practice). Direct peers are BWI Aviation Insurance, AOPA Insurance Agency, Aviation Insurance Resources (AIR), Falcon Insurance Agency and NBAA Insurance.
Does Tailwind Aviation Insurance have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tailwind Aviation Insurance.
What industry is Tailwind Aviation Insurance in?
Tailwind Aviation Insurance's product category is Aviation Insurance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAJAGAK, Aviation Specialty, with a secondary code of FSAJAHAC, Aviation Hull Insurance. Its NAICS code is 52429 and its SIC code is 6331.