Israeli-born owner Ziv Levy has run Washington International Flight Academy from a single Maryland airpark since 1989, building a pipeline that now reaches India and a university degree program.
Washington International Flight Academy (WIFA) is a flight school in Gaithersburg, Maryland, that has trained pilots at Montgomery County Airpark since 1989. Israeli-born owner Ziv Levy built WIFA into one of the region's busiest flight training operations. WIFA sponsors international students through the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Program. It also partners with Capitol Technology University on a professional pilot degree, making it a small but active node in the Israel-diaspora business corridor.
Who owns Washington International Flight Academy?
Ziv Levy owns and manages Washington International Flight Academy, according to Maryland Bay News reporting on the school's operations at Montgomery County Airpark. Levy is listed in company hiring notices as the contact for Washington International Flight Academy LLC. This entity operates the school at 7940 Airpark Road in Gaithersburg.
The school states it has trained thousands of pilots, ranging from hobbyists to Airline Captains, according to WIFA's own site. That claim spans more than three decades at the Montgomery County site. Capitol Technology University, which partnered with WIFA in 2022, credits WIFA with over 30 years as a leading flight school in the Washington, D.C. area. Capitol Tech confirms WIFA has licensed hundreds of pilots, including Boeing 777 captains, in its partnership announcement.
How does WIFA support international student training?
WIFA holds certification under the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Program, according to Maryland Bay News. This certification lets WIFA sponsor M-1 student visas for pilots traveling to Maryland from other countries. It turns a single Montgomery County flight line into an entry point for foreign nationals seeking US flight credentials. Few small regional flight schools carry that specific role, a pattern echoed across the wider set of Israeli founders and companies covered here.
WIFA also operates a joint venture with an Indian flight training company, per Maryland Bay News reporting. This extends its recruitment pipeline beyond the Washington, D.C. metro area. M-1 sponsorship and the international joint venture combine to make WIFA a feeder school. Pilots begin training abroad and complete it in Maryland airspace.
What does WIFA's partnership with Capitol Technology University offer?
Capitol Technology University and WIFA signed a memorandum of understanding in 2022. The deal launched an Aviation Professional Pilot degree, per Capitol Tech's announcement of the partnership. Capitol Tech President Dr. Bradford Sims and WIFA Owner Ziv Levy signed the agreement. The degree curriculum uses WIFA's Gaithersburg facilities and flight park for sessions. Capitol Tech students gain access to WIFA instructors, ground equipment and aircraft through the partnership.
Levy said the partnership addresses a labor shortage, not just enrollment growth. "This collaborative effort will help support the growing aviation pilot shortage demands," Levy said in the university's announcement. The agreement lets Capitol Tech graduates earn a bachelor's degree while accumulating the flight hours airlines require. Few regional flight schools can offer a university partner that combined package.
Who manages Montgomery County Airpark, where WIFA operates?
The Montgomery County Revenue Authority manages Montgomery County Airpark, per Maryland Bay News reporting. WIFA is the dominant flight school at that publicly owned facility. Montgomery County Councilmember Dawn Luedtke represents District 7 and sits on the County Council's Economic Development Committee. That committee holds oversight jurisdiction over the Revenue Authority and its management of the airpark, per the same reporting.
WIFA shares the field with several smaller operators, including Bravo Flight Training and Positive Attitude Aviation, according to public records on the airpark. WIFA's scale and its Capitol Tech partnership set it apart from those smaller tenants at the same field.
What flight certifications does WIFA offer?
WIFA offers five core certification tracks, according to the school's course listings. These are the Private Pilot License, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot License, Multi-Engine Rating and Certified Flight Instructor. Each track builds on the last. A student can advance from a first solo flight to an instructor credential without leaving Montgomery County Airpark.
Washington International Flight Academy: Key Facts
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Founded / operating since | 1989, at Montgomery County Airpark, Gaithersburg, Maryland |
| Owner | Ziv Levy |
| Operating entity | Washington International Flight Academy LLC |
| Core certifications offered | Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, Multi-Engine Rating, Certified Flight Instructor |
| International student sponsorship | Student and Exchange Visitor Program, M-1 visa certification |
| University partner | Capitol Technology University, Aviation Professional Pilot degree (2022 memorandum of understanding) |
| International joint venture | Flight training company in India |
What happened at WIFA in June 2026?
A WIFA training aircraft, tail number N249WF, crashed near Bowie, Maryland, on June 21, 2026. All three people aboard died, according to Maryland Bay News' reporting on the crash. Israeli media identified the three victims as Israeli nationals. Maryland Bay News reported the FAA had previously declined a request to inspect the operator's safety practices.
A school official identified only as "Chuck" confirmed the loss to WIFA students and staff in an internal message, per the same report. WIFA canceled all flights that Sunday and offered grief counseling to the community. The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into the crash was ongoing as of this writing. WIFA continued normal flight operations at Montgomery County Airpark in the weeks that followed.
Why is WIFA relevant to the diaspora business story?
WIFA is a small, privately held company. Its reported annual revenue runs under $500,000, and it employs about seven people at its Gaithersburg location, according to a Buzzfile business profile. WIFA's significance to the diaspora economy comes from its structure, not its size. An Israeli-born owner runs a 35-year-old American small business. That business certifies foreign nationals to fly, supports a joint venture in India, and now feeds a university degree program.
That pattern shows up across smaller Israel-diaspora investment networks that rarely make headlines on their own. One owner, one location, and a licensing structure connect Maryland to Israel, India and the US airline hiring pipeline at once. It is also part of a broader story of Israeli entrepreneurs building small American businesses, alongside the wealth migration and aliyah patterns tracked here.
Frequently asked questions about Washington International Flight Academy
When was Washington International Flight Academy founded?
Washington International Flight Academy has operated at Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg, Maryland since 1989.
Who owns Washington International Flight Academy?
Ziv Levy, an Israeli-born aviation entrepreneur, owns and manages Washington International Flight Academy through Washington International Flight Academy LLC.
Does WIFA train international students?
Yes. WIFA holds Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification to sponsor M-1 student visas and operates a joint venture with a flight training company in India.
What happened in the June 2026 WIFA crash?
A WIFA training aircraft crashed near Bowie, Maryland on June 21, 2026, killing three people. Israeli media identified them as Israeli nationals, and the NTSB investigation continued.
Conclusion
Washington International Flight Academy shows how an Israeli-owned small business built a training pipeline extending from Gaithersburg to India. It has operated from a single Maryland airpark since 1989, and that pipeline now feeds a four-year university's degree program. The Olam will keep tracking WIFA's Capitol Technology University partnership and its international sponsorship pipeline. The Olam will also follow the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into the June 2026 crash as new information becomes public.
