Chicago area flight schools

Niuflyer22

Well-Known Member
Does anybody know of any good flight schools in the Chicago area?

I have looked briefly at Illinois Aviation Academy out of Dupage (KDPA), has anybody heard anything about them, or have any experience with them?
 
Are you looking just out of Dupage or is Chicago Executive an option? If so Windy City Flyers is a good start, they have a very diverse an well kept fleet of aircraft. They also have plenty of instructors as well (part 61).
 
It really depends on where you live. I looked at Windy City and they seemed fair. There were a few things that did not sit well with me. However each person has their own opinions and I would assume your's will serve you well.

Illinois Aviation is good for what it is.....a certificate producing school. I think of them more as a school. The owner is very friendly and the majority of the people are nice. The aircraft leave a lot to be desired, at least with the Cessnas and Pippers. Do a search on here and you will find more info on this school.

If DuPage is close to home look into Travel Express which is to the east of Illinois Aviation. They have a much more diverse fleet and it is in much better shape. However, it does come at a cost.

If you live west, I highly recommend Lumanair at Aurora. Great small school, good people, great history. Best advise I can give however is to visit as many places as you can, book and intro ride and see what fits you, your style and your schedule.

Good Luck!
 
It depends where you are located. If your by DPA then I would look into fox flying club, or 2nd century aviation. If your near PWK check out windy city flyers, boraam aviation. If your down south go check out JF aviation at JOT. The only places I would really stay away from are Palwaukee Flyers, and IAA
 
Just wanted to add a couple of things that I forgot. I was looking into Illinois Aviation very seriously. I was trying to look past the equipment and look at the company for the people. After some good advise from individuals on this website I made the correct choice. I am glad I did.

Take what people say on this site to heart (well most of it ;) )! They were where you are now. It is better to learn from others who have been there and done that. This site will single handedly give you more info on the aviaiton field (all aspects of it) than any other place, guranteed. Plus, the people on here are good people and that goes a long way.

If you are way up north look at Skill Aviation at Waukegan(sp). I really liked what they had to offer, it was just way, way to far for me.
 
Thanks for all of the help everybody.

The closest airport to me is actually Schaumburg (06c), and I have done some flying trough Northwest Aviation there.

I am a little reluctant, however, to begin instrument training (I already have my private) at 06c because it is a uncontrolled VFR field. Does anybody have any thoughts on doing instrument training in that kind of environment?
 
Regarding Northwest Aviation, I knew one of the instructors who worked there and I have done a few intro flights there. I am from Arlington Heights...so I am pretty familar with 06C ... The IFR there really shouldn't be a problem, typically you fly to Dupage, Lake of the Hills and such if you need IFR plus Aurora etc etc and sometimes you'll head to palwaukee for approaches, its really a good experiences. At least thats what he told me. Also I begain my flight training at Windy City Flyers .. at Palwaukee or Chicago Executive blah blah blah... which is a good place, only problem I had was that i seemed to lose an instructor almost every other week, don't know if thats changed now, but that was my experience with them was good. There was another FBO at Palwaukee that has 2 Archers and an Arrow, I know they moved further North to a bigger hanger .. but I can't for the life of me remember there name or the website, but they offered pretty good prices for training. All there CFI's are independent guys and I know that they had very very nice aircraft, similar to UND's fleet up here. I wish i remember the name... maybe someone else can shed the light on there name cause I know they had a website ... All in all I think you'll get a decent IFR training at any of those schools.... Hope that helps ..
 
Stay at Schaumburg. The airport not being controlled really doesn't mean anything, DuPage and Aurora are right there, as well as there being a few approaches into Schaumburg as well. I've never heard anything bad about them there.

IAA used to have sketchy MX over at DPA. I don't know if that's the case anymore.

If you got money to burn......... Travel Express @ DPA is excellent, high quality instruction, and very well maintained, pristine aircraft.
 
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