Illinois is home to many flight schools that offer comprehensive training programs designed to prepare you for a successful career in aviation. Whether you’re looking to fly recreationally or start a new career as a commercial pilot, Illinois flight schools offer a range of programs to suit your goals.
We’ve outlined some of the best flight schools located in Illinois and the different training programs they offer. From private pilot licenses to commercial pilot certifications, this guide will provide you with all the information you need to get started on your journey towards becoming a pilot.
Best Flight Schools in Illinois
- Avel Flight School
- Illinois Aviation Academy
- Fly There
- Aviation Professionals Incorporated API
- SimplyFLY
- Chicago Executive Flight School
- Blue Skies Flying Services
Avel Flight School
🗺️3N040 Powis Rd, West Chicago, IL 60185
☎️(847) 466-5161
🌐https://www.avelflightschool.com/
Avel Flight School, based in Chicago, Illinois, offers a variety of flight training programs for individuals looking to obtain a Private Pilot License or Commercial Pilot License. The Private Pilot License allows individuals to operate an aircraft for non-commercial purposes and is the first step towards obtaining a Commercial Pilot License and pursuing an airline career. Angel Flight and Civil Air Patrol are among the activities in which individuals with a Private Pilot License can participate.
To obtain a Private Pilot License, individuals must meet certain requirements, including being at least 17 years old, holding a third-class medical certificate from an Aviation Medical Examiner, and passing a computerized aeronautical knowledge test. Additionally, a minimum of 40 hours of flight time is required, with the national average being approximately 65 hours.
The Commercial Pilot License allows individuals to fly an aircraft for compensation or hire, with a minimum of 250 hours of flight time required. In addition to the requirements for a Private Pilot License, individuals must also hold a Private Pilot License and obtain a second-class medical certificate from an Aviation Medical Examiner.
Avel Flight School offers other flight training programs, including an Aircraft Dispatcher Course, Instrument Rating, Flight Instructor Academy, Flight Review/Instrument Proficiency Check, Flight Instructor Refresher Course, and Flight Attendant training.
The duration of the courses is subject to flying weather availability and individual student aptitude, with the Commercial Pilot License course taking 6-8 months. For further information on course prices and details, individuals are encouraged to contact Avel Flight School directly.
Programs Offered:
- Private Pilot License
- Commercial Pilot License
- Instrument Rating
- Flight Review / Instrument Proficiency Check
- Flight Instructor Academy
- Remote Pilot Certificate Course
- Aircraft Dispatcher Course
- Flight Attendant Course
Illinois Aviation Academy
🗺️32W751 Tower Rd, West Chicago, IL 60185
☎️(630) 513-2224
🌐https://www.illinoisaviation.com/
Illinois Aviation Academy is a highly-regarded flight school that offers a range of flight training programs. The school is an Approved Part 141 Flight School by the Federal Aviation Administration, and it offers flight instruction for various pilot certifications. The school was founded by an educator and airline pilot, which provides students with access to experienced instructors who are dedicated to providing high-quality training.
One unique aspect of the Illinois Aviation Academy is its online ground school, which aligns with FAA Knowledge requirements for each individual certificate or rating. The online home study course incorporates videos, slides, and quizzes, along with literature and resources for future reference. Remote online classes are held live with a Certified Flight Instructor three times a week, and upon completing the course, students receive a certified, signed ground log showing completion of all FAA knowledge requirements and the endorsement needed to take the required FAA written exam for that certificate or rating.
Illinois Aviation Academy’s flight training program is also impressive, with courses aligned to FAA requirements for each individual certificate or rating. The school’s instructors are all full-time employees of the corporation, which ensures that students receive the best quality training available from some of the greatest instructors in the industry. Students also have access to some of the industry’s leading aircraft, including those with new paint, new interiors, Garmin 430W avionics, and more.
IAA also has a FAA approved simulator that can be used during Instrument training. The school’s 141 career program is designed to help students achieve their goals quickly, from zero time to captain. Financing is available through Pilot Finance, and students can enroll in the school’s online ground courses from the comfort of their own homes.
Illinois Aviation Academy provides a comprehensive flight training program that covers ground school and flight training with experienced instructors and top-of-the-line aircraft. The school’s commitment to providing high-quality education and support to its students makes it a great choice for anyone looking to pursue a career in aviation or simply learn how to fly.
Programs Offered:
- Private Pilot Course
- Instrument Rating Course
- Commercial Certificate Course
- Flight Instructor Course
- Multi-Engine Rating Course
- Ground School
Fly There
🗺️1115 S Wolf Rd, Wheeling, IL 60090
☎️(224) 588-9364
🌐https://www.flytherellc.com/
Fly There is a flight school based in Wheeling, IL that offers flight lessons, aircraft management, and rental services. The flight school is committed to providing the newest, cleanest, and best-maintained aircraft in the Chicago area to help lower the overall cost of flight training. With no membership dues, fees, or fuel surcharges, Fly There offers a cost-effective way to learn to fly.
One of the standout features of Fly There is its fleet of aircraft. The flight school has made the decision to reconfigure its fleet and currently operates three late-model Cessna 172s for training and a 2021 Premium Edition Cirrus SR20 for both training and rental. This means that students will be learning and flying in aircraft with the latest technology available.
Fly There is also a Cessna Pilot Center (CPC), which means that it is part of a network of flight schools that are backed by Textron Aviation. This allows Fly There to offer exclusive programs that provide students with some of the best training materials in the industry. The flight school’s instructors are friendly and attentive independent contractors with experience in a variety of aircraft types.
Fly There also offers advanced flight training, including PC12, Malibu Mirage, and Matrix training under Aviation Training Management. The flight school also offers instrument proficiency checks, flight reviews, and glass panel transition training in the Frasca RTD flight simulator.
Fly There is a top-flight school choice for those looking to learn how to fly or maintain their proficiency in the Chicago area. With a commitment to offering the newest, cleanest, and best-maintained aircraft, no fuel surcharges, and a team of experienced instructors, Fly There provides an excellent flight training experience.
Programs Offered:
- Private pilot training
Aviation Professionals Incorporated API
🗺️6321 S Central Ave, Chicago, IL 60638
☎️(773) 284-5678
🌐http://www.apischool.com/
Aviation Professionals Incorporated (API) is a premier flight school located in Chicago, Illinois at Midway airport offering flight training for over 50 years. As the only flight school in the city, API has been providing top-notch aviation education for individuals who aspire to become private pilots, commercial pilots, instrument-rated pilots, certified flight instructors, or airline pilots. The flight school has refined its training program over the years and developed a unique copyrighted method called “Attitude Flying,” which enables students to observe specific exterior parts of the aircraft to inform them of altitude, bank, coordination, and airspeed control instantly. This makes the pilot training program efficient, safe, and affordable, saving students time, money, and frustration.
API prides itself on having one of the best safety records in the industry, and it is highly rated by the Better Business Bureau. The flight school’s staff includes the 2020 Flight Instructor of the Year for the Great Lakes Area, ensuring that students receive the best flight training possible. API provides individualized accelerated flying lessons, and the training can be accelerated weather permitting. The flight school also offers flexibility as you pay for each lesson as you take it, without having to sign any contracts or pay any dues.
To obtain a pilot’s certificate, the FAA requires you to speak, read, write, and understand the English language. API offers flight training at Midway Airport in Chicago, where students can learn to fly in an environment where talking to the control tower becomes second nature. The flight school’s training program provides insights that make flying simple, safe, and easy. Flying an airplane is one of life’s greatest experiences, and API offers a chance to be part of an elite group of individuals who have the knowledge and physical skills to be an airplane pilot. If you aspire to become a pilot, consider API for an exciting new view of life and the world.
Programs Offered:
- Career commercial pilot
- Private pilot flight training
- Instrument rating
SimplyFLY
🗺️43W624 US-30 A, Sugar Grove, IL 60554
☎️(888) 937-4359
🌐https://www.simplyflyadventures.com/
SimplyFLY is a flight school that provides primary flight training for entry-level pilots who have a wide array of aviation goals and aspirations. One of the most striking features of this school is its affordability. SimplyFLY offers easy payment options and a fun learning environment to students that are built around their schedule. The flight school provides one-on-one instruction, available seven days a week, and modern equipment to ensure that students are comfortable during training.
SimplyFLY specializes in primary flight training and offers only one, highly tailored, and specialized primary flight training program. The primary flight training syllabus is universal, leading students down the path to their sport or private pilot certificate. Students have the discretion to train with the instructor of their choice, and a structured, proven, and effective flight training syllabus is taught uniformly by all SimplyFLY flight instructors, who are full-time and fully dedicated.
The flight school also offers SimplyFLY ground school, which provides a plethora of knowledge, wisdom, and resources in every Saturday’s class. Ground school takes place in the SimplyFLY classroom, where old-fashioned, “in-person” learning is practiced. The course continually revolves on a 13-week schedule, and it may be attended at any point without the requirement of attending in perfect order. Students who attend ground school are found to be more successful with training by an order of magnitude. For a one-time payment of $500, students will receive an unlimited, lifetime subscription to SimplyFLY ground school.
SimplyFLY offers a unique style of flight training that cannot be obtained at a college flight program, thus benefiting the student pilot before entering the college atmosphere. The flight school is conveniently located at the Aurora Municipal Airport, where they teach from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week. SimplyFLY offers a private pilot license that can help students save tens of thousands of dollars and allows them to “test the skies” of aviation before committing to a university.
The flight school has a fleet of light-sport aircraft, allowing them to train and fly in its simplest form. Students gain a strong knowledge level and skill set which can be applied to any flying type, ranging from light-sports to advanced and technologically complex aircraft they will be flying in the future. SimplyFLY realizes the enormous cost of tuition and flight training for attending any university, and they provide pre-college students with the tools to combat college a step ahead of their peers, entering the university environment with a unique skill set and knowledge from SimplyFLY.
Programs Offered:
- Private pilot license
- Sport pilot license
- Commercial pilot training
- Ground school
Chicago Executive Flight School
🗺️1098 S Milwaukee Ave # 102, Wheeling, IL 60090
☎️(800) 901-0730
🌐https://www.chicagoexecutiveflightschool.com/
Chicago Executive Flight School is a top-rated flight school in the Chicagoland area that has been providing quality flight training to aspiring pilots since 1994. The school focuses on safety, quality, and timeliness, which ensures that every student receives the best training available. CEFS offers total immersion flights, which give students the opportunity to experience piloting a plane in real life. The flights are not just scenic tours, but students fly the plane under the guidance of a certified instructor who challenges them to perform all the pre, during, and post-flight activities. CEFS uses GoPro cameras and Foreflight to record some aspects of flight operations, which helps students learn the language of aviation and follow the correct procedures. The school also has a fleet of planes available for rent, all of which are maintained by a team of full-time mechanics.
CEFS offers six certification programs, including solo pilot certification, recreational pilot certification, private pilot certification, instrument rating, commercial pilot certification, and certified flight instructor. The flight school is open to beginner and part-time students, and it tailors its programs to fit the students’ schedules and goals. CEFS offers a personalized program that accommodates the students’ lifestyles, whether it is two hours a week, 10 hours a week, or full-time.
The first step in learning how to fly is to start doing it, and CEFS promises that the sense of accomplishment is far greater than that of learning to ride a bike, swim, surf the internet, or go on a date. The school’s Total-Immersion-Flights offer students a chance to experience flying and determine whether they have what it takes to become certified pilots. After the flight, students can speak with the Chief Pilot, who can answer any questions and provide additional information. CEFS encourages students to continue their flight instruction and embark on a journey of exhilaration, adventure, and personal growth, but students are under no obligation to take additional lessons.
Chicago Executive Flight School offers excellent flight training programs that cater to students’ needs and schedules. The school is committed to safety, quality, and timeliness, and its experienced instructors provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to become certified pilots.
Programs Offered:
- Solo pilot certification
- Private pilot certification
- Instrument rating
- Commercial pilot certification
- Certified flight instructor
Blue Skies Flying Services
🗺️8411 Pyott Rd, Lake in the Hills, IL 60156
☎️(815) 356-8121
🌐https://flyblueskies.com/
Blue Skies Flying Services offers comprehensive flight training programs that are designed to prepare students for success in achieving their individual certificates or ratings. Their flight instructors are experienced and are able to adapt to the needs of each student, providing personalized training to help them achieve their goals in aviation.
One of the benefits of training at Blue Skies Flying Services is access to a variety of popular general aviation aircraft. They also offer an FAA-approved flight simulator that can be used during Instrument training.
Their instruction covers a range of certificates and ratings, including Private Pilot licenses, Instrument Rated, Commercial Pilot, and CFI certificates. The journey begins with an Introductory Flight Lesson, which is not just a ride in an airplane, but a true hands-on experience where students are involved in pre-flight checks, use of checklists, and post-flight debriefing.
The Introductory Flight Lesson is a perfect way to learn about flying, and students can expect to spend about 30 minutes in the classroom with one of their Certified Flight Instructors, followed by a short flight around the area. During the flight, students will actually sit in the pilot’s seat and fly the plane themselves, with the help of their instructor. The flight time counts towards meeting FAA requirements for a pilot certificate.
For instrument students and pilots, Blue Skies Flying Services offers a CR-12 AATD Flight Simulator, which can be reconfigured for over 40 different aircraft. The simulator is FAA certified for a range of flight experiences, including logged flight experience, instrument experience, instrument proficiency check, and various certificates.
Blue Skies Flying Services is a top-flight school with experienced instructors and a range of training programs to help students achieve their aviation goals. Their 98% first-time pass rate for the Private Pilot Written Test is a testament to the quality of their instruction.
Programs Offered:
- Private pilot certificate
- Commercial pilot certificate
- Airline transport pilot certificate
- Instrument rating
