In July my bf, son and I went to the Eyes to the Skies fest. In passing the SimplyFly booth, they…read morewere offering 30min lessons for $75. Groupon had them for a different company for twice that much. And I was looking to surprise my bf, because in conversation he'd mentioned that's something he wanted to check off his bucket list and do. So, I purchased the deal for $75. Can I say that the staff at the fest was so friendly and nice, took the time to answer any questions we had. Fast Forward to this past Friday (my bf's scheduled pilot lesson) We were late by a few minutes but had called along the way and they were ok with it. Once, we arrived, everyone was just awesome, very nice, and polite and most of all excited. After a few mins, my bf met his instructor and we walked outside to where the planes were. The instructor gave us a quick tour of the plane and information on it, all very interesting. Shortly thereafter, they got ready to take off. Once they landed, the instructor allowed myself and my son to sit in the plane and check out the interior...my bf loved the experience and wants to take more lessons to eventually get his license. I want to now take my 1st lesson with them so I will be booking it soon. I can't rave about this place enough....AMAZING EXPERIENCE, and an AMAZING STAFF!! Can I give this place 20 stars, please?!

Dave is one of the best instructor in the country. He has such a calmness to his tone of voice and…read moreinstructions during the training. Without Dave, we wouldn't have gotten our licenses. We purchased LSA before the training and he didn't even hesitate to instruct us in a different aircraft. If anyone is planning to get their license near Chicago area, this place is a must. Also, if you just want to see / feel how flight instruction is like, then take their introductory flight and/or flight tour of down town Chicago! I would highly suggest to take their introductory flight during the holiday season! Simply fly is simply awesome!

(First of all, contrary to the Yelp location, the address is 3N060 Powis Road…read moreWEST CHICAGO, IL ) ... I started having these dreams of flying. Sooner or later though, you always have to wake up... Or do you? I began investigating flight schools near and far. Then, I focused around Aurora airport and Du Page airport considering flight clubs I wanted to be part of that were convenient for renting planes. These airports are 15 - 20 minutes from my home. There are a couple flight schools at KDPA, but they do not have a flight club, and I wanted to be part of the organization from training to club member. I called Travel Express Aviation at Du Page and happened to get the owner Ken Phlamm, and he offered to stay late to meet me after work to give me the tour. I parked off Powis road on the East side of Du Page airport and entered the door into the hanger, which sort of seemed to be the "back" door, as the lobby faces the airport. Unlike other schools I visited, TEA has quite a range of planes from trainers, to Cirrus, a large Pilatus plane, a jet and a T34 trainer and others in this hanger. I found my way to the lobby and Ken gave me a great tour and explanation of the program. It is pay as you go (billing is monthly) on the set rates for instructor and planes at wet rate. They provide a complete set of Jeppesen books to buy, which is better than trying to find all the info on-line. The over all cost will be around $10K, but depends on how fast you learn. I found they do not waste too much time/money on over extended ground time, and it is best if you can read on your own and save money. The lobby is clean, modern looking, not old 70s throw away leather furniture like other flight schools. Coffee is always brewing (or available) and the bathrooms are clean. The training fleet is not the newest I've seen, but definitely not the oldest. The training planes are just what you need to learn and they are very well maintained. I was happy to see the planes did not have duck-tape repairs I have seen at other "economical" schools and they are having all the interiors re-furbished and these planes are looking very nice! They have club flights for the "$100 hamburger " at exotic places like Madison, WI. I will be taking a cross county flight soon to Oshkosh , WI with another student to log cross country hours and visit the air museum there. Overall, the planes are well maintained. There are planes of various technologies in which to learn to continue your training after your initial Private Pilot Certification: trainer, high performance, Multi-engine, high altitude. The staff is great, friendly and helpful. Travel Express seems to be the best bang for the buck.

I have been a member of TEA for a while. They do flight training but also it's a place to rent…read moreplanes for your 100$ hamburger. I just got some recurrent training from Mike, great guy and even better instructor. Also if you need to rent a plane once you're checked out, TEA does that! Some flight schools do not rent or are not as easy to work with getting a plane to rent once you get your license. The "schools" use their planes for training and are not able to let them go for a few days for a trip. TEA has rentals in their DNA. The owners Lori and Ken are easy to work with, friendly and down-to-earth people. I've checked other rental policies around DuPage airport. TEA is the most reasonable. I absolutely love this place! You should give them a call or stop in.

The team goes out of their way to make you feel at home and accommodate additional requests. Also…read moreappreciate their willingness to go above and beyond to keep the plane warm and in the hangar while I was finishing up a business call. Thanks!

From the owner: Airboss Provides an array of aviation services including Aircraft Acquisition, Aircraft Management,…read morePrivate Jet Charter Services, and Personalized Training.

International Flying Club is a volunteer group of pilots and student pilots whose goal is to…read moreprovide an inexpensive way to fly. The club has been around since 1975. There are three planes, two very suitable for primary (beginner) training (Piper Warrior and Cessna 152) and several patient, skilled and friendly instructors. There is also a single engine complex (Piper Arrow). The hourly rates are "wet" which includes fuel. You can get your Private Pilot for around $5k here... not bad! Check out the website and give a call or shoot an email.

From the owner: We are a non-profit membership flying club for aviation enthusiasts. Please contact us for an…read moreappointment to see our aircraft or take an introductory flight.

Last month I successfully completed the ADX course at AVEL and got my dispatch license. It was…read morequite the ride for me personally with a very heavy full time schedule, moving into a new home and a newborn, trying to do this was not only a goal but more of an obsession to complete. Prashanth and all of his staff made it happen for me. Although the material is intimidating because it is so much it never appeared to me as if it was impossible. The classroom focus helps to narrow the study down, organize thoughts and make the learning material manageable. My classroom preparation was on point with what was asked during my exam and I should add even the examiner was so nice and made the experience a great one. I would do this all over again, with the chaos and all! I highly recommend Avel for anyone who wants to stay within the Chicago Area and get it done and not to disrupt the rest of your life....work...family..etc. Thanks Avel for helping achieve this! See you in the spring for some flying lessons next!

I attended the Aircraft Dispatcher course at Avel Flight School and can not recommend them enough!…read moreI had absolutely 0 aviation experience before starting the program but was able to pass both my written and oral exam first try with the help of Avel. The instructors are extremely accommodating and knowledgeable (so is Leah at the front desk) which creates an excellent learning environment. I highly suggest coming in and checking them out if you have an interest in attending a flight school because they have everything you want to offer!

The owners was very nice the first day before I signed up. After I signed up, it was like his…read moreattitude was on a light switch. He was incredibly rude and had no time to talk to me. I showed up on time for my first appointment and sat there for a half hour without interaction. When I got up and asked nicely what was taking so long, the lady behind the desk had a huge attitude problem. She was high up in the employee chain as well. The instructor they set me up with was 22 and just graduated from Lewis. I asked him how to move the rudders closer and he had to look it up on his iPhone. After my first lesson I was worried to go back. So I switched to api and was so grateful to find an experienced instructor. Jw aviation is going down hill. Do your self a favor and avoid them. Don't ruin your experience!

I would like to post to let everyone know about the Shady Business Practices of this JW AVIATION…read moreflight school. I have been researching flight schools in the Chicago land area for my CFI license. This is the only school that charges you for the full scheduled 2 hours of dual instructor time. The other 8 schools charges actual Hobbs time or add up to a minimal .3 , so if you fly for 1 hour, you are still paying for 2 hours instructor dual time. Over time this adds up. 50 hours of logged time will cost you an extra 25 hours of dual time at $60 per hour, that equals $1500 of time you paid for no dual instruction. Most of the students are college age with minimal income.. THIS IS SHADY and stealing out of their or their parents pockets...

At 4pm, Friday, October 17, 2025 on the 103rd birthday of my grandfather Morris Swartz, flight…read moreinstructor Katy of K2 Aviation, LLC and I took off in the Cessna 150, N101FA from Campbell Airport in Grayslake, Illinois. A truly sentimental place as the airport is located right behind my grandparents' home. I am forever grateful to Katy and her husband Kurt for this most special of my lifetime events. There is no better flight instructor than Katy Crihfield. We thank Katy for her service as a Naval pilot. In addition to flight instruction, she is also a master teacher of physics. It was so great to also meet Katy's two dogs, Olivia and Fiona, as we are all animal lovers too! This marks the beginning of learning with K2 Aviation, LLC and to many more safe and wonderful flights! A special video presentation will be aired in the coming days. I hope you will all enjoy the flight! Thank you Katy and Kurt! ~ Kyle O'Malley

From the owner: K2 Aviation was founded in 2024 with the aim of providing quality flight instruction in small…read moresingle-engine aircraft. Students who learn stick-and-rudder flying in the smallest, simplest airplanes with just steam gauges can later advance to fly any aircraft in the world. We believe in starting with fundamental airmanship skills before working up to a glass cockpit, multi-engine, or jets should that be your goal.

Had a fun, exciting private flight around Chicago for my fiancé's birthday. Mo was super friendly…read moreand accommodating and we felt very safe. Thanks Mo!

We (two passengers) went in a 6-seater plane ride over scenic downtown Chicago! We had a great…read moreexperience and felt very safe throughout the ride! Pilot was experienced and provided great information throughout. We would highly recommend, even for those who may be a little nervous/apprehensive beforehand.

WAir offers flight instruction in both G-1000 glass cockpit and more traditional C172 aircraft,…read moreboth of which are of recent vintage. It has a brand new Redbird full-motion simulator for instrument training. It has a full hangar right outside its offices, for maintancen and for not freezing your butt off in the winter months during pre-flight. And it has first-rate flight instruction and maintenance staffs, couches, offices for debriefings, and an app for scheduling. This is the place to train and maintain!!

So glad we found WAir. Our instructor Dave was very professional. My son had a great time and…read morelearned a lot. Thank you again WAir!