I couldn't find a review page for AM Air Service (also at Schaumburg Airport) on Yelp so this will…read morehave to do since Chris Bachman, the man behind Bachman Aero, runs AM Air Service as well. The difference between the introductory helicopter flight in Bachman Aero and AM Air Service is the kind of helicopter you fly. With AM Air Service, you get to fly a Hughes 369A which can hold 3 people plus the pilot, whereas the helicopter used in Bachman Aero is a Hughes 269 and can only hold 1 person besides the pilot. I did the AM Air Service's 30 min flight session which cost $375 whereas if I had done the Bachman Aero one, it would've cost around $150 (a lot of groupon ads for this one). The reason why I did the AM Air Service one was because I am in the middle of creating a movie and wanted shots of me flying a helicopter. And AM Air Service was the only one that let me bring a passenger along (you can ONLY bring just 1 other passenger even though there's room for 2 in the back...probably has to do with safety regulations). So I flew the helicopter in the front while my brave girlfriend did a fantastic job at holding the GoPro cam with her dear life getting the best angle shots. Now for the actual experience... We arrived about 15 mins late (which I felt really bad about since the directions tell you to arrive 15 mins early) but Chris Bachman, our pilot was super chill about it! Right away, I knew that this was going to be a really pleasant experience. Chill people are the best. It took us only 2 mins after arriving at the airport to park the car, and get inside the helicopter! Chris sat next to me up front and explained all the controls and dials. Then he started the engine and within minutes, we were airborne! And holy crap, it was sensational. Pure joy. Oh yeah, and might I remind you all the doors were open, so when the helicopter did sharp turns, your seatbelt became your best friend. After a several minutes of further explaining the controls, Chris told me to take the controls and I flew it (with some difficulty at first) over a highway and past some of the most peaceful and affluent neighborhoods I've seen. You think that it's easy to control a helicopter until you actually have to do so. The control is extremely sensitive and will definitely take time to get used to for a lot of us. But this just added to the experience. Not going to lie, but I felt really cool talking on the headset and following a highway down below me. Felt like I was reporting a highway chase. After flying for about 25 mins, we made our way back to the airport and land gracefully. He asked us if we had any questions and after a little more talking, we were on our way back home. All under an hour! It was definitely one of the coolest (if not the coolest) things we had in our life. Chris Bachman really knows his stuff and makes sure you have the best time while you're there. So if whoever is reading this wants to fly a helicopter, Chris Bachman is definitely your guy! If you have a little more money to spend or just really want to share this experience with a friend, then I suggest going to http://www.amairservice.com/introductory-helicopter-flight-lessons-and-rides and calling the number at the bottom of the page to request your flight. You're going to have a blast! OH, and if you're going to take a friend, have them record the whole thing. It'll be worth it.

Is this business closed? I called and left TWO more messages this past week and still have not…read moregotten a call back.

Our pilot Wayne, was waiting for us when we arrived. He was impeccably dressed, and the…read moreprofessionalism was evident. Wayne gave us a very thorough safety briefing, and the tour was beyond spectacular. I'm not a helicopter pilot, but you'd have thought he was a decorated pilot from the military!! (Too young to be 'Nam) It was a very enjoyable experience. I can not recommend them highly enough!!!

I think HeliChicago has the most attractive pilots and definitely the most attractive helicopters…read morein the entire Chicagoland area. If you want to try THE most fun way to see the city, this is it - without a doubt. ;-] I loved both flights I flew on: one 45 minute tour of downtown and one 30 minute tour of the NW burbs (which was surprisingly fun- especially experiencing how the helicopter can maneuver).

Absolutely amazing flight with a nice instructor. Such a wonderful experience. Absolutely worth it…read more Wil definitely do it again. Thank you.

I booked a discovery flight with CityWings at Pilot Pete's as a birthday gift for my husband, and…read moreoverall it ended up being a really memorable experience. Our reservation was scheduled for 4:00 PM, and when we arrived there was a sign outside instructing guests to call or text a phone number upon arrival. I immediately sent a text and waited, but after about 10 minutes I still hadn't received a response. I then tried calling the number multiple times with no luck. By this point, I was getting a little concerned because there wasn't anyone around to check us in or let us know what was going on. Thankfully, a kind gentleman nearby offered to walk across to one of the airport buildings to ask about our reservation. Shortly after, Victoria came out to greet us. She was incredibly sweet, apologetic, and explained that they hadn't realized we were waiting. Unfortunately, by that point it was already around 4:30 PM. Despite the rough start, Victoria completely turned the experience around. She was knowledgeable, professional, and took the time to explain everything thoroughly. She made us feel comfortable and excited about the flight. One of the coolest parts was that she even let my husband take control of the aircraft for a bit, which made the experience even more special. A few things to know before booking: the Discovery Flight is around $100 and only accommodates two people--the instructor and one guest. If you're planning this as a gift, keep that in mind. My biggest complaint was the communication. Ironically, the phone number I had been texting and calling didn't return my call until around 6:00 PM, after the flight was already over and I was practically home. That was definitely disappointing and something I think could be improved. That being said, the actual flight experience was fantastic and made for a unique birthday gift. Everyone we interacted with was friendly and professional. There was another flight company across the airport that appeared to have a more traditional reception area and staff available on-site, although it was significantly more expensive. It may be worth researching both options depending on the experience you're looking for. Overall, I would absolutely recommend CityWings for anyone interested in a discovery flight. Just make sure to confirm your reservation and arrival instructions beforehand. Thanks to Victoria, what started as a frustrating experience ended up becoming a birthday memory we'll always remember.

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!

You are looking into obtaining your PPL and have arrived at KPWK looking for a good school. You…read morenotice there are a few located at the airport and are wondering which is the best one. Well my friends, look no more. Boraam Aviation is VERY competitively priced and the quality of instruction here is top notch. I completed a few hours at another school and decided to switch over after my first lesson with Chief CFI Marlon Gualberto. There is no (unneeded) 'shop' or frills to tug at your wallet and if you have the discipline to study you will find BA your best bet at KPWK. From the pre-flight inspection to the actual lesson, this felt like training. Flexible scheduling (I had to reschedule at the very last min once and it was no big deal) and friendly staff keep me recommending it.

Well maintained fleet of airplanes ! Marlon is a great teacher ! Easy to schedule and easy to work…read morewith !

This flight school is one of the finest flight school in Chicagoland and most likely in the…read moreMidwest. My background was establishing and selling to Fixed based Operators the Cessna Pilot Center program. So I spent a LONG time visiting flighr schools in the Midwest. Carolinas. Tenn , Kentucky Virginia,Ohio Michigan The Professional standards intimidate some. I get that. But if your looking to fly the best of the best. Fly here It is more money but I think my life and passengers are worth it Up to you.

They closed suddenly within the last year or so. I had paid for a discovery flight which they…read morerescheduled several times due to bad weather, and when I called back to reschedule once again, no one answered. I learned Dean Ellis shut down operations abruptly and I can't get a refund.Apparently Dean also owes his former employees money but he disappeared. I tried contacting multiple people to get a refund but they were unable to help. What a shitty thing to do.

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!

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.