Excellence in Flight Training Since 1994.
Come fly with us!
Located at Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling (IL), we offer comprehensive training programs for aspiring pilots. At Chicago Executive Flight School (CEFS) we have trained students to become pilots since 1994. CEFS has truly stood above the rest, focusing 100% on quality, safety, and time so you can be assured you are receiving the best training available.
For more information, call us at 1-800-901-0730.
For more information, call us at 1-800-901-0730.
4.6
125 reviews
Please call 1-800-901-0730 or fill our our contact form below and someone will get in touch with you.
Reviews
Posted on Google
Yaza Moe27 June 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Amazing flight instructor! Ryan Horvath is patient, knowledgeable, and makes every lesson clear and enjoyable. Goes the extra mile to ensure I'm confident in my skills while behind the yolk. Highly recommend!Posted on Google
derrk radja12 October 2025After having some issues in the beginning of training, I switched my flight instructor to Tom. He brought the rating to five stars. With his guidance I was able to breeze through my check ride! Thanks Tom!Posted on Google
Kess McBride1 July 2025I started my flight training here at Chicago Executive Flight School summer of 2025 and I have enjoyed the experience so far I have flown with Truman and have learned a lot after taking a 7 month break off flight. This has been a great experience that I recommend anyone that wants to learn to fly!Posted on Google
Michael5 July 2025I completed my private pilot training at Chicago Executive Flight School, and I truly can’t speak highly enough about the quality of instruction I received particularly from my instructor, Zachary Nystrom. I got assigned zach with a few hours from a previous instructor but hadn’t made much real progress. That completely changed when I started flying with Zach. From the start, he brought a level of consistency, and patience that made every lesson feel purposeful and enjoyable. He has a unique ability to keep things grounded and understandable without oversimplifying. He’s not just knowledgeable he’s relatable, approachable, and has a sense of humor that made long days around the airport feel more like time well spent than a task to get through. He created an environment where learning actually felt enjoyable, which is particularly rare for me and incredibly valuable. What really set Zach apart was his investment in my progress. He went above and beyond not only during regular lessons, but especially as my checkride approached. He put in extra time with me on both ground and flight prep, and even chose to stay back from attending Oshkosh so he could make sure I had the time and support I needed to feel completely ready. That kind of dedication isn’t something you come across often, and I credit much of my success on the checkride to the work we put in together. The aircraft at the school were overall in good condition. While the avionics leaned more toward the traditional side, I found that to be a benefit rather than a drawback. Training without modern automation pushed me to really build strong core skills particularly with navigation and situational awareness that I know will serve me well going forward. Chicago Executive Flight School is a solid place to train, and I’d definitely recommend it. But more importantly, if you have the chance to work with Zach Nystrom, take it. He’s a knowledgable instructor, a great communicator, and someone who clearly takes pride in his students succsess not just a checkride pass.Posted on Google
Sam E30 June 2025Chicago Executive Flight School is an absolute gem. The instructors are top-notch, the environment is supportive, and flying out of Chicago Executive (PWK) makes you feel like a mini rockstar every time you hit the throttle. Major shoutout to Ryan — one of the best instructors I’ve ever met. He’s incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and somehow makes steep turns and emergency procedures feel... fun? Not sure how he does it, but if you’re flying with Ryan, you’re in very good hands (and probably laughing a little along the way). Also want to give props to Dan, my first instructor, who got me off the ground both literally and figuratively. Dan set the tone early with his calm, steady teaching — and probably deserves a medal for not flinching during my first landing. The whole school runs like a well-trimmed checklist — super organized, encouraging, and genuinely focused on helping you succeed. Bottom line: if you’re thinking about flight training, stop Googling — this is the spot. Just be ready to fall in love with aviation... and maybe pick up a few inside jokes along the way.Posted on Google
Tim Doyle18 July 2021Good place to get flying experience.Posted on Google
Cyd Runion2 July 2026Scott and the instructors here are really great. They took their time with our Girl Scout troop and the girls have a great experience to look back on. I fly myself so it was nice to hear such knowledgeable instructors share their love of flying and kept the girls entertained while still treating them as future pilots. That kind of care carries over into the cockpit. I wouldn't hesitate to fly with this outfit!Posted on Google
Artem Riabykh26 July 2026My wife made me a gift and scheduled a flight with this school. The fight itself was a little short compared to all the preparations, but it was exciting and memorable+0Posted on Google
Neha Sheth12 April 2024Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Had a few issues with flight rescheduling. After some back and forth, we were thankfully able to book a spot for a later date. Scott helped us out, and made sure we were able to reschedule. Giftory Team (experience partner) also stayed on top of it to make sure everything is well communicated. Looking forward to the flying experience!Posted on Google
Serhel Yaraslau22 November 2025Jakob was a good instructorPosted on Google
Anton Llakmani27 June 2025Jacob is a great instructor. He's very thorough and consistent and has a lot of knowledge. I have learned a lot and enjoy working with him.Posted on Google
Nate Broski1 July 2025Raphael is the man!!! If you're looking for a flight school full of dedicated and extensively knowledgeable instructors, this is the school for you. I've been with Raphael since my intro flight, and he's always been gladly willing to go over the top to keep me on track to hit my goals. Scott has also been there from the first call, and always greets with a smile. Overall an incredibly professional and fun environment to learn in, with a nice fleet of aircraft as well. 10/10!!!+0Posted on Google
Ethan Yates1 July 2025Truman (Chiang) YuCheng is an outstanding flight instructor. He is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to everything aviation related and always has a way of making complicated topics seem much simpler. He is very kind, easy to talk to, and always patient when answering lots of questions. He has undoubtedly made learning how to fly both fun and enjoyable.Posted on Google
Maddy Ben-Yoseph17 June 2025Jakob is the BEST INSTRUCTOR EVER!!!!!!!! He is incredibly kind, reliable, patient, and dedicated. He always creates a calm and supportive environment that has made a huge difference in building my confidence as a pilot. His consistency, professionalism, and passion for aviation makes him someone you can trust and genuinely look forward to flying with. Jakob is always willing to go over lessons (both in the plane and on the ground), no matter how many times it takes. He constantly goes the extra mile by creating resources, diagrams, and customized study plans for his students, which has helped me stay organized and on track with training. During my first solo, Jakob made the day feel so special. You can tell how much joy he takes in seeing his students succeed during milestone moments like that. I can’t recommend Jakob highly enough. ⚡️ I also want to give a shout out to the amazing team at Chicago Executive Flight School. Every instructor is kind, approachable, and always ready to help. Scott is a fantastic operations VP who genuinely enjoys keeping up with student progress, and Dave is an outstanding safety officer, flying with him is always a joy.Posted on Google
Mick Little23 June 2025Me and my CFI Ryan Horvath both share a strong passion for aviation wich makes Training with him a great experience. His deep knowledge of aviation, calm demeanor, and ability to explain complex concepts with clarity make him an outstanding instructor. Whether it's ground school or flight time, Ryan brings a perfect balance of professionalism, encouragement, and attention to detail. He genuinely cares about my progress and safety and it shows in every lesson. I highly recommend him to anyone serious about becoming a pilot.Posted on Google
Olga Galko16 June 2025Chicago Executive flight school got the most professional instructors and I love their plains . Highly recommend this school to get your licensePosted on Google
Joseph Ryu25 June 2025Extremely kind and knowledgeable instructors. Very satisfied to study under their expertise. Shout out to Raphael!Posted on Google
Caroline Jensen1 July 2025I started working on my Private License a few months ago. The school is set up in a way for you to be successful. I have had a great experience and am learning quickly. My instructor Adrian is great!Posted on Google
Patrick Desamito23 July 2022First and foremost! Thank you Logan for such an amazing experience during our flight! It was so surreal, you were a great instructor, and I look forward to flying again! For those who want to try, you should!! Just don’t be deterred by the possibility of rescheduling a few times because this experience is very weather dependent. They want you to have a great time with clear skies so you can truly appreciate the view of the Chicago skyline! It’s so worth it!Posted on Google
David DiBiase24 June 2025Adrian Rogers has gone above and beyond helping me with my ground training lessons for my Private Pilot quest. He has also helped me with my Piloting skill sets, and he makes sure your understanding and retaining the lesson at hand.Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
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