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
Danylo Mykytash27 June 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
From day one, the entire team made me feel welcome and supported. The school is extremely well organized, and you can tell they take safety and professionalism very seriously, while still making learning to fly a lot of fun. Tom McNeill is an outstanding instructor. He’s patient, knowledgeable, and has a great way of breaking down complex concepts into simple, easy-to-understand steps. Whether we were working on basic maneuvers, landings, or preparing for the checkride, he always took the time to answer my questions and made sure I felt confident before moving on. What I appreciated most is that Tom never made me feel rushed or intimidated. He genuinely cares about his students’ success and progress, and that comes through in every lesson. Thanks to his guidance, I’ve become a much more skilled and confident pilot than I ever thought possible. If you’re considering flight training, I highly recommend Chicago Executive Flight School. Ask for Tom—he’s one of the best instructors you could hope for.Posted on Google
Erin C23 April 2018My son had his first flight lesson today. He loved it! Jim was great. He spent some time showing him different ways pilots track weather. Then showed him different parts of the plane. The flight itself was fun and exciting! Afterwards he emailed us the flight pattern and other aspects of the day. We will definitely go back for more lessons! My son said this was one of the best days of his life! He loved it!Posted on Google
Josh J1 July 2025Ryan Horvath is the best instructor out there. He got me through my first milestone in aviation where others would have just been careless in bringing up the right training. He was always there to get me to that finish line and now being 2 years out I still talk with him. Truly one of a kind instructor you won’t find easily! Ever grateful, ever true… Thanks Ryan!Posted on Google
Tilemissov Almas8 August 2026Great experience with Jim. Highly recommended and definitely will be back.+0Posted on Google
Aidan Fayhee29 June 2025Had a great intro flight! T.J. did a fantastic job explaining and demonstrating the different components of flying the plane. Awesome experience, would highly recomend.Posted on Google
Adi27 June 2025Just wanted to give a huge shoutout to my guy Raphael Schroepfer — pretty sure I was one of his first students at CEFS, but now I just get to say, “I knew him before he was fully booked.” 😄 Jokes apart, we still manage to find time that works for both of us, and it’s been an awesome experience learning with him. He’s incredibly calm, patient, and always eager to help out, no matter how many questions you throw at him. Whether it’s giving that added explanation or breaking something down even further, he’s always got your back. I’ve flown with a few other instructors at CEFS too — and I genuinely enjoy flying with them as well! Credit to Raphael for always looking out for ways to make sure I can keep flying, even when he’s busy with other students. That said, I’ve spent most of my flying hours with him, and I’m really happy to have him as my assigned primary instructor. We’ve built a solid understanding, and that makes every flight smoother and more fun. Also, hats off to the Chicago Executive Flight School for maintaining the planes well, and also creating such a supportive and fun vibe. Whether you're up in the air or just hanging out with the CFIs and other students, it’s a place you actually look forward to being at.Posted on Google
Jenny Johnson27 June 2025Ryan H is the best. He's very patient, knowledgeable, encouraging and has saved my ass a few times. If you're looking for an instructor I'd highly recommend Ryan/CEFS.+0Posted on Google
Graham Gausnell28 June 2025This school is lucky to have an instructor like Jakob.Posted on Google
Chase Slagter18 June 2025Zach Nystrom is a fantastic flight instructor! He is very professional and informative. He really understands how to instruct and demonstrates that every lesson!Posted on Google
Karina Rodríguez17 June 2025Amazing experience with T.JPosted on Google
Norbert29 July 2025Great first time hands on experience for both myself and my 8 year old son got to fly an airplane ✈️ Raphael did a great job throughout entire experience 👏Posted on Google
Yifanova19 July 2025Flying here is an extremely pleasant experience!Truman is a very caring and professional flight instructor!+1Posted on Google
Sam Soulari1 July 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Chicago Executive Flight School offers a solid and accessible pathway for those pursuing a Private Pilot License (PPL), especially for residents of Chicago’s northern suburbs. With its convenient location, varied fleet, and energetic team of Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs), the school provides strong value for aspiring pilots. However, some operational challenges come with the territory. Pros: • Convenient Location: Located at Chicago Executive Airport (PWK), the school is an ideal choice for those living in the northern suburbs, minimizing commute time and making frequent flying more manageable. • Reasonable Pricing: Rates are competitive for the region, offering good value given the quality of instruction and aircraft access. • Motivated CFIs: The school features a group of young, passionate, and knowledgeable instructors who are committed to helping students succeed. • Fleet Variety: A diverse selection of aircraft is available, generally well-maintained and suitable for PPL training. • Exceptional CFI – Jakob: One of the standout instructors is Jakob, who is consistently patient, professional, and clear in his teaching. His calm demeanor and methodical approach make him especially effective with newer students or those looking to build confidence in the cockpit. Cons: • Congested Airspace: Proximity to O’Hare’s Class B airspace means students must learn to navigate busy skies, which, while valuable experience, can be overwhelming at first. • Runway/Taxi Delays: High traffic levels at PWK, including jets and other GA aircraft, often result in wait times for departure, impacting scheduling efficiency. • Older Aircraft: While functional and maintained, many of the aircraft lack modern avionics like autopilot or glass cockpits, which may be a downside for students looking to train on more current systems. • Cook County Taxes: Higher local taxes add to the overall cost of training and can come as a surprise for some students. • Variable Professionalism: Though CFIs are generally skilled and professional, there have been isolated instances where certain instructors have acted less professionally in the presence of students. Overall Assessment: Chicago Executive Flight School is a strong choice for flight training, especially for students looking for convenience, affordability, and solid instruction. The experience offers both challenges and advantages—training in busy airspace builds valuable real-world skill, though it can increase stress and wait times. For those who have the right expectations and are ready to work in a dynamic training environment, this school offers excellent value—particularly if you’re lucky enough to train with CFIs like Jakob, who brings an exceptional level of patience and professionalism to the program.Posted on Google
Kyle29 June 2025I started taking lessons at Flight School about 2 years ago. Since then, I've spent many hours with my instructor, Dan. It's hard to say just how grateful I am to have him as my instructor. From day 1, Dan has been nice, helpful and very patient in my learning process. He puts a lot of time and effort into making sure I understand new concepts, and can effectively apply them in the cockpit. His teaching method is highly effective, and it has led to me learning a great deal from him, which is the reason for my progression in training. Even beyond the classroom and cockpit, Dan continues to show an interest in my life outside of flying, and works hard with me to ensure I'm able to continue working to improve my knowledge and skills to progress in training. This is so much more than I expected when I first started taking lessons, but I'm so grateful for Dan's commitment to my advancement and passion for aviation. Flying with Dan has taught me skills that will help in and out of the cockpit for the rest of my life.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
Ed Chévere26 October 2025Great instruction from my primary instructor Ryan as well as Caley and Adrian!Posted on Google
Spider Aviation27 June 2025Very great flight school, professional and safe standerds, with great instructors! Recommend for anyone! Truman and Adrian are both amazing instructors that teach well and correct mistakes in a calm and professional manner. Trust me you will feel like Maverick from top gun!Posted on Google
Justin Jetters30 June 2025Not to sound cliché, but i spent a long time searching for a flight school in the Chicago-Land area and this was it for me. Proximity to my house and job, I couldn’t beat it. My instructor Dan accommodates to my crazy work schedule and still ensures that I am learning the necessary things to propel my journey.Posted on Google
Nelson J.27 June 2025I am having an incredible experience at Chicago Executive Flight School, and I can’t recommend it enough! From day one, the entire team has been very professional, supportive, and genuinely invested in my success. The training is thorough, well-structured, and tailored to help me progress confidently. My flight instructor Adrian is absolutely incredible! Patient, knowledgeable, and encouraging, he has made every lesson not just educational but genuinely fun. Adrian has a talent for breaking down complex concepts into simple, understandable steps and always makes sure I feel confident before moving on. Safety is always his top priority, and his calm, reassuring presence makes even the most challenging maneuvers (and yes, there are quite a few!) feel manageable. Thanks to his expert guidance, I feel fully prepared and excited to continue my journey as a pilot. If you’re looking for top-notch flight training with a supportive team, this is the place to be.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.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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