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
Anton Llakmani27 June 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Jacob 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
Paolo Atallah1 July 2025The way the school work is amazing, especially my instructor is great, he’s helped me out so much! I’ve learned so much from him! Overall this school is great, it’s efficient. The planes are also amazing, I love flying the planes! Overall I love this schoolPosted on Google
michael maitar17 June 2025I took many flight lessons there years ago. The CFIs were absolutely incredible and patient. Unfortunately I was too busy in my work to finish, but hopefully planning to come back in the next 4-5 months, this time to go all the way. I believe the management is still the same and that’s where the winning chip is. Great school and great airport.Posted on Google
Jake S24 May 2026I did a discovery flight lesson with Dan and it was awesome! I’ve been interested in lessons for a long time, and it was the perfect intro. He does a great job of walking through everything in detail but also making it fun! He also made the time to go over any questions and explain anything I wanted to know more about. Now I can’t wait to sign up for some more! Definitely recommend booking an intro lesson with Dan if you’re considering it!!+0Posted on Google
Luke Monckton28 June 2025This flight school is truly one of a kind. Not only did it prepare me for a Part 141 flight school in Boca Raton, FL, but it gave me a completely new outlook on aviation. From the upbeat, welcoming people, to the deep pool of aviation knowledge, CEFS has you covered. I’d like to personally thank who I believe to be the coolest person on earth, Ryan. He’s one of the most humble, professional, and respectful people I’ve had the pleasure of flying with. Every time I made a mistake, he would both correct me in the moment, and in advance. I could go on, but you get the idea. This is what I call a true, and well thought out flight school. Honorable mention to Jakob Kjeldbjerg, always answered questions when Ryan wasn’t there for me, he cared for me as if I were his student. Thank you to all the amazing flight instructors I’ve had the honor to meet. Thank you Ryan.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
billandr28 October 2025CFI: Ryan Horvath As a working parent over 50, I never expected flight training to become more than a hobby — but my experience with Ryan Horvath and Chicago Executive Flight School has truly transformed it into a lifelong passion. Ryan’s patience and passion for aviation are unmatched. He’s not just focused on checkrides or hours — he’s dedicated to building safe, confident pilots. He’s the only instructor who ever made me love ground school — something I never thought possible. Every lesson is structured to ensure understanding, safety, and steady growth — never rushed, never just “for the hours.” This flight school is not about the money — it’s about quality instruction and mentorship. If your only goal is to check the PPL box, sure, other schools may do. But if you want to become a safe, well-trained pilot for life, this is the place to be. I can’t recommend Ryan or CEFS highly enough. They’ve changed the way I fly — and why I fly.+5Posted 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
Troy Chinnici13 July 2026Max was an incredible instructor. He gave us a great ride with tremendous views.Posted on Google
Megan O’Toole27 June 2025Executive flight school is so fun to fly at! My instructor is Jakob and im so glad!! He’s very level headed and calm which is really nice during flying and ground lessons. Whenever I’m unsure of something he always points me in the right direction without judgement which is so awesome and really appreciated. I feel as though I do not have to worry when I fly about anything bad happening because I trust his flying skills and judgement. He’s always very kind and never in a terrible mood. Jakob is also very patient and understanding, and always encourages me to do my best. He always makes sure I know what im doing in advance to make sure I have time to prepare which is incredibly appreciated! Flying has been definitely an awesome experience and I always learn so much during my lessons. I also find ground very helpful as well. Jakob explains all the materials very well and I know what is required of me to get to where I need to go. He has me set goals for what I should do during flying and outside of flying. I also appreciate his sense of humor. Everyone at executive is super kind, calm, and helpful which is awesome! I had the pleasure of taking my 10 hour check with Dave, who is really neat to talk to! I couldn’t have asked for a better flight school and instructor.Posted 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
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
Jolie Boyke28 June 2025ADRIAN ROGERS IS THE BEST FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR EVER!!! Adrian has been my instructor for almost two years, he soloed me, and he's going to sign me off for my checkride. Adrian always makes the lessons so much fun, and he never ceases to make me laugh or make a joke in the airplane. He takes flying and safety very seriously and although he does make learning to fly fun, it's always done with safety first. Adrian has made me a better student pilot by constantly pushing my limitations, such as flying in low ceilings and high winds. This I believe has made me a better, more competent pilot. The phrase, "A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor" comes to mind, and he has definitely put that into practice, not just with me, but will all of his students! Thank you Adrian for everything you've taught me, experiences that you've given, and connections made!Posted on Google
JWinks 1430 June 2025as a high school student, being able to balance athletics, work, and flight lessons seemed daunting at first, but executive flight school made it easy to manage that balance. their scheduling is very flexible and have never had an issue finding a last-minute slot to add to my schedule. i’ve been flying with my instructor, Tom, since August 2024 and i feel i’ve learned a great deal from him. he’s friendly, easygoing, and never fails to make a lesson exciting while keeping it educational. he’s always ready to lend a helping hand and makes sure i practice not just to completion, but to consistency. the planes i flown (c150) have all been in great flying condition and i’ve never experienced issues flying these planes. if any issue were to ever arise, i feel well-prepared to manage said issue based on the material i’ve been taught. i recommend this school and my instructor!Posted on Google
mendel kustiner24 July 2025Total immersion flight was very informative and lots of fun. Great instructorPosted 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
Olechka Vdovichenko23 June 2025I had a fantastic experience at Chicago Executive Flight school , The instructors are highly knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely invested in student success. From day one, the staff was welcoming and professional, and the scheduling was flexible enough to fit my routinePosted on Google
B B7 May 2024Do not believe them when they say your flight lesson will “NEVER” be cancelled due to weather. I’ve rescheduled 4 times now after driving an hour here because they refuse to call or communicate ahead of time. **Edit to respond: I’ve already done the ground training and it should be easily seen by your people when booking. There is zero reason why someone can’t call and tell me we can’t fly today vs waiting for me to drive an hour there. It’s inconsiderate of your customers time. Update: I Rescheduled and they called 2 hours before to inform me that we would fly. They listened to my feedback and I greatly appreciate that. I flew with Ryan and it was a blast, I then rescheduled another lesson with Ryan!Posted on Google
Paul1 July 2025You're in control of your progress and it's up to you to take charge of that. The instructors are there as your personal resources to help you reach your goal.Posted on Google
Keith Miller20 May 2019Chicago Executive Flight School is definitely a trusted source for Pilot training in my book. Jim and his instructors will go out of there way to make sure you get the training you are looking for.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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