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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.

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4.6

125 reviews

Tailored Flight Training

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Reviews

       EXCELLENT  
   Based on 138 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Adi 
 27 June 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Just 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  
   
   Alejandro Rodriguez 
 31 August 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Hello! I recently went on a total immersion flight and let me tell you, this has got to be one of the best experiences i’ve ever had. Caley was our Flight Instructor and not only is she really down to earth, but she does such a wonderful job explaining what is going on to someone who’s never flown before. TJ is also a great person to have! TJ helped with the ground portion of the flight and explained how clouds and all kinds of factors go into having a nice and safe flight. I will definitely have to come back. Again, thank you Caley for such an amazing flight and Tj as well!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Cochise Wanzer 
 29 June 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Dan is dedicated, knowledgeable, reliable, and professional. He is always willing to go above and beyond to help and I have had a lot of fun learning to fly with him.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Cyd Runion 
 2 July 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Scott 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  
   
   Line Guy99 
 10 May 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great instructors and the owner is great to deal with too no  issues!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Megan O’Toole 
 27 June 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Executive 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  
   
   Keith Miller 
 20 May 2019
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Chicago 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.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Nubian Divine 
 18 June 2020
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Magnificent Experience
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   William Marshall1 
 27 June 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am a student pilot who has been working with TJ and so far it has been a tremendous experience. TJ is very patient with me when I am confused on certain material, but also gives me the freedom to let me learn and dive into the world of flying with a sense of individuality. This structure and style of teaching is essential for me to evolve as a pilot, and it is evident in my progress so far. I am excited to continue working with TJ. I am excited to become a better pilot everyday, and a significant fraction of this excitement is due to my CFI (certified flight instructor). TJ amplifies my ability to become better and makes flying more of a structured progression rather than a “lesson”. I am thankful for the whole flight school (Executive) and everything all instructors have done for me so far! They are all great, but it is essential for me to highlight the fabulous experience TJ has provided because he is whom I have worked with and will continue to advance with.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Karina Rodríguez 
 17 June 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Amazing experience with T.J
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Vikram Bharadwaj 
 23 June 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +0
Jacob was our instructor for this experience and he was so calm and patient with us. Helped us understand every small detail of a plane and we flew over the downtown and northern end. Great experience and views. Watch out for the weather when you book!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Serhel Yaraslau 
 22 November 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jakob was a good instructor
  
 
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   Miguel Roman 
 1 July 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Its honestly a great school with a lot of aviation knowledge and plenty of patience for new incoming students looking to learn about the aviation world. Thomas McNeill is one of the best flight instructors their and would highly recommend him. Its been a great flight at the school.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Maddy Ben-Yoseph 
 17 June 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jakob 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  
   
   Danylo Mykytash 
 27 June 2025
 
 
 Trustindex 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  
   
   David Aronson 
 31 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +0
I did the immersion flight and #2 phase 2 lessons. All of them were fantastic. Everything went exactly as advertised thanks to my instructors, Grady, Luke, and Adrian.  Highly recommended for at least what I did.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Laura Denver 
 23 August 2020
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jordan s a good instructor.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Artem Riabykh 
 26 July 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +0
My 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
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Nate Broski 
 1 July 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +0
Raphael 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!!!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Brooke 
 30 June 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great instructors. Really enjoy my time learning to fly.
  
 
 
  
 
 
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