I did my initial training with API back in 2007 and have worked with them on my instrument rating as well. The head of the flight school, Bill has been working in the aviation business, teaching people to fly for the past 30 years (maybe more, I would have to ask him). They have developed their lesson plans over this time period and he has a very specific way he has instructors teach you how to fly. This way you not only get a method that works (at least for me it did) but you get consistency across students and instructors. The great thing is Bill really looks after his students and tries to make their flights productive. I love the fact that when I show up for a winter flight around 8am, I usually find they were out at the airplanes with a propane heater in the cold heating up the engine for me so I could spend more time flying and less time getting ready. Before I had a car, I would take the orange line to midway and bill or an instructor would pick me up from the train station for my flights and take me back when I was done. The office feels very comfortable and I have spent hours there just talking (hanger flying) with Bill, his instructors, and anyone who walks in the door. Anyone who has questions about my experience with aviation professionals is free to PM me but I would recommend giving them a call and they will answer any questions you have. read more

Bill was extremely friendly and helpful from the first time that I scheduled the FAA 107 exam until I walked out today with a passing grade. He seems to really care about people who are taking the exam and he wants everyone to do well. He walked me step by step on what the next steps were and adequately answered all of my questions. A huge bonus is that he's open 7 days a week which is very accommodating to business professionals. I appreciate his efforts and would recommend him to anyone considering doing business with API. read more

Bill was amazing from start to finish and made sure I knew everything involved in my testing for part 107 certification.

Excellent flight school! Came here to take my private pilot written exam expecting to get an uptight angry proctor. Instead I dealt just about one of the nicest people I've ever met in the instructor named Bill. It wasn't hard to notice but I came to discover he has been flying for for over 40 plus years. I wish I would've had him as an instructor when I started. Incredibly professional, intelligent and a guy I learned a lot from in a very short time taking an exam. I could only imagine how much more I'd know if he were my full instructor. If you want a flight school that gives it to you straight and thoroughly trains you with an amazing instructor visit this place! You will not be disappointed. read more

I contacted API to take the FAA part 107 unmanned drone exam. Bill went out of his way to make sure I had a great test experience. My wife rode along with me and Bill took us to a very nice FBO lounge so she would be comfortable while I was testing. After the test, he took the time to go through the procedures to register with the FAA. Overall it was a great experience and I would recommend API. read more

Took my PPL Knowledge exam at API. Couldn't have had a more pleasant experience! Bill was extremely welcoming and did a great job calming my nerves concerning the test. I'd highly recommend the friendly folks at API for all of your FAA testing needs! read more

Took my Part 107 Drone Exam here. The place is a little rundown , but the staff was very helpful and friendly. Street parking was easy. Would recommend and use again. read more

Sometimes the hours are just funky. I drove all the way, came here during business hours and it was closed.

Yesterday, I passed my FAA UAS Part 107 exam as required by the FAA to pilot drones. Bill was a big help to me before, during and after the exam. I could not have asked for a better experience. He helped me with suggesting things to use as study guides, helped me with directions to the facility, helped with the process of taking the exam and understanding how the computer software functioned and helped me with the post process of dealing with the FAA website. Do call ahead and schedule in a time to take your exam, there are three testing bays, so it would not be a good idea to just show up at the door. The business was open when he said he was going to be there. He genuinely cares that people have a positive experience and does not want to see you waste your money if you are not prepared for the exam. Two thumbs up from me, Thanks Bill ! read more

I earned my PPL with Aviation Professionals in 2009, and I continue to fly with them every time I fly. There are few owner/instructors as consistent and level-headed as Bill Schreiber. He always answers the phone no matter the time of day, and he will teach you how to be a safe, consistent pilot, guaranteed. read more

I took my Aeronautical Knowledge Test, Unmanned Aircraft, General at API this morning. And I don't have a single complaint. Bill, who I suspect may own the place, was a great guy: more than helpful and quite knowledgeable. read more

What an unprofessional company/business. I had a testing session scheduled for this morning. I arrived 10 minutes early to a sign on the door that said close. I telephone the business a gentlemen answered and told me he would be there in 10 to 15 minutes. 20 minutes later I received a call from the gentleman saying he was unable to give me the test because they were having trouble with the equipment. It seems strange that he was not able to tell me that the first time I talked with him. I clearly could never recommend for anyone to use this company. If they call run! This was the only chance/time I had to take the test for the next two weeks. Now I have to find another location and time to take the test. read more

The folks at API were very helpful and professional! They were an integral part in achieving my Part 107, Remote Pilot Certification.

I took my UAV Part 107 certification test today and I couldn't have asked for a better experience! Bill was welcoming, thorough and eased my nerves about the exam! I would highly recommend taking any course/test at this location! read more

I would not recommend Aviation Professionals (API) to my worst enemy. Overall I would summarize Aviation Professionals (API) as a wolf in sheep's clothing. First impressions are positive. But while (owner) Bill might be a nice person to befriend, conducting business with him is another matter altogether. When I started, Aviation Professionals Incorporated (API) had a single tenured instructor, the one and only full time instructor. The instructor was great, no complaints there. Eventually the instructor landed a job with an airline and left (good for him!), after giving Bill about two months notice. Before he left I was basically set for my checkride. This was in mid August. The punch line of this part of the story is that Bill didn't have any new regular instructor lined up. Even during the "good times" there were still "bad times". For example, the one and only instructional airplane at one point needed an engine overhaul. Bill couldn't scrape together the money to make this happen. Now, before I go further, one would think that the owner of an aviation school would be prepared with an extra engine on standby as the overhaul time approached, after all, it happens at pre-defined intervals for this type of aircraft. Not the case though, instead, for almost two months Bill "borrowed" his friends plane, which you could not use to solo. So here I am in Mid-August. All of my endorsements ready to go - time to schedule the exam. I call Bill. This is an important time to note something. Bill has an email address - but does not respond to emails. Also, Bill has no employees. He doesn't keep regular hours so a lot of times you can not get in touch with him. In this case I was lucky. I told him I need to schedule my exam. He says great, but, we don't have any examiners quoting some new rule that apparently makes it impossible for me to take an exam I have been preparing for over the last 10 months. I go along for the ride. OK, totally understand Bill. I keep calling. Finally, after a month, the test is scheduled for 2 months in the future. Turns out (I learned later) some examiners refuse to work with him because he is shady... Before I go on, lets talk scheduling. A three ring binder that stays in the office and is filled out in pencil. If you need to schedule something you need to call. If you call you have a 10% chance that Bill is in the office. To note, Bill will NOT return your call when he arrives at the office. Instead he says "call me back" at such and such time. Many times you call back at said time and the phone is not answered. That's right, Bill screens his calls on a regular basis... OK, fast forward to November. Now, all that stands between me and victory is 2 hours of flight time. This is when things start to get really bad. Bill has always maintained that come exam time, the plane will be made available regardless of other students. Fair - I had a couple lessons canceled for this reason - reciprocity is fine by me. However, when I want to schedule the plane Bill is difficult to reach and generally unhelpful. After a month of bad weather finally things look like they are lining up. The examiner gives me a hint "check the validity of your endorsements". I call Bill, he doesn't answer. I leave a message, he doesn't call me back. So the night before the exam I call my old instructor who hasn't worked for Bill in months now. He has me email pictures of all of my endorsements and immediately sees a problem. He emails me new endorsements at 2 am. Keep in mind, Bill would have totally screwed me over here if his old employee hadn't sprung into action late at night and helped me out. So I go for the exam and the weather acts up. Oh well, that will happen. I still have time before the ground portion of the exam becomes invalid, the examiner seems unphased. I call up Bill, it has been a couple weeks since I have flown and I want to practice maneuvers before the next exam attempt. No answer. I call every day for a week, no answers. I call from a different phone number and he answers immediately and pretends like I never called or left a message. I ask him if everything is OK and everything is "great". OK, cool, lets get some flight time scheduled then. Of course, Bill is out of the office and I need to call him back. I never talk to Bill again. I transferred to a school up at Chicago Executive Airport and finished. To do so I had to buy a car. I just wish I had done so from the beginning, after all, the amount extra I paid due to Bill's high prices would have actually paid for my entire car. The experience was NIGHT AND DAY and I feel like a chump. I have run out of space to go on. So many more details of how this place is a criminal enterprise in disguise (blatant FAA reg violations, bad equipment, questionable maintenance practices, no hangar (think snow), no solos out of MDW, traffic delays at MDW, no GPS, $$$ worthless ground materials, etc). Take my advice, run away, there are many better options. read more

The location is small but the training is amazing. Let's face it who cares where the front counter is they are flying out of the best learning environment in the world. I learned that Midway airport is one of the busiest airports in the world that flight instruction is given out of. I thought why not get the best experience in my training so when I'm on my own I have a top level skills. There were two different instructors I had there and both were personable, trustworthy and seemed like they had a vested concern in my training. The owner was extremely helpful and gave me his personal cell number if I had any questions. The level of one on one training from a mom and pop type shop is something hard to find these days. I took an intro lesson at Lewis University that was not bad but seemed kinda like a mill that just churns out people. Flying a plane I want the best I can get and I found API provided that for me. I got my license through them and rent planes every chance I can get. read more