Skill is no longer the school that used to win awards 10 years ago. Time seems to have frozen for it around then along with its website that still features instructors who are long gone. You would be doing yourself a disservice by paying the premium rates it demands for instruction that is often mediocre at best, from junior instructors who seem to only be interested in getting to the 1500 hour mark. You can get very experienced, Gold Seal instructors who have been doing this for many years and are only interested in your development as a pilot, for much less. Focus is often primarily on flying and inadequate time spent on ground and reviews. Some programs lack a syllabus entirely, if you are one who looks for red flags. There is a very deep sense of apathy among its staff. The scheduling is often chaotic (timeslots not respected, or you may show up to the airport and they'll tell you that the aircraft is actually in maintenance or somewhere else) and staff behavior unprofessional. You may schedule a flight worth thousands, weeks in advance, to only find out a few days before the flight that someone changed the times or even cancelled it without even letting you know. read more

We booked an exploratory flight with Tayyab, we drove 30 minutes only to have this instructor pull a no show. Extremely unprofessional. read more

Full disclosure: I am a former employee of Skill Aviation. I have moved out of the midwest and am no longer associated with the flight school, so I feel I can give an honest opinion of the place. I have been involved with four flight schools in the Chicago area as either a student or instructor, and I am quite familiar with most of the others as well (it's not a huge industry). I worked for Skill as an instructor for five years. I know Yelp discourages reviews from former employees, but I feel that both the nature of the business and my situation makes my input useful to those looking for training. Skill Aviation is, in my opinion, simply the best flight training available in Chicago. It has, hands down, the best management and aircraft around, and while I can't speak to the ability of every instructor in Chicago, I CAN attest to the dedication of the instructors at Skill. As an employee, I was continuously provided training and guidance in how to better both my teaching skills and my customer service. I felt (and still feel) a great amount of loyalty toward the owner, Skip. He cares deeply about the training that his customers receive at his facility, and he accomplishes this by treating his employees well. They, in turn, want to see the school and its students succeed. I can't say this is a completely unbiased customer review, because I really enjoyed my time working there. But what I can say is that if you are looking for flight training in Chicago, I'd strongly encourage you to visit all of the schools you can find, including Skill. Have your eyes wide open, ask lots of questions, and closely observe the culture of each facility. I'm confident that your decision will be quite easy. read more

Skill Aviation - One of Skill Aviation's DA-42 Twin Stars flying over Lake Michigan - Flight Instruction Near Me - Waukegan, Illinois

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I live 5 minutes from Chicago Executive Airport. When I started my flight training I began driving up 50 minutes to Waukegan just because that was the home of Skill Aviation. Simply the best school I have used. Unlike other schools in the area (I have used other schools in the area), the Skill instructors are not pilots passing by on the way to the airlines. ALL of the Instructors at Skill are highly trained professionals who have a passion in flying. These instructors have both mastered aviation, and education, the art of expressing their valuable knowledge to the students. The school is now located at Waukegan and Chicago Executive. Both facilities are top notch, very modernized and clean. Airplanes are in top condition, they appear to be cleaned quiet offend and it makes the experience that much better. read more

Skill Aviation - Flight Instruction Near Me - Waukegan, Illinois

I now live in Southern Florida and have visited many flying clubs and flight schools in the Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach area and have been checked out with at least 3 places and flown out of 5. Skill is still light years ahead of any other school I have visited and flown with. I will continue doing my training at Skill even if I have to come and stay for few weeks in Chicago. Simply the best! read more

The best flight school in middle west! Well maintained aircrafts, great instructors! read more

I completed my Private Pilot's license in about 8 month at Skill. A great place to learn, and an outfit that values professionalism, safety, and customer service. The ultimate endorsement: I have no hesitation in flying my family in their planes. read more

Two years ago I made the decision to start working on a private pilot license with the goal of continuing on through instrument, commercial, etc. This is a dream that I have had since I was 4 years old, so took the time to look into a number of flight schools in the greater Chicago area. Skill Aviation stood out from day one. I contacted Skill Aviation over email and set up an appointment with the owner. The owner, Skip, spent 50 minutes with me on the phone explaining the ins-and-outs of flight training, taking the time to honestly answer the questions that I had, and there was plenty of time just devoted to talking about our shared obsession. It was the most informative and candid conversation that I had with a flight school. I was sold and haven't regretted the decision for even for 1 second. For those of use that fly a desk during the majority of the week, but fantasize about flying something with wings, this is the right team for you. The instructors at Skill are top-notch. Every one of them have a passion for flying AND instructing. You won't find a bunch of pilots suffering through instruction in order to build time on someone else's dime. All of the instructors are very experienced and come from a variety of back grounds. They are professional, very knowledgeable, rigourous, disciplined and personable. They more-than-prepare you to safely and confidently navigate the dense airspace surrounding the busiest airport in the world. If you are working a day job and considering switching careers, if you are looking at staring your career in aviation, or if you are just curious and want to get some more information, I highly recommend giving Skill a call or stopping in at their location in Waukegan. It will definitely be worth your time. read more

I have used Skill Aviation on one occasion to keep my instrument currency in their simulator with an instructor. The sim was a little old but worked just fine. I haven't had the chance to actually fly with them but am very interested in getting checked out in their Evektor LSA and their TwinStar. I am on their email list and they are partnering with another company to offer helicopter lessons out of their PWK location (I didn't know they were there until they sent that email). Well, I guess I have to try a Robinson R-22 as well. They are a little tricky to get to and they are about 45-60 drive from my house but I cannot knock them for that. If you're looking to do some flight training, be aware (for the better) they are THE ONLY part 141 school in the area. That means they are the only ones who can take VA benefits and other such things. Other schools may have another certification but it is mostly hogwash in the end. I found their staff helpful and professional the one time I was there. I'm only giving 4 stars as I simply have not had to opportunity to actually fly with them - I'm not only hoping to in the future but to return here write a review for 5 stars. We shall see... read more

My experience with flight schools and flying clubs is limited to military Aero Clubs and Skill Aviation. So, while I don't have a basis to compare Skill to other civilian schools, I can tell you that I have been very happy with my experience with them. I got my ATP through Skill. Their attention to safety and quality of instruction compares favorably to my military experience. They provided excellent teaching tailored to my experience level, concentrating on the gaps I may have had in civilian flying knowledge. I rent from Skill regularly, and their attention to customer service is exemplary. They are always willing to be flexible and accommodate my unusual situations, like early/late arrivals/departures, and complicated payment arrangements. They really know how to keep their members happy, and bend over backwards to accommodate me. On one trip to Alabama, the airplane had a minor engine control malfunction which nonetheless required a landing short of my destination.Skill got the airplane fixed and brought it to me in Alabama so I could fly the return trip! I doubt many flying clubs would go that far to help me out, at a not insignificant cost to themselves. My son and daughter have also taken flight lessons at Skill, and my son recently soloed. I was confident putting my children in their hands. My son asked me after a few lessons, "are all aviation people so great?" He finds the instructors to be very easy to fly with and learn from. I will continue to fly with Skill as long as my medical holds up! read more

Skill Aviation is by-far the best flight school in the United States. I completed everything from instrument to my commercial multi-engine ratings with Skill Aviation in 2008, and I go out of my way to return for refresher flights when I am back in the area; I currently live on the west coast and I haven't found a school that closely resembles what Skill has to offer. Since 2008, I have had the opportunity to watch Skill expand with a state-of-the-art fleet, improved training aids, and very knowledgeable instructors. The wonderful staff realizes that this hobby/education/career is not cheap, and they ensure that the customer gets the most out of what they pay for. Skip is very upfront about costs, duration, and expectations. Most of the instructors at Skill Aviation have been part of the team for a very long time, and their backgrounds range from military to corporate flight experience. They take pride in ensuring their students become the best and safest pilots. Skill Aviation also takes maintenance very seriously, and the aircraft are in great condition. I would highly recommend Skill Aviation to anyone looking for an excellent flight school. read more