American Flyers - Illinois

Reviewers Male / Female Recommend Yes / No Number of Reviews Instruction & Ground School School Facilities Aircraft & Courses Cost Total Average Rating
3 / 0 1 / 2 3 7.00 6.33 5.33 2.67 5.33

Date Submitted: August 10, 2009
Flight School: American Flyers - Illinois
Location: IL - West Chicago, United States
Instruction & Ground School: 7 out of 10
School Facilities: 5 out of 10
Aircraft & Courses: 3 out of 10
Cost: 3 out of 10
Recommend: No
Review: American Flyers Atlanta
Having gone through the CFI academy in Atlanta, GA, I was less than pleased with my experience there to say the least. The ground school was good. But the flying was terrible (understatement). I went on a total of 8 flights with 6 different instructors. The program was suppose to be 6 flights but after the last flight (6th), they told me I needed 1 more flight to work on my landings to get an endorsement from them. The director even promised me that if everything came out ok after the 7th flight I can have my endorsement. The 7th flight went well, I did a couple of normal patterns and landed great and I thought we would move on to the short-field and soft-field landings but the instructor insisted we fly back because we were low on fuel (even though we could have gotten fuel at the training airport) On the way back the instructor told me I needed ANOTHER flight, which required me to change my ENTIRE travel plans. However, I sucked it up and thought to myself if I can just get the endorsement after one more flight practicing short and soft field landings I guess I would not be extremely upset. During the EIGHTH flight, my first couple of landings were a little short (but very smooth) as I was getting a feel for the airplane and I nailed the next 3 landings, I asked the instructor (someone I've never flown with before) how I was doing, and he asked me what I thought, I told him I was getting a better feel of the airplane and nailed those last few landings and he nodded in agreement. I thought I was doing good and well on my way to that endorsement. We departed the practice airport (I was still feeling good and thought that I was going to get my endorsement after I get back) When were about 10 miles from the home airport, the instructor told me that he thinks I needed ANOTHER flight. WTF!!!! I was nailing my last few landings and would have continued to nail them if we had stayed for a few more, but as soon as he saw that I started nailing the landings, he pulled the plug and told me to head back. Once we got back to Atlanta, he started arguing with me that I was only acceptable on 1 out of the 6 landings where in reality I landed the plane within standards on my last 3. Then he started saying how I wouldn't even pass a commercial checkride with that kind of performance. He also started telling me that after a short-field takeoff, I said to climb out at Vx or Vy, which was absolutely FALSE because I had said that to him for the SOFT-FIELD takeoff, not short field. He insulted my intelligence by saying that I don't know to climb out Vx for short field landings. All in all, HE was the instructor and whatever he says goes. Whatever happened to the fundamentals of instructing? Keep your students informed of their progress, which he never did. Sincerity? Hardly. Reduce student frustrations? Failed again. A good instructor should NEVER EVER insult the student's intelligence. I am a commercial pilot and I know what the standards are. He even tried to convince me to stay for another 2 days and fly another couple of hours. Based on that flight, I figured that this could go on forever and I could stay there and fly until I'm flat out broke and still wouldn't be good enough for that endorsement. I packed my bags, paid for my extra hours of flights (ripoff) and headed out the door. I have another 2 year instructor back home where I can get the sign off from without being cheated and treated like dirt. I would advise people to look for other options before going there because they will cheat you out of your money and there is nothing legally you can do about it.
Comments [ 0 ]
Submitted by: Jerry L.
25 year-old   ::   Male Reviewer   ::   Raleigh, NC

Date Submitted: March 24, 2009
Flight School: American Flyers - Illinois
Location: IL - West Chicago, United States
Instruction & Ground School: 8 out of 10
School Facilities: 8 out of 10
Aircraft & Courses: 6 out of 10
Cost: 4 out of 10
Recommend: Yes
Review: American Flyers Expensive but professional
I switched to American Flyers after having a less than favorable experience at another less expensive fight school.

American Flyers has what I consider to be a very thorough and very consistent way of teaching flight instruction.
I too did not like at first how you can get handed to different instructors, but I learned quickly that they keep a thorough student record of each student and the different instructors can and do read up on where you are and build on it. They all know your strengths and weaknesses.

Whenever possible, they do try to keep you with the same instructors, but consider this. In order to learn, you need to go consistently, at least once a week. Imagine if the only instructor available to you was one guy and his schedule could not be matched up to yours.
Although they have their different personalities, the instruction was consistent with where I left off and did build on what I already had learned.


I also liked the fact that they were not a flying club or aircraft rental company because that means all they do is teach flying.
True, you have to get checked out again by any club you may join after your license, but know this, Once you become a licensed pilot, you will always also be a student pilot. You will always be learning.
One other thing I liked was that if you learn in the 141 program was that the check ride process while just at thorough as an FAA check ride process, it isn't as intimidating.

Also, this school, on every first Saturday of the month, has a free seminar in their hangar where a senior instructor will give a 2 hour ground school class on various topics. And it counts as credit on your Wings program
Before the class, they provide a barbecue lunch (free) and have a little socializing time with other pilots that show up.
Since I have the basis to compare my experiences from one flight school to the next, I would say that American Flyers is far superior to what I had previously experienced and I would recommend them to anyone.
I will have my private Pilot license next week.
Comments [ 0 ]
Submitted by: John P
55 year-old   ::   Male Reviewer   ::   Streamwood, IL

Date Submitted: March 3, 2009
Flight School: American Flyers - Illinois
Location: IL - West Chicago, United States
Instruction & Ground School: 6 out of 10
School Facilities: 6 out of 10
Aircraft & Courses: 7 out of 10
Cost: 1 out of 10
Recommend: No
Review: Expensive flight school
American Flyers is a pricy flight school to attend, which doesn't make sense because they don't have any fancy aircraft or super pilot instructors. I guess they have to pay for all their advertising somehow. Another thing I did not like is how they asked for money up front and how I seemed to almost always fly with a different instructor which is diffucult because you have to learn how to do something 5 different ways depending on who they put you with that day. You can't rent aircraft at this place either, so you have to go somewhere else and get checked out after you get your license. Also, if you want to do multi training you have to go to Texas or someplace else to get that done, which adds to the cost, and again can't rent the twin. No glass cockpit aircraft either which is the way of the future. Don't let the shirt and ties fool you, the instructor don't seem that happy and the atmosphere seemed very sterile like that of a morgue. Overall not impressed with this place at all!
Comments [ 0 ]
Submitted by: Jay
28 year-old   ::   Male Reviewer   ::   Aurora, Il.