Chicago Executive Flight School

08/20/2026

It’s National Aviation Day, and we like to think “Chicago learns to fly here.” Did you know that Sally Strempel, who operated Sally’s Flying School at our airport for 16 years until 1966, was the first woman in Illinois—and among first nationally—authorized to examine private and commercial applicants? In an interview, Sally said that that women are better pilots because ”they are more instinctive, master detail more quickly and take nothing for granted.”

08/09/2026

New For Rental and Instruction
https://chicagoexecutiveflightschool.com/5673t-tecnam-p92-echo-mkii/

Technam P92 / hour: $192.00 – no fuel surcharge and no discounts, Student Ht and Wt Limitation: 6 Feet and 180 lbs

07/29/2026

Please welcome Luke Zaccagni to our staff!

"My aviation journey began in 2018 when I was able to do an introductory flight at Western Michigan University. I was instantly intrigued, the thought of learning how to fly an airplane seemed so extraordinary and exciting,
and I decided right then that this was the career I wanted to pursue.

While still in high school, I began training at the Lake in the Hills airport where I eventually earned my private pilot certificate. From there I spent time training at several different locations including schools in Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Being able to introduce people to the world of aviation and share these incredible experiences is what makes me so passionate about being a flight instructor."

Flight Qualifications: CFI, CFII"

07/26/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1biiCYpR1M/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Pilots: We’ve all heard the advice: "Avoid convective weather." But do you know why the air around a storm behaves the way it does? ⛈️

There are five wild weather traps every GA pilot should recognize well before they show up on your cockpit display. To learn more visit https://bit.ly/44E958w.

The safest flight is often the one you choose to delay or divert.

07/15/2026

07/09/2026

Please welcome Maya Pyrzynski

Maya’s aviation journey began as a flight attendant, where she quickly fell in love with the industry and knew she wanted to pursue flying herself. She earned her Private Pilot Certificate at Chicago Executive Flight School before continuing her training and instructing down in Florida, where she worked as a flight instructor and check airman. She has logged over 1,000 hours of dual instruction given and enjoys helping students achieve their aviation goals.

As a first-generation pilot, Maya understands that the path to becoming a pilot can feel overwhelming at times. She strives to create a supportive learning environment where students can grow as safe and proficient aviators. When she’s not flying, Maya enjoys traveling and any outdoor activities such as snowboarding, paddleboarding, hiking and scuba diving.

Flight Qualifications: CFI, CFII, and MEI

07/09/2026

Please welcome Grady Germann!

Aviation became the perfect fit for me after years of loving to travel and explore new places. The ability to connect with people and places by being able to fly sparked the beginning of my career. I began at Southern Illinois University where I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management. Today I enjoy helping students build confidence and achieve their aviation goals, all while sharing my passion for flying.

Flight Qualifications : CFI, CFII

07/06/2026

Please welcome Max Brown. Another new instructor.

My interest in aviation began at an early age thanks to my mother’s career as a flight attendant. Growing up around airports and airplanes, I quickly developed a love for flying and knew it was something I wanted to pursue.

While I was a sophomore in high school, I had the opportunity to begin taking college courses through Gateway Technical College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. After enrolling in an Introduction to Aviation course, I started flight training and never looked back. In 2019, I graduated with an Associate in Aeronautical Pilot Training and later earned a Bachelor’s in Business from Bellevue University.

Today, I enjoy helping students reach their aviation goals and sharing the excitement of flying that first drew me to aviation. Whether you’re earning your first certificate or working toward a professional flying career, my goal is to create a safe, supportive, and enjoyable learning environment that helps you become a confident and proficient pilot.

Flight Qualifications: CFI

07/05/2026

We've hired four new flight instructors, with a couple more in the pipeline, to help address our instructor staffing shortage.

Please join me in welcoming Thierno Lo, Max Brown, Grady Germann, and Maya Pyrzynski to the Chicago Executive Flight School team!

At Chicago Executive Flight School, we are extremely selective when hiring instructors. Every instructor goes through an extensive screening and evaluation process that includes interviews, technical knowledge assessments, flight evaluations, and training to ensure they meet our high standards for professionalism, safety, and teaching ability. We believe that the quality of your instructor has one of the biggest impacts on your success as a pilot, and we never compromise on that standard.

If you're looking to schedule more flight time, these instructors will help increase our availability and get you flying more often. Their photos and biographies will be posted on our website later this week as we continue the onboarding process.

If you've lost your current instructor, would like to fly more frequently, or need to be reassigned to a new instructor, please speak with your current instructor or contact me directly. I'm also happy to help with any other scheduling or training questions you may have.

Thank you for choosing Chicago Executive Flight School. We appreciate your continued trust and look forward to helping you achieve your aviation goals.


Jim Kwasek
Chief Pilot
Chicago Executive Flight School
800-901-0730 ext. 150

07/05/2026

Please welcome Thierno Lo. One of our new instructors.

My passion for aviation started at a young age. I was always fascinated by airplanes—the sound of takeoffs, the precision of landings, and the idea of being able to connect places through flight. From an early age, I dreamed of becoming a pilot, and after moving from Senegal to the United States at 16, I worked to turn that dream into reality.Over the years, I have built experience as a flight instructor teaching students in Southern California and operating in one of the busiest and most dynamic airspaces in the country. Working in that environment taught me the importance of professionalism, adaptability, and strong decision-making while helping students build confidence and develop safe flying habits. What I enjoy most about instructing is seeing students grow from their first lesson to becoming skilled and confident pilots. I am also currently continuing my education toward a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance and look forward to continuing to share my passion for aviation with future aviators.

Flight Qualifications: CFI, CFII, and MEI