ILLINOIS AVIATION ACADEMY, LLC
About
Illinois Aviation Academy (IAA) was founded in 1993 at DuPage Airport (KDPA) in the Chicago western suburbs with a passion for aviation and a mission to provide accessible, high-quality flight training to the greater Chicago area. Over three decades, the school has grown into one of Illinois' premier Part 141 flight schools and holds the distinction of being the only flight school in the state certified by the Illinois State Board of Education—a recognition of its academic rigor and institutional commitment.
IAA operates a fleet of 21 Cessna 172S Skyhawks equipped with Garmin 430W avionics, supplemented by Cirrus SR-22s for advanced and corporate aircraft training. All aircraft are regularly maintained with new interiors, fresh paint, and comprehensive 100-hour inspections, ensuring students train in well-prepared, reliable equipment. The main campus at KDPA is complemented by a satellite location at DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport (KDKB), which features an FAA-approved Advanced Training Device for instrument training and expanded capacity for the school's growing student population.
IAA offers the full range of FAA certificates and ratings from Private Pilot through Multi-Engine Instructor, and is deeply integrated into the region's aviation ecosystem through its DuPage Flight Center partnership. The Chicago area's complex airspace—bordered by Class Bravo, multiple Class Delta airports, and an extensive TFR environment—gives IAA students some of the best real-world ATC communication and airspace management training available anywhere in the country.