Institute of Aviation at Parkland College

The Institute of Aviation at Parkland College is one of Illinois' most established collegiate aviation programs, operating from Willard Airport (KCMI) in Savoy, Illinois since the program's founding decades ago. As a Part 141 two-year collegiate program, the Institute offers an Associate of Science in Aviation that prepares students for FAA certificates and ratings from Private Pilot through Commercial, Multi-Engine, and all instructor certifications, including the Restricted Airline Transport Pilot (R-ATP) pathway.

The school operates a well-maintained fleet of 21 aircraft, including six Piper Archer III singles with standard avionics, six more Archer IIIs equipped with Garmin 500 TXi glass cockpits, four Piper Arrow singles for complex/high-performance training, and three Piper Seminoles for multi-engine instruction. Two Cessna 152s round out the fleet for economical primary instruction. This diverse selection gives students exposure to multiple aircraft systems and avionics platforms before they graduate.

Willard Airport is home to the University of Illinois and an active instrument procedure environment, giving Institute students extensive real-world IFR exposure throughout their training. The program's proximity to the University of Illinois campus allows for cross-enrollment opportunities and academic resources that distinguish a community college aviation program. Graduates of the two-year program are well-positioned to transfer to four-year aviation programs or enter the workforce directly as commercially certificated pilots.