Great Lakes Air Ventures

★★★★★ 5 out of 5 8 months ago

Did intro to multi engine in school's Piper Comanche. Jake was on time, responsive, thorough, and it was overall good first flight as I prepare for this add on. This was a last minute reservation and staff worked to make it happen, thank you.

Mark Ladwig

★★★★★ 5 out of 5 10 months ago

I came to Great Lakes Air Ventures in 2021 mostly as a “post-COVID bucket list” idea, and I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. From day one, the staff made me feel welcome, even though I started a little out of order with my training (written first). As someone juggling a full-time job in the area, I appreciated how flexible and supportive the instructors were, and all the conversations we had both on the ground and in the air. The training was smooth, the fleet is well maintained, and safety is always the top priority (if you ever fly with me, you’ll get the SAFETY briefing twice). I earned my PPL in 2022, and renting aircraft since then has been simple as I work toward my instrument rating. I trained in all four of their PA-28s, and when they added two new 172s this summer, I had the chance to fly one, another great experience. What sets GLAV apart as a business in the area is that they don’t just keep things running; they keep improving. Upgraded panels (one of the PA28s I flew during training), “new” aircraft in the fleet, and a culture of continuous learning and safety make it less of a business and more of a community. If you’re looking for a flight school or just curious about aviation, I’d recommend going to KTEW and checking out GLAV without hesitation. You may end up finding a passion you didn’t know you had.

Nicholas Baker

★★★★★ 5 out of 5 10 months ago

Literally the best flight school within 80 miles (that’s how far I drive to go here). The landscape is pretty boring but it’s a top level school. It’s both 61 and 141 and you could just blast through lessons if Nature weren’t so virulent. Mark Mcbride and Chloe Miner in particular are basically world class instructors and I don’t know why they’re just chilling in the middle of the corn field Midwest… but then again, I don’t know why I’m here either :(

Alexei Polyarkov

★★★★★ 5 out of 5 11 months ago

I moved up to the area not so long ago to get my private pilots license done, and I have nothing but high praise for the program, and my instructors, Mark and Ferris. They’re really flexible and will do whatever it takes to help get me towards my goals. GLAV has a ton of planes and everyone around at the school and airport are super friendly. Definitely recommend checking them out.

Brendan LaBar

★★★★★ 5 out of 5 a year ago

As someone who recently earned my Private Pilot License through Great Lakes Air Ventures and is now working on my IFR, I wanted to share my perspective. I’ve logged over 140 hours, and I’m incredibly thankful to this school—not just for helping me reach that goal, but for how supportive and committed they’ve been along the way. I’m not the quickest learner, and the instructors never once made me feel like I couldn’t succeed. They’ve gone out of their way to help me, and many other students, time and time again. They genuinely care, and they’ve always made safety and student progress their top priorities. Regarding the missed appointment someone mentioned—I know firsthand that it involved a serious maintenance emergency with my plane. I noticed a potential fire hazard that needed immediate attention. In aviation, safety always comes first. There’s no room for delay when something like that comes up, and I appreciate that it was handled immediately. Emergencies happen, and I believe we could all benefit from a bit more understanding. What I’ve experienced here is a flight school full of instructors who are dedicated, responsible, and genuinely invested in helping students become safe, capable pilots.

Arnold Cornellius