About Us

What is IAA?

Illinois Aviation Academy, West Chicago.
Illinois Aviation is located in the western suburbs of Chicago at Dupage Airport (KDPA). IAA started at this facility and has grown with the Dupage community over the last 23 years. For transient customers IAA has many partners for travel and lodging options. Illinois Aviation’s main hangar houses over 30 aircraft in its 30,000 square feet of heated space.

Illinois Aviation Academy, DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport Satellite Location

Illinois Aviation Academy (IAA) is excited to announce the opening of our new satellite base at DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport! With FAA approval, this expansion strengthens our commitment to accessible and high-quality flight training across Illinois. Located at the vibrant DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport, this new location serves the general aviation community and provides an ideal environment for flight training. We’ve added two training aircraft to our DeKalb fleet, ready to support students in achieving their aviation training goals.

President’s Message

Illinois Aviation Academy, Inc. (IAA) was created in 1993 with nothing more than a passion for aviation. Preflight briefings were in lawn chairs near the trunk of a car, organized classes were held at community colleges, and flight training was performed in aircraft leased from other flight operators. Our slogan was and continues to be “IAA provides personalized training at an affordable price.”

The only asset of the company was a passion for aviation and a significant number of students that wanted to learn how to fly. From those humble beginnings, IAA has grown significantly. IAA now provides complete corporate aviation services, financial aid services, aircraft maintenance, simulators, aircraft storage, and sales. This success is due to the hard work of dedicated employees and a preservation of the ideals that this company was founded upon.

Quality, Personable, Dedication and Honesty

We at Illinois Aviation Academy, Inc. would like to invite you to experience our “pillars of success”. Our operation is open almost everyday of the year and we can accommodate the most dynamic of needs. Please stop in for a flight, pilot supplies or a cup of coffee and see what IAA can do for you.

Let us make your aviation goals become reality!

Robert Werderich

2015 Great Lakes Region Instructor of the Year

Management Structure

Illinois Aviation proudly staffs a professional, and dedicated staff to make sure your flight training is an enjoyable experience.

Elmer Rullman

Chief Pilot

9,000+ Total time, Certificates: ATP – AMEL; Commercial – ASEL, ASES, Rotorcraft Helicopter, Glider; Flight Instructor – CFI, CFII, MEI

Logan Arlis

Sales & Marketing / Customer Service

Bachelors Degree from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, 2,000+ hours total time, Current captain on Citation CJ3+, Citation M2, Cessna 421C, Pilatus PC-12 / 45. Commercial – AMEL, ASEL; Flight instructor – CFI, CFII, MEI.

Bryan Bernatek

Assistant Chief Pilot for Illinois Aviation Academy

Utah Valley University degree in aviation and received his flight training at Illinois Aviation including CFI, CFII, and MEI. Current Captain in King Air 200 and Pilatus PC-12NG

Katie Shimp

General Manager and Test Proctor for Illinois Aviation Academy

Bachelor’s of Social Work from Western Illinois University.