Illinois Aviation Academy Earns FAA Examining Authority for Certified Flight Instructor Course

Illinois, USA – Illinois Aviation Academy (IAA), a Part 141 flight school located at DuPage Airport (KDPA) in West Chicago and part of Spartan Education Group, has received FAA approval for Examining Authority for its Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) course, enabling the academy to conduct and issue CFI certifications in-house for eligible students.

• The FAA Examining Authority is granted only to select Part 141 flight schools that demonstrate sustained student achievement, strong compliance oversight, and consistent training outcomes — representing more than a decade of operational discipline since IAA first received Part 141 certification in 2012 and earned examining authority for its Private Pilot course in 2015.
• IAA has maintained a sustained approximately 90% first-time pass rate with external FAA Designated Pilot Examiners in both Instrument and Commercial certification courses, contributing to the operational consistency required for the CFI examining authority approval.
• The in-house examining authority for the CFI course is expected to improve training continuity and reduce delays commonly associated with external examiner scheduling, helping qualified students transition more efficiently into instructor roles and professional aviation careers.

IAA operates a 30,000-square-foot training facility at DuPage Airport with a fleet of over 25 aircraft including Cessna 172s and Piper Aztecs, and is a partner of Atlas Air Worldwide. Spartan Education Group, IAA's parent organization, also owns Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, with over 95 years of pilot and technician training history.

Statements

• "This approval represents years of focused effort and an unwavering commitment to operational and academic excellence. Earning FAA Examining Authority for the CFI course reflects the strength of our instructional team, the discipline of our operational processes, and the high level of performance consistently demonstrated by our students," said Robert Werederich, Founder and Executive Vice President of Flight Operations at Illinois Aviation Academy.
• "From flight operations and maintenance to scheduling and instructional leadership, every department played a role in achieving this outcome," said Dr. Todd Cellini, Chief Academic and Operations Officer.

Source: Illinois Aviation Academy