Jim

Jim started flying while he was in college at the University of Illinois, earning his Private Pilot certificate in 1986 and becoming a Certified Flight Instructor in 1987. In college Jim competed on, and coached for, the University’s flight team in both regional and national competitions.

After graduating from the U of I and getting his MBA from Indiana University, he moved East and started a successful career in business.  During this time Jim’s flying took a decade long hiatus. In 2006, Jim started focusing on getting back into two areas of passion, flying and photography.  He also moved back to the Chicago area and re-started his Flight Instructing career, with Skill Aviation.

There isn’t a day that goes by where Jim regrets switching from a desk to a cockpit. The experience of returning to flying after a long hiatus, gives him a unique perspective on those undertaking the same effort.
        
Jim served as Chief Flight Instructor at Skill Aviation from 2009 through 2016. In 2015 he was named one of 11 outstanding flight instructors in the country in the AOPA Flight Training Excellence Awards. He was named to the AOPA Honor Roll in 2016, and awarded AOPA Distinguished Flight Instructor in 2017 & 2018. Jim is a certified airline transport pilot, flight instructor, instrument instructor, and multi-engine instructor with over 4,000 hours dual given and 5,000 hours total time.​