Our Training Programs

Private pilot training in northern Illinois

Private Pilot Training - $60/hour

Comprehensive private pilot training designed to build a solid foundation for your aviation career. Learn essential flying skills and aeronautical knowledge. Earn your license to be a pilot! Available throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin in your aircraft or through our rental network.

Commercial pilot training near Rockford, Illinois

Commercial Pilot Training - $70/hour

Advanced training for aspiring commercial pilots. Excludes the 20 hours of instrument and complex requirements but covers all other aspects needed for your commercial certificate. Available throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin in your aircraft or through our rental network.

Biennial flight reviews in the Rockford area

Biennial Flight Reviews - $70/hour

Stay sharp, safe, and current with a comprehensive Biennial Flight Review. Work with a certified flight instructor to refresh your flying skills, reinforce essential knowledge, and meet the FAA requirement to keep your certificate current for another 24 months. Available throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin in your aircraft or through our rental network.

Checkride preparation with a CFI in northern Illinois

Checkride Preparation - $70/hour

Comprehensive training to get you checkride-ready. Sharpen your maneuvers, master procedures, and reinforce critical knowledge areas to ensure you're confident, competent, and fully prepared to demonstrate your skills to the examiner. Available throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin in your aircraft or through our rental network.

Ground school instruction in Rockford and the Stateline area

Ground Training - $30/hour

Ground lessons over any aviation topic. Personalized ground instruction tailored to your needs. Whether you're preparing for a checkride or just looking to strengthen your understanding of complex topics—like weather phenomena, airspace, or aircraft systems—these sessions provide focused support to help you build confidence and clarity in any area of aviation knowledge. Available throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin at your preferred location, or online.

Emergency Training - $75/hour

Sharpen your decision-making and response skills with focused training on critical in-flight emergencies. Learn how to effectively handle scenarios like engine failures, in-flight fires, and other time-sensitive situations through realistic simulations and scenario-based discussions—so you're prepared to act quickly and confidently when it matters most. Available throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin in your aircraft or through our rental network.

Serving Northern Illinois & Southern Wisconsin

Based in Rockford, Flying the Stateline

McKenzie Flight Services is based in Rockford, Illinois, and provides mobile flight instruction throughout the Stateline region and beyond. I travel to you — meeting students at their home airport rather than asking them to reposition to a single flight school.

Airports I regularly instruct at and around include:

Poplar Grove (C77)
Chicago Rockford International (KRFD)
Southern Wisconsin Regional, Janesville (KJVL)
DeKalb Taylor Municipal (KDKB)
Rochelle Municipal (KRPJ)
Albertus Airport, Freeport (KFEP)
Burlington Municipal, WI (KBUU)
Kenosha Regional (KENW)

Communities served include Rockford, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Belvidere, Poplar Grove, Freeport, Rochelle, DeKalb, Sycamore, and Woodstock in Illinois, plus Beloit, Janesville, Madison, Lake Geneva, Burlington, and Kenosha in Wisconsin. Don't see your airport? Reach out — if you're within a reasonable drive, I'll come to you.

Flexible Aircraft Options

Train Your Way

Own Your Aircraft? I provide professional instruction in owner aircraft throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Whether you have a Cessna, Piper, Cirrus, or other aircraft, I'll work with you to achieve your aviation goals in your plane.

Need to Rent? I'm building a network of aircraft owners and rental partners across the Rockford area and southern Wisconsin. Contact me for current availability near your home airport.

Have Another Rental Source? No problem! I'm happy to provide instruction in aircraft you've arranged through other rental providers or flying clubs anywhere in the region.

Aircraft Owners: I'm actively seeking partnerships with aircraft owners in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin who are interested in making their planes available for rental instruction, or who need a professional CFI for insurance or checkout requirements. Contact me to discuss partnership opportunities.

About Your Instructor

Michael McKenzie

With nearly 7 years of aviation experience as a pilot, including 4 years in aviation maintenance, and a degree in Aerospace Administration and Operations from Oklahoma State University, I am committed to helping each student achieve their aviation goals. As a certified flight instructor holding commercial single- and multi-engine ratings, along with complex and high-performance endorsements and instrument certification, I provide thorough, individualized instruction tailored to every level of experience.

I built my instructing career in Texas before relocating to Rockford, Illinois, and I'm excited to bring that experience to the pilots of the Stateline area. Having trained students across a wide range of aircraft, missions, and experience levels, I know how much a patient, well-prepared instructor matters, and I'm looking forward to becoming part of the aviation community here in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.

McKenzie Flight Services offers maximum flexibility: train in your own aircraft, rent through our growing network of aircraft owners, or work with an aircraft you've arranged elsewhere. I'm actively seeking partnerships with aircraft owners throughout the region to expand training opportunities.

Whether you're flying for fun or preparing for a professional career in aviation, McKenzie Flight Services is dedicated to your growth, confidence, and safety in the skies.

Ready to Take Flight?