Northrop Aviation Dispatch Academy - Sugar Grove, Illinois

Jordan

After leaving the military, I wanted to start a new career, and Northrop Aviation Dispatch Academy provided the perfect foundation. The academy prepared me thoroughly, and I passed both my ADX and oral on the first try. The recently upgraded facilities are impressive, and the learning environment is top-notch. Dave, our instructor, was exceptional in his ability to adapt his teaching to suit both beginners and experienced students, ensuring no one was left behind. He was especially kind and supportive of veterans, which made a big difference for me. I highly recommend Northrop Aviation Dispatch Academy to anyone looking to start or advance their career in aviation.

Jemimah A.

I’m an international student from Ghana in West Africa and, when I decided to pursue my aircraft dispatch ambition I started to do enquiries and research on dispatch schools and found this school through a Reddit post. Upon speaking with the owner of the school what struck me is how personalized his classes are and his years of experience in the industry. I started this class not being able to read weather reports and interpret and after 7 weeks I can look at the radar summary and know which area is going to experience bad weather. This class focuses more on the practical aspects rather than theory, being able to apply your knowledge with real life experiences. My only aviation experience starting this class was just on management so this class is for anyone seeking to make career changes. My advice though is to take the ADX exams first before starting the class if you can as this better helps you appreciate what you’re learning through out your 7 weeks of class. Thank you Northrop for making my aviation dream a reality. I 💯 recommend this school if you’re looking for a dispatch school in Illinois.

Kim M.

I looked at a few different dispatch schools and ultimately decided to go with Northrop and I am so glad that I did. From the class material being fully digital, to the location, to the real life experience scenarios presented in class, this program far outweighed any expectations that I had coming in. Dave has many years of aviation experience that he used to provide the class with live examples and scenarios that he has been presented with through out his career in aviation, which will help prepare us moving forward in the industry. The class requires full attendance, participation and dedication, but if you come in expecting to learn, take great notes and pay attention in class, you shouldn't have any problem succeeding in both the ADX written exam and the oral. I recommend getting the ADX written out of the way before class starts, so that you're able to put 100% of your focus on the class while it is going on. This school has a definite "hands on" and personalized approach, to the point that you are able to ask any and all questions that you have, while getting plenty of direct 1 on 1 guidance from the instructors. If you are looking for a great dispatch school, look no further than Northrop. It is all in person and you will not be rushed to take the oral at the end of class - Dave will prepare you and deem you ready before he allows you to face the FAA. Thank you for all the work that you put in to help me succeed in obtaining my FAA Dispatch License, Dave!

Emily S.

Don't go into this expecting an "easy A." Attend every single class, read the manuals and handouts given to you, take notes, review your notes, ask questions, and be willing to learn. Aviation dispatch isn't an easy field. It's complex, detail-oriented, and the choices you make can make or break you and potentially others. I wanted to be taught to do this correctly by someone who had the years of experience to back them up. Mr. Northrop certainly delivered on everything and more.

I went into this anticipating the course to be intense, fast-paced, and difficult. It was all of those things. But most importantly, it was fun. I enjoyed learning about the different aspects of aviation dispatch and especially putting them all together in actual flight planning. Yes it was stressful, but I'm truly glad I took this course. It was nice to see the FAA oral examiner impressed by some of the real-world aspects we were taught instead of just the typical standards.

The classes are kept small so there's more time to ask questions, collaborate, and learn. It feels more like the teacher cares about the students learning and less about filling a numbers quota or make a buck. If you're interested in getting your aviation dispatcher license, I would HIGHLY recommend Northrop Aviation Dispatch Academy.

Michael D.

I enrolled at Northrop with zero prior aviation experience and came out with the skills, knowledge, and confidence required to succeed in the aviation dispatch field. Dave has decades of experience which shows in his knowledge of the material and fantastic instructing. He also has numerous contacts in the industry which helps immensely when it comes time to apply. He'll make sure you understand and absorb the material, and even after you graduate he'll stay in contact and provide assistance until you land a job. I had no issues securing interviews and received multiple offers for employment. If you work hard and apply yourself, you will emerge a great dispatcher - I can't recommend this school enough.

Beka

I went to Northrop Aviation Dispatch Academy for school. Although this career can be intense in a short period of time, having a good instructor and the right resources to help you achieve the certification is key. And this is what i found in this school. Dave is an experienced and very knowledgeable instructor who helped his students along the way to get our certificate. If you are looking for a more personalized school and yet a school that gives you all the tools to succeed this is a great choice, plus all the material is digital, this helps a lot to ease the way into the digital platforms airlines use. Also he made himself available when we had questions. I also really appreciated that he didn’t push me to take the test in a certain deadline but he gave me time even after school ended to take the test when I felt comfortable, and he made sure I was ready before the final test and that was super helpful.
Thank you Dave !

Warren N.

If you have the ambition to become a flight dispatcher, this highly engaging course is the one you should attend! It is doubtful that you will find any other dispatch school with individual attention for such a fair cost.
I recently attended the class and now have my FAA aircraft dispatch certificate. Dave Northrop is the owner and lead instructor, along with two other instructors, Mike, a current dispatcher at American, and Rob, a recently retired ATC supervisor from Chicago Center. Having teaching experience, the instructors teach the course based on the latest methods used in the field. Having only four students in the class, we applied the classroom concepts with in- and out-of-classroom activities. Dave takes the time in his classes to individually care for each student. With his keen teaching ability, he knows when a student needs extra focus on a particular concept and provides specific attention. With plenty of patience, Dave and the other instructors ensure each person masters the material before moving on with the program. To successfully achieve an aircraft dispatch certificate, I highly recommend this type of interactive class structure.
Once signed up, Dave provides study material to prepare for the ADX before the start of class. Studying and taking the ADX earlier helps in the achievement process.
The school is in the west suburbs of Chicago. Refer to the school's website where you can find local hotels in Naperville, a quick 18-minute drive to the course at Aurora Airport. After passing the course, the ADX, and the practical exam, the school facilitates the job application process within the aviation industry.