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Chicago Executive Airport is the closest business-aviation airport to the North Shore, and the closest to us. Our Glenview office is about 12 minutes away by car. When you fly private from Wheeling, you work with one advisor who knows this field: which FBO your operator uses, when customs needs to hear from us, and how the airport's noise procedures shape late departures.
| Identifiers | FAA: PWK · ICAO: KPWK · IATA: PWK |
| Formerly | Palwaukee / Pal-Waukee Airport |
| Location | 1020 S. Plant Road, Wheeling, IL 60090. The FAA lists it 18 miles NW of downtown Chicago |
| Owner | Cities of Wheeling & Prospect Heights (public airport) |
| Main runway | 16/34: 5,001 ft × 150 ft, grooved asphalt, ILS approach to Runway 16 |
| Second runway | 12/30: 4,415 ft × 75 ft (shorter declared landing distances apply) |
| Safety overrun | EMAS arresting beds at both ends of Runway 16/34 |
| Control tower | 6:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Mon–Fri; 7:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Sat–Sun (local) |
| FBOs | Ascension Global Aviation · Atlantic Aviation · Signature Aviation |
| U.S. Customs | On-field, user-fee. Core hours Mon–Fri 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. local |
| Noise program | Yes: preferred runway at night, NBAA quiet-departure procedures, overnight limits on engine maintenance runs |
Airport data as of FAA information effective Oct 1, 2026, and the airport's website, checked Oct 24, 2026.
Aerial view of Chicago Executive Airport (PWK). Imagery: USGS / USDA NAIP (public domain).
North Shore and north-suburban travelers. Wheeling is a short drive from most North Shore and north-suburban communities. Free-flow drive times (estimates, no traffic):
| From | Approx. drive (no traffic) |
|---|---|
| Glenview | ~12 min |
| Northbrook | ~11 min |
| Winnetka | ~20 min |
| Highland Park | ~20 min |
| Libertyville | ~20 min |
| Lake Forest | ~25 min |
| Barrington / Schaumburg | ~25–30 min |
| The Loop | ~35–40 min |
Estimates come from a routing engine without traffic. Rush hour on I-94 / I-294 can easily double them. We plan pickups around your real schedule.
People who want to skip O'Hare. The FAA puts PWK about 8 nautical miles north of O'Hare. With a private charter, you go through the FBO lobby, not an airline terminal.
International returns to the North Shore. PWK has its own user-fee U.S. Customs office. A flight back from Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean can clear customs here, and you're home in minutes, provided the timing and paperwork are set up in advance (see below).
Where PWK isn't the best fit. Our longer-runway neighbors can be the better call for heavier, longer-range jets departing with full fuel. DuPage (7,571 ft) and Gary/Chicago (8,859 ft) both qualify. We tell you up front when that's the case.
Runway 16/34 is 5,001 feet long and 150 feet wide, with an instrument landing system to Runway 16. Both ends have an Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS), a crushable safety bed beyond the runway end. Runway 12/30 is 4,415 feet, with shorter declared landing distances.
What that means in practice (advisor guidance, not a published spec): turboprops, light jets, and midsize jets are the natural fit for PWK. Many super-midsize jets also use it regularly. For large-cabin and long-range jets, the question is weight. Passengers, bags, fuel for a long leg, and the weather on the day all decide whether the operator's performance planning allows a PWK departure, or whether DPA or GYY makes more sense. The operator makes that final call. We check it before you book, not after.
The airport lists three fixed-base operators (private terminals). Your operator usually chooses the FBO. If you have a preference, tell us and we'll ask.
Chicago Executive has an on-field, user-fee U.S. Customs and Border Protection office.
Your advisor coordinates arrival times with the operator so the customs window is set before you leave.
For late departures, we confirm with the operator how the noise procedures affect runway and aircraft choice.
Every charter is quoted for the specific trip: aircraft, routing, dates, and any airport or customs fees. Request a quote or call (847) 902-9004 and your advisor will build one for you.
The Executive Air Space Agency is an independent Stratos Jets franchise providing private aviation advisory and air charter brokerage services. As an air charter broker, the agency is not a direct air carrier: we do not own or operate aircraft or exercise operational control of any flight. All flights are performed by FAA-licensed Part 135 direct air carriers. Through Stratos Jets, established in 2007, clients have access to a nationwide network of vetted charter operators and Risk-Managed Private Aviation™ standards.