Try FSX Chicago. The school uses a Cessna 172 Skyhawk based at West Chicago – Dupage International Airport. Ground School and Flight Simulators are based in Chicago’s famous suburb (Oak Park), only 5 miles West of Downtown Chicago (next to Oak Park), Greenline Stop.
For a student pilot, the school offers a few options: the BATD can be used to log up to 2.5 hours towards a PPL certificate, but other machines are available for VFR training with or without an instructor.
Learn scanning techniques with your CFII and practice them at a fraction of the cost of renting an aircraft. In combination with flying, simulated training devices are the way to go.
In addition to FAA logging advantage, increased safety makes this environment perfect for testing your IFR skills. Imagine how easy would be to recreate approaches to an unfamiliar airport you plan on going next weekend.
How easy would this make your trip! Cost ? – Almost nothing – Benefits: ALL of them!