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    Windy days are SIM days

    Crazy winds and low ceilings are not ideal for flight training, however, they are awesome conditions for ground school and SIM time! Check out CFI Ethan and his student Brandon making the most of the cruddy weather. Book ground school sessions and sim time on our Redbird TD2 in FSP. Let us know if you need help!
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    Wynne Allen

    Congratulations to GBA pilot Wynne Allen on her recent graduation and commitment to serve as a United States Naval Officer. What an incredible journey for her!! Next step is jumping right into her Naval Aviator training. While we miss Wynne’s wonderfulness around the office and ramp, we are so excited to see where this journey takes her. Thank you Wynne for your sacrifice, your bravery, and the example you set for us all. “The only easy day was yesterday.”
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    Joe Soloed!!

    What is the best thing to come out of Kentucky beside bourbon and fried chicken? Joe Lovely!! This native Kentuckian showed he had the skills to fly the Nevada sky as he soloed this morning at KRTS, runway 32 in N328ME. Joe shared the Stead sky with a few hot air balloons as he flew his first several PIC laps. His instructor Sean Torbett watched from the ramp, probably shivering a bit, but excited to see his student reach this milestone. Joe started flying in Kentucky then moved out here for work. Once he got settled, he picked up where he left off but had to learn a new plane, new area, and how to work with a new instructor. It all worked out because today this guy was cut loose! Joe's excitement back in the office was as full as a tick on a coon hound’s back (it is a Kentucky thing). We even got a little dance out of him. A huge congratulations to Joe and Sean!!
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    Scott Soloed!!

    Now that he has shoveled himself out of the Tahoe snow (and probably hit the slopes to shred some pow-pow), Scott Koch was able to get back to post-storm flight training. And, was it ever worth it because today, Scott soloed N2291C at KRTS, Runway 08. Scott flew his first PIC time as his instructor Steven Lutsch watched from the sidelines. Scott did walk into the office alone after his flight but we did confirm that, despite all the excitement, he did make sure to pick up his instructor before heading back to KRNO. :) This first solo flight is an incredible milestone and should be celebrated (responsibly and in accordance with 91.17), which we hope Scott is doing now. Congratulations to Scott and Steven, one step closer to that Private Pilot certificate!!
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    1st of the Month Solo!

    ​What can be more exciting for a guy who rappels out of helicopters and stomps out fires? Soloing an aircraft!! That’s right, Aaron Karuzas soloed N328ME at KRNO this morning! Danny, his instructor, watched from the Atlantic ramp as Aaron demonstrated his ability to safely maneuver and land an aircraft. Aaron has been working hard on hitting this milestone and logging some PIC time. He started with GBA last spring but a combo of COVID and an active fire season pulled him away from his flight training. He is back and on path to earn his private pilot before he is called back out to the wildlands. Awesome job Aaron!! Congratulations as well to Danny and the team Aaron has worked with to get him where he is so far.
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    Brand New Private Pilot!!

    Holy smokers…talk about proving us wrong...We thought the previous record of 7 weeks zero to private pilot would never get beat but Jackson Perry came, saw, studied, and conquered. Jackson earned his private pilot today after six weeks of hardcore training. He has been eating, breathing, and living aviation. A former All-American college athlete, Jackson’s professional path took an unfortunate turn after a career ending hamstring injury. He has always been fascinated by aviation so he decided to pursue it, jumped into the deep end and now he has earned the first step on his path to a career in the sky. On this day that Great Basin Aviation celebrates its 3rd birthday, we also celebrate our most accelerated certificate yet. Congratulations to Jackson and his CFI Tristan, as well as the ground school team that Jackson spent time working with.
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