Like anything truly worthwhile, pilothood is a journey. It's a journey of challenge. Of excitement. Of self-discovery. It's a journey that ends with a monumental sense of achievement - your pilot's license! And then begins anew each time you climb into the cockpit and take to the sky. You cannot get there without solid instruction. Great Basin Aviation is proud to employ the best instructors in Northern Nevada that will aide you in becoming a safe, proficient pilot. Click to the Learn to Fly Here link above to go to a quick overview of the process. Read on below for a more detailed description of our offerings.
Flight Instruction
Great Basin Aviation is a full-service flight school and aviation resource center. We specialize in flight training from student pilot to CFI/II, endorsements and special emphasis on Mountain Flying techniques and Safety priorities. Great Basin Aviation is Northern Nevada’s only flight school offering modern Cessna aircraft, manufactured in this century; sporting Garmin glass cockpits, and autopilot. Our business model provides professional, experienced full-time Flight Instructor- Pilots who are committed to the achievement of your aeronautical aspirations; rather than that of their own.
In addition to basic flight instruction, our instructors are also certified for certain endorsements, IFR instruction, Commercial, CFI/CFII, flight reviews, mountain flying skills, and more. Please call or email (goflying@greatbasinaviation.com) for rates and questions.
In addition to basic flight instruction, our instructors are also certified for certain endorsements, IFR instruction, Commercial, CFI/CFII, flight reviews, mountain flying skills, and more. Please call or email (goflying@greatbasinaviation.com) for rates and questions.
Ground Instruction
Have you dreamt of becoming a pilot or earning your instrument rating? Make it a reality! We offer Cessna's new scenario-based flight training course, developed exclusively for Cessna by the experts at King Schools. This web-based course provides everything you need to obtain your Sport, Private Pilot Certificate or Instrument Rating. It's been designed to provide you with the knowledge, skills and confidence to embrace your future in aviation.
This course is for the pilot who is training in either a technically-advanced full-glass cockpit airplane or in an airplane with analog gauges. The training includes flight preview videos and full-motion diagrams of the course material, plus a complete FAA knowledge exam review program—and it's available anywhere you have Internet access. Your personal login will maintain a record of which sessions you have completed and will allow you to continue where you left off if you are interrupted. The course never expires and it is always kept up-to-date, so you'll have access to all of the in-depth knowledge sessions and flight previews well after you have completed your training.
You can take your Cessna Sport/Private Pilot course on your iPad—even when offline! The Cessna Sport/Private Pilot and Instrument Rating course lessons can be downloaded onto an iPad/tablet and viewed later when online or offline, with the Cessna Companion App. Kits include flight bag and Garmin Pilot access. Other Cessna courses are available. Please give us a call to let us know if you are looking for a specific course.
We also have specialized ground instructors (Richard Brong) available for you to assist in ground school training (basic and advanced), FAA Knowledge Test preparation, and Checkride oral exam preparation. Check out the profiles below.
This course is for the pilot who is training in either a technically-advanced full-glass cockpit airplane or in an airplane with analog gauges. The training includes flight preview videos and full-motion diagrams of the course material, plus a complete FAA knowledge exam review program—and it's available anywhere you have Internet access. Your personal login will maintain a record of which sessions you have completed and will allow you to continue where you left off if you are interrupted. The course never expires and it is always kept up-to-date, so you'll have access to all of the in-depth knowledge sessions and flight previews well after you have completed your training.
You can take your Cessna Sport/Private Pilot course on your iPad—even when offline! The Cessna Sport/Private Pilot and Instrument Rating course lessons can be downloaded onto an iPad/tablet and viewed later when online or offline, with the Cessna Companion App. Kits include flight bag and Garmin Pilot access. Other Cessna courses are available. Please give us a call to let us know if you are looking for a specific course.
We also have specialized ground instructors (Richard Brong) available for you to assist in ground school training (basic and advanced), FAA Knowledge Test preparation, and Checkride oral exam preparation. Check out the profiles below.
Cessna Pilot Center
Great Basin Aviation is proud and privileged to be affiliated with Cessna as a Cessna Pilot Center (CPC). A Cessna Pilot Center is a specially selected flight school that represents top-quality, professional flight training. Each CPC is hand picked by Cessna to ensure that they maintain Cessna’s high standards for flight training.
Talk to any certified pilot. They will likely tell you they learned to fly in a Cessna. More people have obtained their private pilot certificate in Cessna aircraft than all other aircraft types combined. There is a reason for that: Cessna's are easy to fly and safe.
A Cessna Pilot Center is where you go to take advantage of Cessna's years of experience in training most of the world's pilots to fly. At a CPC, you learn to fly in less time than other programs while following Cessna's computer-based curriculum that stresses safety (on a National average).
When you learn to fly from a Cessna Pilot Center, you are truly learning from the best. It’s not just that you’ll learn from the world’s best-trained instructors. Or that you’ll train with innovative computer-based instruction. What really matters is that you will be learning to fly in the world’s greatest aircraft, Cessna’s forgiving, reliable single engine airplanes. For more information on the advantages and benefits of training at a Cessna Pilot Center visit: cessnaflighttraining.kingschools.com/Index.aspx
Talk to any certified pilot. They will likely tell you they learned to fly in a Cessna. More people have obtained their private pilot certificate in Cessna aircraft than all other aircraft types combined. There is a reason for that: Cessna's are easy to fly and safe.
A Cessna Pilot Center is where you go to take advantage of Cessna's years of experience in training most of the world's pilots to fly. At a CPC, you learn to fly in less time than other programs while following Cessna's computer-based curriculum that stresses safety (on a National average).
When you learn to fly from a Cessna Pilot Center, you are truly learning from the best. It’s not just that you’ll learn from the world’s best-trained instructors. Or that you’ll train with innovative computer-based instruction. What really matters is that you will be learning to fly in the world’s greatest aircraft, Cessna’s forgiving, reliable single engine airplanes. For more information on the advantages and benefits of training at a Cessna Pilot Center visit: cessnaflighttraining.kingschools.com/Index.aspx
Our Instructors
Bob Bennett
Bob is a CFI/CFII who has instructed with Great Basin Aviation for the last several years. Bob has been a pilot since 1972 and a flight instructor since 1988, with over 8000 flight hours in general aviation aircraft. Bob is an advanced instructor with Great Basin Aviation and specializes in advanced instruction including CFI/CFII, flight reviews, endorsements, and discovery flights.
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Levi Mellows
Levi, a Nevada native, is a full time CFI. Levi earned his ratings in Nevada, Wyoming, and Oregon, then taught in Alaska for a summer. On his way back to Reno, he stopped in Bend, Oregon and earned his multi engine license and is now here in Northern Nevada sharing his love of aviation with the community he was raised in. Flying isn't Levi's only adventure sport, he also enjoys skydiving and wing suit base jumping all over the world. Levi even competed in Norway at the World Base Race and won third place! If he is not in the air you can find Levi on the slopes or working on projects around the house.
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Danny BritsonDanny is a part-time CFI/CFII who enjoys all aspects of flight training, especially primary and instrument training. He learned to fly and received his instructor ratings while serving in the US Air Force, since then he has flown as a corporate pilot and has over 1600 hours as an instructor. Danny has a Bachelor’s Degree is in Professional Aeronautics with a minor in Aviation Safety from Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University.
Danny enjoys skiing, home improvement, watching his kids play sports and flying his Cessna 421C all over the West Coast. Danny is an avid Manchester United fan who does not allow any Liverpool or Manchester City clothing on any of his flights. |
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Steven Lutsch
Steven is a CFI/CFII/MEI who got his private pilots license in Carson City then his advanced ratings in Southern California. Strong dedication for his students’ success helped Steven climb the ranks to lead instructor with ATP in San Diego, where he provided students with mock checkrides and ground instruction to ensure they were prepared and feeling confident for their next checkride. He went to school for Aerospace Engineering and worked in the field for multiple years before realizing how rad flying is. Now nothing makes Steven happier than taking to the skies and seeing his students grow into successful, competent pilots..
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Tristan ArmstrongTristan arrives at Great Basin Aviation where he is excited to be teaching primary through advanced students in the pursuit of their aviation endeavors. Most recently his instruction has been conducted in a Citabria and gliders. He is a CFI, CFII, MEI, & CFIG. He grew up in northern Nevada but has also instructed in Maine. He has a true passion for aviation. On his current aviation pursuit list is attaining his balloon rating and he would also like to learn to paraglide. He has a strong dedication to his students and enjoys mentoring them whether just learning to fly for fun or pursuing a career in aviation, he is here to guide you through the process. When not at the airport his interests include golf, skiing, hiking, off road exploring, and spending time with his family.
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Ethan ChinowskyEthan is a CFI who completed all his advanced training with Great Basin Aviation. He originally started flight training in New Zealand where he received specialty instruction in mountain flying and crosswind takeoffs/landings. Growing up, he was always that one kid that would get distracted by airplanes, no matter what he was doing. Now, he enjoys sharing his passion and love for aviation and flying with everyone! When he’s not flying he’s enjoying the outdoors, mountain biking, lifting in the gym, planning his next adventure, or cooking up a meal.
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Nik JoshiNikul (Nik) grew up in East Africa, Tanzania. He moved to USA when he was 11. He began his aviation career at Stead Airport. He then finished his Commercial single, multi-engine rating and CFI rating in Reno. Nikul earned a college degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, he received a degree in BA in Aeronautics from ERAU in 2009. Nikul is in the Nevada Air Guard, he enlisted in 2013, then commissioned in 2018. When he isn't working and flying, he likes to mountain bike, hike and camp.
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Eric TallbergA former US Air Force Firefighter, Eric learned to fly in New Hampshire in 2004 and has been continually adding to his aviation credentials. Eric holds a full-time software product manager job for a Boston-based company, but he can be available for those 9-5’ers wishing to learn to fly but have a limited scope of time in a typical workday. His experiences since he started flying in 2004 include flying his Piper Warrior across the country (NV – NH) and into Canada a few times. He is also working on his CFII, Glider rating, and Multi-engine while also participating in other pastimes: running, hiking, biking and skiing with his wife.
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