Instructor's Corner

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Reed Bennett has officially earned his Certified Flight Instructor-Instrument (CFII) rating! After months of hard work, determination, and expert guidance from his instructor and dad, Bob Bennett, Reed has reached this impressive milestone in his aviation journey.As Reed prepares to head to Alaska for work, this new achievement couldn’t have come at a better time. With the vast, rugged terrain and unpredictable weather of the Last Frontier ahead, Reed is more than ready for the challenges that await. Whether it’s flying through mountain ranges or navigating tricky weather patterns, this CFII rating is sure to serve him well on every flight. A huge congratulations to Reed for this remarkable accomplishment, and of course, a big shout-out to Bob for his unwavering support and instruction throughout the process. Reed’s journey is just getting started, and with his skills and determination, there’s no doubt he’ll continue to reach new heights. Keep soaring, Reed—Alaska’s skies won’t know what hit them!
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Joe Arango: certified Atlantic Aviation line technician, evening line tech for GBA, and now instrument rated pilot! That’s right, everyone! Joe has officially conquered the world of IFR flying, proving once again that his dedication to aviation knows no bounds. From keeping the ramp running smoothly to grinding through endless instrument approaches, he’s been fully immersed in aviation from every angle—and today, it all paid off! If you’ve ever met Joe, you know he doesn’t just dabble in aviation—he lives it. Balancing work, training, and those long nights deciphering approach plates, he’s put in the time, effort, and sheer determination to master the art of flying in the clouds. Whether he was begging his instructor to peek outside or perfecting his approaches, Joe has shown exactly what it takes to succeed in instrument flying: patience, focus, and an unshakable drive. A huge congratulations to Joe and his CFII, Ryan Mill, on this incredible milestone! The skies just got a little smoother with Joe at the controls. We can’t wait to see what he tackles next!
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Hold the phone! Did you know Ben Novello’s a pilot? Do you need proof? Well, I guess you can say soloing an airplane is proof enough! That’s right, Ben Novello, the dirt bike riding, Tahoe bumming, snowboard junkie has officially conquered the ultimate achievement: solo flight! As you can see, Ben was only a little excited that he soloed… 😜🤙. Ben came in as cool as a cucumber, primed and ready to kick his flight instructor, Eric Harned, out of the plane. After a few practice laps, the consensus was made: the skies were ready for Ben. He took off out of KRTS in N670CS and buttered all his landings on runway 8! What an incredible accomplishment! Ben, you’ll truly will never forget your solo flight and we’re happy that we were able to be a part of this incredible milestone. Let’s give Ben and Eric and huge congratulations on this absolutely incredibly achievement! Ben, that dream of riding your dirt bike to your plane “Maverick style” will become a reality soon enough. Awesome work!
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Oh lawrd y’all. Say your prayers, because it’s finally happened. The troublemaker you all know and love, Nick Sundstrom, has once again surpassed another incredible milestone and earned his commercial rating today! From the baby steps of solo, the rigor of instrument, the pride in earning pilot of the month, and now being a pilot for hire, Nick Sundstrom has truly shown us all that his unwavering dedication and love for aviation has allowed him to conquer some of the most challenging of aviation goals. Whether he’s flying across the United States in his family’s RV, nailing his power-off 180s, or drilling in his ground, Nick does it all with an insatiable grit and passion. While we thrive off of giving Nick a hard time, it has truly been a privilege to watch him conquer one checkride after the next, making him that much closer to his dream of flying professionally. Let’s give Nick and his partner in crime/ flight instructor, Ryan Mill, a huge congratulations on getting to this amazing milestone. We can’t wait to see what Nick accomplishes next!
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If there’s one thing we know about Taylor Pritchard, it’s that he doesn’t do anything halfway. Whether it’s dominating GeoGuessr, racing his bike, or being the best dog dad to his dachshund, Minnie—Taylor is always chasing the next big adventure. For example, just yesterday he was shredding down the slopes, and today? Well, he’s officially a commercial pilot! That’s right everyone, Taylor is officially a pilot for hire! Taylor’s journey to the skies has been fueled by pure determination, countless hours of training, and an unshakable passion for aviation. From his early days as a flight sim fanatic to becoming a real-world flying machine, he has pushed himself every step of the way. His commitment and love for the craft have set him apart as he continues his path toward becoming a professional pilot. A huge congratulations to Taylor on this massive accomplishment and a big thank you to his flight instructor, Shane Smith, for helping him refine his skills and reach this milestone. Knowing Taylor, this is just another chapter in his adventure-filled life, and we absolutely can’t wait to see what he takes on next! Keep soaring high, Taylor!
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Well, howdy there, partner! Ain’t it just the purtiest mornin’ down here in the valley? Sure beats all that rain and snow we been sloggin’ through! Now, I reckon you mighta heard the latest buzz ‘round these parts—word is, there’s a new cowboy in town. Ain’t just any ol’ greenhorn, neither. They say he’s got wings like an eagle and a reputation to match… Alright, alright, I’ll drop the act—but had to tip my hat to Ryan’s love for country music. All jokes aside, today’s a rootin’-tootin’ kind of day ‘cause the one and only Ryan Madole saddled up and took to the skies solo for the first time in N37JA at KRTS on runway 26! To set the scene for y’all, Ryan strutted in this mornin’ with a gleam of pure determination in his eyes. Without a moment’s hesitation, he kicked his instructor, Andrew Spanier, to the curb and took the reins solo. And when his wheels kissed the ground? Well, let’s just say that runway’s now slicker than a fresh batch of churned butter in the mornin’. Let’s give Ryan and his high-flyin’ flight instructor, Andrew Spanier, a yeehawwww and congratulations on this amazing accomplishment! Awesome work to the both of you!
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⭐️JACOB HULSIZER⭐️ Jacob Hulsizer is GBA’s January pilot of the month, and for good reason! From day one, Jacob has been all-in on his flight training, bringing dedication, enthusiasm, and an unstoppable work ethic to every lesson. Whether he's hitting the books in ground school or fine-tuning his maneuvers in the air, his commitment to mastering every aspect of aviation is undeniable. But Jacob isn’t just a great student—he’s a force of nature. Off the runway, he’s known for his high energy, passion for adventure, and unwavering support for his fellow pilots. Whether he’s cheering the loudest at sporting events, dominating on the track, or carving up fresh powder on the slopes, he approaches everything with the same determination and excitement that he brings to flying. Jacob’s hard work is paying off, and we couldn’t be prouder of his progress. Keep chasing the skies, Jacob—we can’t wait to see where your aviation journey takes you next!
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Big waves, fresh powder, and now, blue skies—David O’Hara has conquered them all! That’s right everyone, David O’Hara is officially a solo pilot! Taking to the skies, David took off out of KRTS on runway 8 in N670CS and had the thrill of a lifetime being able to explore the skies all while solo. I don’t know if I really need to tell you this, but David is one cool guy… I mean just look at him! David hails from the beautiful islands of Hawaii and is a master on the surfboard. But don’t let that fool you, while he may be a master in the water, he’s also conquered the land by snowboarding to his heart’s content here in the beautiful Sierra Nevada. Finally, now to add onto that list, David has conquered the skies and he’s done it all with an insatiable determination and passion. Also… the man speaks Japanese; this guy is just awesome. With all that said, let’s give a huge congratulations to David O’Hara and his flight instructor, Cory Kleidosty, on this absolutely amazing achievement. Keep it up, David! We have no doubt that this is just the beginning of an amazing journey for you.
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He's the one. He’s the only, and his name is Shane McAlister! Gosh, this guy again… if he wasn’t such a smiley go-lucky guy, I’d be sick of him… just kidding! Today is a tremendous day for Shane because he has officially earned his Certified Flight Instructor rating! And what better way to do it than earning it in the plane he soloed in… that’s right, to make it full circle, N37JA has seen Shane go from a wee baby solo pilot to Mr. Hot Shot CFI. And to add the cherry on top, Shane has achieved the impressive milestone of going from zero time to CFI all with Great Basin Aviation! With an insatiable drive and a clear goal in mind, Shane is unstoppable when you get him going. From the nightmares of lesson planning to juggling the quirks of learning how to fly in the right seat, Shane did it all and he did it with style. Let’s give this amazing aviator a huge round of applause for this incredible achievement! And while we’re at it, let’s also give a huge thank you to his flight instructor, Ryan Mill, who has been with Shane for instrument, commercial, and now CFI. Awesome work you two! Now get out there and celebrate!

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Now look at that happy smile! The fantastic Ava Armen surpassed an incredible milestone today and got her private pilot license! From tumultuous weather conditions giving Ava grief these last few weeks, she finally broke through the clouds and capitalized on the opportunity and got her checkride done! And with her support system to back her up—her grandma and mama—these three fabulous ladies left with the biggest smiles on their faces. Ava is no stranger to aviation, though. Having been raised by her aviation father who flew both GA and commercial aircraft, she has been following in his footsteps and keeping his legacy alive through her training. Ava’s drive is truly inspiring and it’s so incredible to see her achieve this amazing accomplishment. When asked what Ava was going to do after her checkride, she promptly said, “I’m taking a nap.” When Ava isn’t being the awe-inspiring lady that she is, you can find her working at Trader Joe’s or studying like a mad woman at school. Let’s give Ava and her flight instructor, Shane Smith, a huge congratulations for all the work they put in to get to this amazing point in Ava’s training. Amazing job you guys! Ava, we can’t wait to see where the skies take you next.
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