​Ka-Chow! Happy Birthday & First Solo to Sophia Sanchez!  Most people celebrate their birthday with cake and candles… but Sophia decided to trade in the party hat for a headset. Today, she soloed in N752DW at KRNO on runway 17L, making her birthday one she’ll never forget. If you know Sophia, you know she’s the sweetest, most positive flyer around, always smiling, always lifting up those around her. But don’t let that kind heart fool you, Sophia is a go-getter through and through. Whatever she sets her mind to, she does. And today, she proved it in the sky.
Her favorite movie has always been Cars, but after this milestone, we’re pretty sure Planes might take the lead. Just like Lightning McQueen, Sophia’s got that “I am speed” energy. She drove her training hard all summer and crossed the finish line today with style. With her eyes on the airlines, she’s showing everyone that the dream is real, and she’s well on her way.
And just like every racer needs a pit crew, every pilot needs a mentor. Huge congratulations to her CFI, Cory Kleidosty, for guiding her through the track, lap after lap, until she was ready to take flight on her own. Sophia, happy birthday, happy solo, and congrats on taking the green flag in your aviation journey!

​Congratulations to Cody Koch on his first solo flight! ✈️ Cody took N352ME up at KRTS on runway 08 and absolutely crushed it. While most teenagers spent their summer glued to TikTok, gaming marathons, or “resting up” for back-to-school (isn’t that what they do?), Cody was out here chasing down dreams and flying airplanes. Priorities: set.
This guy drives all the way in from Truckee for his training, through mountain traffic, questionable weather, and probably at least one Subaru Outback traffic jam, because he knows that becoming a pilot isn’t about convenience, it’s about commitment. And that commitment paid off today when he tasted that sweet, unmatched freedom of solo flight.
Not only is Cody a hard-charger in the cockpit, he’s also a guitar player. So while some people only play “Free Bird,” Cody went out and actually became one. 
Now, as he heads back to high school next week, he’s adding “airplane pilot” to the list of things he’s balancing along with schoolwork, teenage life, and probably being way cooler than the rest of us at his age. No big deal. Huge shoutout to his CFI, Lucas Murphy, for getting him here. Lucas kept him sharp, safe, and ready to take that leap solo.
Cody, enjoy this moment, because the sky is officially yours! 

🌟 Pilot of the Month: Cristobal Alvarenga 🌟
This month we’re proud to recognize Cristobal Alvarenga as our Pilot of the Month! Cris has stood out for the way he combines drive, positivity, and a truly teachable spirit on his path to becoming a pilot.
Even as a brand-new dad, Cris shows up prepared, focused, and ready to make every lesson count. He never loses sight of his goals, balancing family and flight training with determination and grit that inspires both his instructors and fellow students.
​Cris, your commitment proves that when the passion for aviation takes hold, there’s no excuse big enough to stop you from chasing your dreams. Congratulations, you’ve earned this recognition, and we can’t wait to see how far your wings take you! ✈️

​Today, Giovani Rodriguez reached a milestone that is the result of true dedication and perseverance, earning his Private Pilot Certificate and officially leveling up from student pilot to captain of his own destiny.
This achievement didn’t come easy. Between serving in the Air National Guard, pursuing his college degree, working, mentoring other students, and being present for his beautiful family, Gio still found the discipline and drive to log the hours, study the charts, and keep his training on course.
Flight training demands focus, resilience, and the ability to push through turbulence, qualities Gio has shown in abundance. He never let a busy schedule or a challenging lesson keep him grounded. Instead, he kept climbing, one takeoff and one landing at a time, proving that if there’s a will, there truly is a runway.
Just last month, we celebrated him as our Pilot of the Month. Now, he’s not only met his goal but soared past it, taking his aviation dreams to new altitudes. This is more than a pilot certificate; it’s a testament to the power of hard work, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to a dream.
A huge congratulations to his CFI, Eric Harned, for his guidance, mentorship, and steady hand in helping Gio navigate this journey.
Gio, your determination inspires all of us. You’ve earned every bit of this achievement, and we can’t wait to see where you fly next.

We’ve got a brand-new Private Pilot in the skies and his name is nonother than Mr. John Hamilton! John has been steadily working toward this moment with determination and focus, and today, all of that effort has paid off in a big way. One of our younger students, John has shown a level of maturity and commitment well beyond his years. Whether it was studying ground knowledge or refining his skills in the air, he brought his A-game to every step of training. A proud recipient of the Reno Air Race Association scholarship, John is one of the many young aviators whose dreams have been supported by this incredible program, and it’s been inspiring to watch him grow into the confident and capable pilot he’s become today. None of it could have been possible, though, without his right-hand man and flight instructor, Eric Harned. Through every stage of flight training, John was guided by the steady mentorship of Eric who has been a constant throughout his journey. Let’s give John and Eric a round of applause on this incredible milestone. We can’t wait to see where this license takes John next! ​

Gio is GBA’s July Pilot of the Month!
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Gio is the kind of student every flight school dreams of. He’s dedicated, focused, and somehow always upbeat, even while juggling a full plate. Between serving in the Nevada Air National Guard, training with us here at GBA, and supporting his family, Gio has every excuse to fall behind but instead he’s consistently ahead of the plane, both literally and figuratively. He’s known around GBA not just for his impressive airmanship or his terrible dad jokes, but also his phone curse. For those who remember the infamous Spring 2025 incident, yes—that was Gio’s phone that went flying off the taxiway and ended up near the threshold of 35R (huge thanks to Reno Ops for the recovery assist). And if you’re wondering: “Has he lost his phone another time?” the answer is unfortunately yes… Gio dropped another poor phone soul in the river over the 4th of July weekend. Despite his phone saga, Gio has stayed locked in on his training. Richard even told us that Gio had “one of the best mock checkrides he’s ever seen” for PPL. Congrats, Gio! You’ve more than earned this recognition and we can’t wait to see you dominate your PPL checkride!