Instructor's Corner

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What a beautiful week of flying and what an even better day to solo! The man, the myth, the legend, Jared Garrido, soloed today at the beautiful KRNO on runway 17L in N670CS! The best thing about students soloing at KRNO (other than the fact that it’s totally epic) is that Hailey gets to stalk students on the downwind by looking out the window… and we can confirm that she gave his pattern work the chef’s kiss. Also adding to this amazing moment, Jared’s dad was on the sideline cheering him on and watching the whole time. When Jared isn’t crushing the game with his flying, you can find him booing the Dodgers, impressing all the ladies with his math skills, or working towards graduating high school as a Junior to pursue aviation more seriously! Jared is shooting for the airlines and it’s incredible to see him take his first steps in pursuing that dream. Huge congratulations to Jared and his CFI, Alex Spencer, on getting to this amazing goal! Great work, Jared!

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Audrey has star power!! But, Audrey isn't just your average star in the sky – as of this afternoon, she's a private pilot, soaring through the clouds with grace and determination! But that's just the tip of the iceberg for this unstoppable force of nature. She's also a commercial glider pilot, a UNR student studying geological sciences, and diving headfirst into airplane flight training. Talk about a powerhouse of talent and ambition! What sets Audrey apart is her relentless drive and passion for aviation. She didn't just breeze through her training – she tackled it head-on, scoring impressive results on her knowledge test and even securing a prestigious Reno Air Race Scholarship along the way. Her dedication and hard work are truly inspiring, reminding us all that with grit and determination, the sky's the limit! But beyond her impressive achievements, Audrey's infectious enthusiasm and love for aviation light up the room wherever she goes. She's a joy to have around the office, always eager to take flight and chase her dreams with unwavering enthusiasm. And let's not forget to give a huge shoutout to Audrey's incredible CFI, Shane Smith, whose guidance and expertise have played a pivotal role in her journey to the skies. Together, they've proven that with passion, perseverance, and a great mentor by your side, anything is possible! So here's to Audrey and Shane, a dynamic duo destined for greatness. Keep shining bright, Audrey, and keep inspiring us all to reach for the stars!
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Ladies and gentlemen, let's give it up for Cole Melby!! Why, you ask? Well, today he officially joined the ranks of Northern Nevada's flight instructors! That's right, Cole is now certified to teach you how to fly! And let me tell you, it's no small feat considering he's juggling a full-time commitment with the Nevada Air National Guard, chasing after an adorable little 2 ½ year of tornado of a daughter, and gearing up for another bundle of joy on the way. Plus, the hours of ground training and flying to get him to where he is today. Multitasking pro is an understatement. And let's not forget the real challenge here - surviving the GBA office fashion police! Seriously, have you ever seen someone rock so much blue and grey? But hey, who needs a wardrobe makeover when you're soaring through the skies like a boss, right? Huge props to Cole for pulling off this milestone while keeping his sanity intact (well, mostly). And let's give a big shoutout to his CFI, Danny Britson, for guiding him through the wild blue yonder. So, here's to Cole and to all the future pilots he'll be molding along the way! ​
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Calling all young aviation adventurers aged 13-16! Embark on an exciting aviation journey with Great Basin Aviation's Young Aviator Boot Camp! Dive into the world of flight, learn from experienced pilots, and discover the thrill of taking to the skies. Get ready for an unforgettable summer adventure! Reach out for more details! ​
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Guess who's officially joined the ranks of the sky-high adventurers? None other than our very own Miles Grieve, who's now a certified private pilot! Yep, you heard that right – Miles (aka Squeaky Clean) can now navigate the friendly skies with the best of 'em, no need for an endorsement to jet off to Lovelock. But wait, there’s more – Miles isn't just your average pilot. Oh no, he's a proud recipient of a RARA scholarship, so you know he's got some serious aviation chops. Between juggling a full-time class load at UNR and serving his country in the Nevada Air National Guard, Miles still managed to find the time and motivation to earn his wings. Talk about multitasking like a pro! So let's raise our flight manuals to Miles and his incredible achievement – he's living proof that with dedication and determination, the sky's the limit! And of course, a huge round of applause to his CFI, Kevin Marshall, for guiding him through the wild blue yonder. Congrats, Miles – you've earned every bit of those bragging rights!
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Let's give it up for the newest member of the CFI club, James Morgan! Today was a major flex in his aviation journey. Timing is everything, and James totally aced it by dodging the incoming storm system like a pro. James has been soaring high since day one at Great Basin Aviation. From earning his private pilot certificate to mastering instrument flying and snagging that commercial rating, he's proven time and time again that with enough grit and determination, the sky's the limit! And now, as a certified flight instructor, he's ready to sprinkle some of that aviation magic on the next generation of sky warriors. But wait, there's more! Between ruling the skies and dropping knowledge bombs on eager learners, James has also made some serious moves in his personal life – like getting hitched! Talk about taking flight in matters of the heart! Let's also give a major shoutout to James's wingman, CFI extraordinaire Danny Britson, for guiding him through every twist and turn of this wild ride. So here's to James, the latest addition to the CFI elite, and to many more epic adventures in the wild blue yonder! We could not be happier for you!!

**James might have ran out on us before we could snap a shot, but his Private Pilot days are forever captured in this throwback**
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A few of you have been mentioning engine stalling in ME and RF - and I'm sure other planes soon to follow. I have checked both and don't find anything really far out of whack. There are a couple things to remember: as temps warm up, density altitude increases (I know you know that). What may not be as obvious is that with warmer temps the idle mixture will also need to be adjusted leaner. That is something the mechanic will do during service to improve low RPM ops. In the interim it's possible you'll be more likely to get a rough idle or even an engine stall if you're not careful. Remember to lean well for all ground ops but especially when the temps go up. 

The POH method for mixture adjustment on the ground is to set the engine to 1200 RPM, and lean it out until the engine starts to stumble, then just slightly richen it up. The only 'too lean' on the ground is if you kill the engine. Don't bother messing with EGT on the ground. It means nothing at this power setting. You'll usually see the RPM increase when you're getting to that sweet spot of mixture adjustment on the ground. Much further lean and you'll kill the engine. 

When you land, make sure the student isn't trying to pull the throttle out of the firewall. I have seen that all too often. If you have an engine that is being picky with warmer temps and especially if they keep 'back pressure' on the throttle, they'll often pull the RPM even slower than the idle set just enough to cause an issue. All throttle movements should be gradual without yanking or smashing one way or the other. If the engine starts to sound rough as you slow down on the runway, nudge the throttle in just a tad (1000 RPM is fine). Obviously, you are balancing slowing down with potentially killing the engine but with proper management the latter shouldn't be an issue. 

Teach this scenario and help the students to be more aware of the dynamic nature of what's going on under the cowl. While your car has all the fancy engine controls to adjust air-fuel ratios, there is no such tech in most piston singles. They are as simple as a lawn mower. You, the pilot, are the tech. Use temp changes as a teachable moment to help the students understand that there is no single best setting for mixture that fits all scenarios. Don't stress on a perfect setting but do stress that the setting is dynamic. If you notice the engine starting to stumble a bit on the ground, give it some throttle. If you notice the mixture is excessively rich, lean it. Let us know of any anomalies and we'll always check to make sure all is well. 

Click on the video below to see an example of yanking the throttle too aggressively. 
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Let's roll for initiative and give a thunderous applause to Joshua Gilmore for leveling up today with his first solo flight! KSPZ, runway 06, will forever hold a special place in Josh's heart, as it's where he honed his skills and buttered his first solo landings in N670CS. Josh isn't just soaring in the skies; he's living life to the fullest! When he's not mastering the art of flight, you can find him navigating mountain biking trails, shredding the pow pow on his snowboard, camping under the stars, and even delving into the depths of Dungeons and Dragons, where he's known as the "Skyborne Sorcerer," at least we think that would be a pretty sweet name for him 😁 Kudos to Josh for his epic solo achievement! Keep spreading your wings and conquering the skies, adventurer! And let's not forget to give a massive shoutout to his trusty CFI, Nathan Morin, for guiding him on this epic journey! ​
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Woohoo to Alex Crupi for reaching new heights today with his unforgettable first solo flight at KRTS, runway 08! We're still trying to figure out how he managed to fit flying into his jam-packed travel schedule, but hey, where there's a will, there's a runway! Between jet-setting across the globe for work (we hear his recent Vietnam trip was pho-nomenal), he somehow found time to spread his wings and take to the skies and accomplish this most memorable milestone. Alex's adventurous spirit and love for aviation shine bright, and today's flight marks just one step closer to earning that coveted private pilot certificate! Keep soaring, Alex! The skies are calling, and we know you're ready to answer. And a huge shoutout to his awesome CFI, Grant Muzzio, for guiding him on this incredible journey!
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Ladies and gentlemen, let's give it up for the one and only Nacayla Franey! She's not your average pilot – she's a perfect blend of sass, smarts, and smart sass, and she's here to take the aviation world by storm! Graduating from UNR in a few weeks, celebrating her birthday, and now rocking that instrument rating – Nacayla is the queen of multitasking! Who knew you could conquer the skies while acing senior year and looking good doing it? Enduring endless office banter? No sweat for Nacayla. She's a pro at handling any obstacle with hard work and just a hint (sometimes a smothering) of sarcasm. She tackled her instrument training like a boss, all while juggling work, study sessions, senior year shenanigans, and of course, perfecting those gym selfies. Because why settle for anything less than perfection? But let's not forget to give a massive shoutout to her incredible CFII, Shane Smith, for being the wind beneath her wings (literally)! Together, they're an unstoppable force in the sky. Nacayla, your determination and spirit inspire us all. Keep soaring high and blazing new trails in the sky! The sky's the limit for you, superstar! ​
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