Instructor's Corner

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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!
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Well, he’s done it again. Jason Dorn has officially added Instrument Rated Pilot to his ever-growing list of accomplishments… and honestly, are we even surprised at this point? This guy’s a stud. Jason’s no stranger to hard work and earning an instrument rating is no walk in the park. It takes grit, precision, mental endurance, and a whole lot of hood time. But, true to form, Jason tackled it all with calm confidence, sharp instincts, and the kind of focus that makes the rest of us wonder if he actually is a secret agent in disguise... This rating specifically, though, is pretty special. Not just because it marks another huge step toward Jason’s aviation career, but because it’s also the final sign-off for his CFII and friend, Ryan Mill, who is wrapping up his time here at GBA. These two have been through a lot together—from first flights to long XC legs—and this milestone is a fitting end to an incredible flying chapter. Please join us in congratulating Jason Dorn and Ryan Mill on this well-earned and meaningful achievement. The sky keeps getting bigger, Jason—and you keep rising to meet it!!
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Fore!! Clear the runway, because Eli Jones just conquered his first solo flight in N37JA at KRTS on runway 8! Eli is one of those guys who is chock-full of personality. From having dreams of soaring around Alaska as a bush pilot, owning his own car detailing business, and playing some serious golf on the side (For real! This kid is only 16 years old and he’s putting all of us to shame!), Eli’s constantly pushing himself to achieve the next best thing. Today is only a small example of that persistence. Using that inner grit, it goes without saying that Eli came in and absolutely dominated the pattern today, and he did it all even despite having a fear of heights! You read that right. The man himself who is “terrified of heights” put those fears aside this morning and let his passion help him soar. This is an incredible day for Eli and his CFI, Andrew Spanier, so let’s give them both of a huge round of applause on this incredible milestone! Eli, this is truly only the beginning. You’re on a path to greatness and we can’t wait to see how far your flight training takes you. ​
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Another month, another rating down; Brayden Bishop is officially an instrument rated pilot!! Seriously, can someone check if Brayden Bishop ever sleeps? Since soloing in April, knocking out his PPL in May, and now earning his instrument rating in August, this guy has been on an unstoppable roll. Brayden’s been fast-tracking his training like it’s a full-time job… and when he’s not studying or flying, he’s still around as one of our new GBA line techs! With all that said, we’re not totally convinced Brayden doesn’t live here. And yet, somehow, we’re not sick of him. Quite the opposite actually. Brayden is one of the most genuine, kindhearted, and down-to-earth people you’ll ever meet. His dedication, attitude, and presence make him not just a fantastic aviator, but a genuinely awesome human to have around. This latest rating is just one more milestone in what’s already been an amazing journey, and we know he’s nowhere near done. Please join us in congratulating Brayden Bishop and his CFII, Andrew Spanier, on this well-earned achievement. Brayden, your path is climbing fast, and we’re so proud to be along for the ride.
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Let’s give a round of applause for the smoothest operator in town, Mitchell Martin, on officially earning his private pilot license today! Mitch has been a flying machine these last few months. From dominating solo like it was no big deal to coming in today and sealing his fate as a full-fledged private pilot, Mitch’s pathway throughout his flight training has been nothing but admirable. Mitch, you’ve put in the work, forgotten your headset a few times, and now you get to enjoy the thrill of the skies! Let that sink in! Mitch loves the adventure that comes with the thrill, and what better way to accommodate that love than becoming pilot? And while Mitch may come off like the thrill seeking, adrenaline junkie who enjoys skiing, motorcycle riding, and everything else in between—well, because he is—he also has a smooth jazz side of him that you’d never really see coming. Mitchell is a madman on the saxophone, laying down only the smoothest and most buttery of beats in town. Mitch intends on celebrating with a well-earned map and potentially some pizza and wings. Awesome work today, Mitch! Let’s give Mitch and his CFI, Eric Harned, a huge congratulations on this awesome accomplishment! Great work you guys!
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Adam Chiamulon is officially a Private Pilot! What can we say about Adam…Well, he’s no stranger to aviation; he’s built a successful career in the industry, working with aircraft parts, cabin systems, and globe-spanning logistics. He’s probably been in more airplane cabins than all of us combined. But now, instead of helping the industry stay airborne, Adam’s the one behind the controls. Despite a work schedule that sends him bouncing across continents, he still found the time, drive, and commitment to knock out his private pilot training. Was it easy? Nope. Did we nag him constantly? Absolutely. Did he still bring us donuts? Like a champ. The man knows how to keep morale high. Let’s be real, becoming a pilot takes serious effort. And Adam’s not the type to phone it in. He showed up, studied, flew, and stuck with it, even when we threw mock checkrides, heat, and Reno’s ever-spicy wind conditions at him. The guy doesn’t quit, doesn’t cut corners, and somehow makes hot, turbulent flights look almost enjoyable. Now, Adam adds “pilot” to his already impressive list of achievements. Huge congrats to him, and to his awesome CFI Cory Kleidosty for keeping him on track and runway ready. The sky’s no longer the limit, it’s just his starting point.
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Today, Kayleigh Dohm took the ice, er, runway, and absolutely crushed her first solo flight at KRNO on 35R in N495SP! While most dream of breakaways on the rink, Kayleigh’s out here pulling off pattern work like a pro. She left the instructor on the bench and flew three solid landings, totally unassisted. Just her, the airplane, and the goal horn of freedom sounding in her head. Kayleigh is quite possibly one of the most interesting people you’ll ever meet. Her life goal? To play professional hockey and suit up for her beloved New York Rangers. But if that doesn’t pan out, she’ll “settle” for being a pilot, ideally in a plane with Rangers livery (we can respect that). Whether she’s not dreaming of running drills on the ice or rolling out final, she brings the same fierce determination, sharp focus, and quiet confidence to everything she does. While she hasn’t signed with the NHL (yet), today’s solo was definitely a top-shelf moment. Stick taps to her CFI Greg Anthenien for being the coach behind the scenes, guiding her to this big win. From her love of pucks to propellers, Kayleigh’s proving the sky is her new arena.
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There’ve been rumors around the ramp these last few weeks that there’s a guy who can take the fuel cap off the top of the plane without having to use the strut to get up. You may have also seen this mystery man walk into the office, nearly hitting his head on the archway of the door entry. The other thing we’ve heard about him is that he recently crushed his first solo flight today! The man, the myth, and the literal legend, Andrew Billoti, who most likely holds the title for the tallest student to train with our school, soared through the skies solo this morning at KRTS in N752DW on runway 26! There are not enough amazing things to say about Andrew Bilotti. From soloing in just 4 weeks, flying sometimes twice a day, being a stud inside the airplane and out, studying at the Naval Academy, having one of the kindest personalities around, and working towards becoming a Navy pilot… it goes without saying that Andrew truly deserves this moment in the sun. Andrew, this has been a crazy few weeks for you, and we couldn’t be prouder of you and your progress! Let’s give Andrew and his apparently miniature CFI, Greg Anthenien, a huge congratulations on this well-deserved accomplishment! Andrew, we can’t wait to see you again soon, but until then, here’s to blue skies and tailwinds!
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Good morning, everyone! While all of us were snuggled up in our beds enjoying the start of our Saturdays, Tony Torres was on a mission and arrived at the KRNO airport with his game face on. “Why?” you might be asking. Because today was the day that Tony would crush solo flight! Nearly dragging his instructor, Cory Kleidosty, out of his car at 5AM this morning, they did a couple laps and then the time came. Tony expertly flew the pattern here at KRNO (might I add with the most beautiful rectangular patterns) all by himself in N752DW on runway 17L!! When Tony isn’t studying and flying to his heart’s content, you can find him catching food in his mouth like an absolute pro (apparently, he has the reflexes of a cat!), banishing people for tickling him (seriously, don’t tickle him… he may appear sweet, but Tony can be an absolute menace), going to the lake with friends and family, and working his trusty Trader Joe’s job. Let’s give a huge round of applause to Tony and his CFI and arts and crafts pro, Cory Kleidosty (who has been making his students “solo” cups for these milestones 🥹) on this amazing accomplishment! That checkride is just on the horizon, Tony!
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“He’s got 10 seconds on the buzzer everyone; can Noah Perkins make the shot and bring home that checkride win today? He’s got his last chance as he approaches half court, and he sends the shot… andddddd HE MAKES IT!” Noah Perkins is officially an MVP and earned his private pilot license today!! Noah Perkins has been dribbling basketball, aviation club, school, AND flight training all at the same time these last couple of months. While Noah’s definitely been busy, there’s no doubt that he’s handled everything served to him with the utmost care and it’s truly no surprise that he came in today and absolutely dominated his checkride. With that said, we’re also pretty certain that Noah’s mom, Tori, and dad, Adam, who are both professional pilots, will have the biggest smiles plastered on their faces all day today after hearing the news that their son has joined the ranks as a fully-fledged private pilot! Noah, we are so incredibly proud to see how far you’ve come in your aviation journey, and we have no doubt that even more amazing achievements lie ahead of you (college here we come!). Let’s give Noah and his coach/CFI, Eric Harned, a massive congratulations on this absolutely incredible accomplishment! Seriously, way to go, Noah! Now get out there, the sky is calling!
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