Instructor's Corner

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Today’s a big day for this big-time aviator! Alex Monroe has absolutely immersed himself in the aviation industry. From working as a line technician for Stellar Aviation, flying with his buddies in a handful of different planes, and grinding in his commercial knowledge, Alex has truly embodied what it means to eat, breathe, and sleep aviation. And to put the cherry on top, Alex came in today and became a commercial pilot!! That’s right folks, Alex is officially a pilot for hire! This is a huge milestone for Alex and we’re so incredibly proud of everything that he’s poured into his flight training. Now it’s time to get out there, build some time, and tackle those job applications head on! Let’s give Alex and his flight instructor/ good friend, Ryan Mill, a humungous congratulations on this achievement!
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“Tommy Kelly! Over here, over here! Flaunt it, Tommy! Tommy, where did you get your amazing flying skills? Mr. Kelly, how do you feel about being nominated pilot of the year? Tommy, what’s it like being a commercial pilot?” For those of you thinking, “What the heck was that?” Tommy was a photographer at the Academy Awards, and I had to juice it. Also… you read that right, Tommy Kelly is officially a commercial pilot! Tommy has been juggling being a dad, a loving husband, replacing the floors and dealing with new puppy life… (at least she’s super cute Tommy 😅), balancing 4th of July plans, and everything else in between… with flight training and ground training happening somewhere during the midst of all that other chaos. Tommy has been putting in an insane amount of work and it’s truly no surprise that he’s conquered yet another awesome accomplishment. Tommy, you’ve been running around like a madman, annoying Jenn and Hailey in the office and generally making their jobs more difficult on the daily (just kidding, Tommy, we love your antics 😉), and it has finally happened, that coveted commercial pilot certificate is yours! Awesome job to Tommy Kelly and his CFI Shane Smith! Great work!
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First Solo Alert! Major shoutout to Nathan Gay, who soloed this morning at KRTS on runway 26! If you’re thinking, “Wait… who’s that guy?” Same!! We barely recognized him without the beard. Nathan dropped a few facial-hair pounds recently and showed up all cleaned up for the big day (he claims it wasn’t for the solo… but we’re taking full credit anyway). Nathan’s been all-in on his flight training, always rolling back into the office with a grin, even after being tossed around by some classic Reno turbulence… or his instructor, Greg. And let’s talk about those landings. A spectacle of aeronautical excellence. Textbook touches, three times in a row, like he’s been doing this forever. The pattern at KRTS may never recover from how smooth that solo looked. Way to go, Nathan! Keep chasing that dream and brushing off the bumps (and apparently the beard). Big congrats also to CFI Greg Anthenien for getting him there!
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Checkride day is full of emotions. From not sleeping the night before, having a weird eating schedule throughout the day, and to top it off, being utterly exhausted after the gauntlet you’ve been through… most people celebrate their checkride by taking the most glorious nap known to man... but not, Kyra Talusik. Kyra came in bright eyed, and bushy tailed this morning ready to crush her private pilot checkride, and she did exactly that! You heard that right, Kyra Talusik is a fully fledged private pilot! And when I asked Kyra how she planned to celebrate this awesome accomplishment—expecting her to want to take a nap—she came out and told me that she was going to celebrate by going to a trampoline park! Kyra… how do you have the energy?? You’re truly a woman of mystery. In all seriousness, Kyra has been playing a balancing act between flight training, finishing her engineering degree at UNR, shifting to a full-time schedule at her job, and everything else in between. Kyra, you are an absolute powerhouse, and we are so proud of you for reaching the incredible milestone. Let’s give it up to Kyra and her flight instructor, James Morgan. Amazing work!
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​Solo Milestone Alert! Give it up for Jeremy Ellison, who officially joined the solo squad today at KRTS, runway 32, in N352ME! On a cool, very early, Nevada morning, Jeremy lined up, launched, and made three smooth, buttery landings, so smooth, in fact, we’re pretty sure a PIREP needs to be filed: butter spotted on the runway.
Jeremy is not only a natural in the air, he’s also a guy who thrives outdoors, and more importantly, an incredible dad. Balancing family, adventure, and flight training is no small feat, but Jeremy makes it look easy (just like those landings).
Huge shoutout to CFI James Morgan for helping guide him to this unforgettable aviation milestone.
Today, Jeremy took a major step toward his dreams, and we couldn’t be more proud. One plane. One runway. One pilot. And zero instructors on board.
Congrats, Jeremy! You’ve got the sky to yourself now, enjoy every second of it.
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Yeeeeeeeeeeee dawgie! Some of you may be asking, “Why is Derrick smilin’ like a kid who’s found an extra nugget at the bottom of his Chick-fil-a bag?” Well, because today’s the day. The man with the million-dollar smile, the future manager of a Georgia Waffle House, and the holder of the best laugh this side of the Mississippi, Derrick Craine, has gon’ done it and conquered his CFI checkride!! Derrick’s got a work ethic that’d put a tornado to shame. From camping out in the conference rooms building his lesson plans, to taking up guinea pig students to master his teaching technique, Derrick’s drive, determination, and passion has truly shone through with everything he’s put into this rating. Today’s also special because Derrick has officially gone from a zero-time student to a CFI in just a year here at Great Basin Aviation! While we love to give Derrick a hard time, this is truly a very impressive and special moment, and we are so proud to share this awesome achievement with him today. Derrick, you’ve been washing bugs, you’ve been a social media star, and now, you’re a CFI. Let that sink in. Let’s give a huge congratulations to Derrick and his CFI, Eric Harned, who has gone through every rating with Derrick from the very beginning. Congrats Mr. CFI!!
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​Flight Deck Announcement – Great Basin 737 to Career Altitude!
Good morning, passengers, this is your captain speaking. We’re cruising at a celebratory altitude today because Shon Plamondon just earned his commercial pilot certificate! That’s right, he’s cleared to fly for hire… which means his flying is now FAA-certified and invoice-worthy. Shon’s journey has had its share of laughs, lessons, and… questionable life choices, like losing a bet and ending up with a tattoo on his backside (no, we’re not showing you). He’s also developed a healthy respect for turbulence and for Jenn’s “motivational yelling”, both of which seem to keep him sharp. All jokes aside, Shon has put in the work and flown through the challenges to get here. We’re proud of his growth, his determination, and his ability to make every checkride prep just a little more entertaining. A huge shoutout to CFI Cory Kleidosty, who expertly navigated the left seat alongside Shon and made sure everything stayed on heading. Congratulations, Shon, next stop: wherever the aviation winds take you. Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the view… from the paid pilot side.
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Aloha! It sure does feel like paradise with how hot temperatures have been! And while we’re all whining and wiping the sweat off our brows, Holden Stone, a Hawaiian native from Lahaina, is enjoying the heat, living his best life, and staying cool even under the pressure of his instrument checkride. While Holden likes to spend his time outdoors, whether that be hiking, snowboarding, surfing, or training in jiu jitsu, he’s been holed up inside studying the intricacies of instrument flying and itching to apply his knowledge in the plane. And today, he can finally say that after all his grit, hard work, and determination that he’s a fully-fledged instrument rated pilot! That’s right, Holden Stone can now soar in the clouds to his heart’s content! Holden is incredibly driven and absolutely fearless. From balancing his flight training, being a loving father and husband, and flying like the madman he is, it's truly no surprise that Holden has crushed this milestone! Holden, we are so incredibly proud of you, and we can’t wait to see you further your training as you push for your commercial license. Until then, huge congratulations to Holden and his CFII, Eric Harned, on this awesome accomplishment! Great work you two!

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While most people were still hitting snooze this morning, Caleb Lin was already at KRNO 17L, cool as ever, launching N37JA into the sky solo. No audience, no big scene, just one student, one plane, and a calm morning that never stood a chance. This wasn’t luck. It wasn’t a fluke. It was the result of dedication, discipline, and laser-sharp focus. Caleb has been putting in the work for this milestone, and let’s be honest, hard work is more afraid of Caleb than the other way around. Born in Guam, fluent in five languages, and now thriving in the dry Reno climate (despite claiming to hate the heat), Caleb brings serious brainpower and humility to everything he does. He doesn’t make a big deal about being impressive; he just is. Today, he added “soloed an aircraft” to an already long list of accomplishments. Huge congratulations to Caleb, and to CFI Lucas Murphy, who helped guide this sky warrior to solo success. The bar just got raised.
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Help us give a big GBA shoutout to Ryan Madole, who just earned his Private Pilot Certificate! Ryan has been the epitome of quiet determination throughout his training, steadfast, focused, and all in. Whether he’s fly fishing in the great outdoors, strumming his guitar, or jamming out to some good ol’ country music, Ryan brings a calm, steady energy that served him well in the cockpit. With the guidance of CFI Andrew Spanier, Ryan put in the time, effort, and heart it takes to reach this milestone. He showed up, stayed motivated, and never let a rough day knock him off course. His journey wasn’t about checking a box; it was about growth, skill, and purpose. And now, he’s got the certificate to prove it. So what’s next? Military? Civilian? Whichever runway Ryan decides to take, we know it’ll be one with direction and meaning. He’s not just another pilot; he’s a pilot with purpose. And whether he’s flying high or kicking back with some country tunes, we know his path is going to be a good one. Congrats again, Ryan! Your hard work and humble spirit have truly stood out, and we can’t wait to see where you go from here. 

GBA

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