Instructor's Corner

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⭐️TROY COOK⭐️

Troy Cook is GBA’s May Pilot of the Month! And hold on a second, we’ve seen him before, haven’t we? You’re right! Troy is a recent solo pilot and has been exploring the greater Reno area to his heart’s content, but more importantly, he’s been absolutely crushing the flight training game! Troy has been a ball of determination these last couple of months. From crushing his solo flight, dominating his ground knowledge, and bringing in his cute black lab to Atlantic from time to time… I’m not saying we gave him the award because of his dog… but there was definitely some influence (just kidding!). Troy, we are so incredibly proud of you and all of the amazing progress you’ve made so far. We can’t wait to see you dominate your private pilot license and perhaps convince you to get your instrument rating 😉. When Troy isn’t impressing us left and right at GBA, you can find him exploring the great outdoors. Whether that means summiting mountains or shredding the Sierras on his snowboard, he’s most likely outside living his best life. Keep up the amazing work, Troy! You’re crushing it!!
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“Now class, let’s start from the beginning. You’re all private pilots, what are some of the required documents you need to have on your person before acting as PIC? Timmy?”
“Medical Certificate.”
“Very good. Susie?
“Photo ID.”
“Nice. Okay, and Joshua, what’s the last one?”
 *crickets*
“Josh?”
“Gimme a sec.” *More crickets* … “Oh yeah! Pilot certificate.”
“… at least you’ve got your line tech job.”
Just kidding 😁. Trying to look ahead, Joshua Gilmore decided to scan his pilot certificate for his checkride binder and accidentally left it in his scanner before heading out this morning for his checkride. Thankfully, Josh was able to run home, grab his certificate, and begin his checkride, and even under the circumstances, Josh collected himself and flew like a true instrument pilot! That’s right everyone! Your favorite line tech (don’t tell Andy or Derrick) is officially an instrument rated pilot. Now, while we love to give Josh a hard time, Josh has been putting in the work, cleaning bugs, battling the heat, flying like crazy, and crushing his ground. We even have word that the man himself, Bob Bennett, said Josh’s mock instrument oral exam was the best he’s ever given. Josh is fantastic and we’re so incredibly proud of him and his progress. Let’s give Josh and his CFII, Greg Anthenien, who tried his best to pound into Josh’s brain that he needs his pilot certificate 😉, a huge congratulations on this amazing achievement! You da man, Josh! Now, let’s talk about commercial…
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Today we celebrate more than a milestone, we celebrate years of dedication, growth, and perseverance. Nicole Gonzalez officially earned her Certified Flight Instructor Certificate, and to say we’re proud is an understatement. From the moment she walked through our doors for her first discovery flight, we’ve watched Nicole evolve into the driven, talented aviator and leader she is today. She has earned every certificate and rating along the way, while also graduating last year from UNR with a degree in finance and becoming an integral part of the GBA team. She balanced school, flying, and running the office on weekends with grace, professionalism, and heart. Nicole has grown up with us here at GBA, and watching her now take on the role of instructor is incredibly special. Her journey is a reminder of what’s possible when passion meets hard work, and we can’t wait to see the impact she’ll make on the next generation of pilots. Congratulations, Nicole!! And congratulations as well to her instructor, Eric Harned, for guiding her through this final leg. The runway ahead is wide open, CFI Nicole. This is just the beginning! 
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Some people discover aviation. Others are born to fly, and Taylor Pritchard falls firmly into that second category. He added to his accomplishments today by earning his instructor certificate! Taylor knew he wanted to be a pilot since he was three years old, and that passion hasn’t faded, it’s only gotten louder (along with the engines). Taylor brings a level of determination and goal-driven energy that’s impossible to miss. Whether he’s in the air or mastering maneuvers in a flight simulator, he’s constantly pushing to get better. When he’s not flying, you’ll likely find him riding his bike or hanging out with his dachshund puppy, because even future airline captains need a co-pilot on the ground. Congratulations also to his CFI, Ryan Mill, for helping guide this future airline pilot through the journey. Taylor, your drive, focus, and love of flying are exactly what this industry needs. We can’t wait to watch you climb through the ratings and chase that dream all the way to the airlines.
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She’s fabulous, she bakes a mean sourdough, and today she soared to incredible heights and soloed at KRTS on runway 32 in N37JA! That’s right everyone, it’s none other than the marvelous Marlenns Urena-Gonzalez and she’s been crushing the flight training game as of late! Marlenne has been studying and flying diligently these last few months and today was the day: the illustrious moment where Marlenne got to give her flight instructor, Andrew Spanier, the ceremonial boot out of the plane. While Andrew was saying his prayers on the sidelines (just kidding ), Marlenne taxied to the runway with a sense of calm and determination. If you’ve met Marlenne, you know that she may come off quiet, but she is an incredible woman. From going to college to become a teacher, volunteering in the community, and commuting all the way from Yerington, she was already impressive enough, but this is truly the icing on the cake. Marlenne, we are so incredibly proud to see you progress through your training, and we have no doubt that you’re going to accomplish incredible things as you continue on this path. Let’s give Marlenne and Andrew a massive congratulations on this incredible accomplishment! Keep it up Marlenne and get out there and fly! ​
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Looks like Ben Novello just took his talents from the slopes and trails straight to the skies by earning his Private Pilot’s License! Hailing from Kings Beach, CA, Ben has always had a need for speed—whether it’s carving turns on his snowboard or tearing up the trails on his dirt bike. But now, he’s taken that same adventurous spirit to the air, logging hours in the left seat and trading ground speed for airspeed. With a headset on and eyes to the sky, Ben’s swapped berms and backflips for run-ups and radio calls, proving he’s got the skills to navigate both mountains and meteorology. His love for all things fast and fun has officially taken off—literally—and now he’s chasing horizons instead of just hills. From pre-flights to perfect landings, and every pattern entry in between, Ben’s shown he’s got the right attitude and altitude. A huge congratulations to Ben and his awesome CFI, Eric Harned. What a high-flying accomplishment!
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Every now and again that perfect combination of grit, determination, and brains fills the roll of student and just makes a CFI feel like the world is going to be okay! Hailey Bogle is that student today as she rock-and-rolled her way through a successful Instrument Pilot checkride! It is impossible to say enough complimentary things about this human being. Her journey is nothing short of textbook form start to finish. Hailey IS the example. She earned this rating all while balancing the task of managing the office, politely reminding you all to keep your paperwork current, putting up with Richard going off the rails, and earning a slot as a future Air Traffic Controller! C’mon, Hailey! You make us all look bad! Top that all off with one of the nicest compliments in the world from Bob after Hailey’s mock oral. He said, “You oughta’ teach the class!” True story, Hailey even made Richard cry be executing an ILS with such grace, he had absolutely nothing to say. Nothing! I kid you not! We are so proud of you, Hailey Bogle! CONGRATULATIONS! You earned every last drop of this! ​
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Wait a minute… we know this guy! Our recent solo pilot and former Pilot of the Month is officially a Private Pilot! To no surprise, Brayden Bishop aced his checkride with ease! From day one, Brayden has brought passion, drive, and a contagious sense of positivity to each flight and let’s be honest, we all knew he was destined to soar. Brayden is truly an amazing aviator, and character. It’s truly no surprise that Brayden has conquered this milestone and we’re so incredibly proud of him and all the hard work he’s put in to get to this point in his training. When he’s not flying like a mad man, you can find him enjoying the great outdoors, cooking up a chef’s masterpiece, living on the edge while riding motorcycles, and being with his friends and family. Awesome work Brayden, and huge congrats to his CFI Andrew Spainer! We hear instrument is right around the corner.
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Ahhhhhh, the great outdoors. When the monotony of life seems to be taking over, there’s nothing like a new hiking trail, camping site, skiing/ snowboarding route, or an unexplored view to reinvigorate the soul. For Troy Cook, this isn’t just a way to recharge, it’s a way of life. Forever chasing new adventures, Troy recently set his sights even higher by beginning flight training! What better way to explore the world than by seeing it from a bird’s eye view. Troy achieved his first major milestone today of his flight training pursuit and soloed at KRTS on runway 8 in N37JA!! That’s right, adventure extraordinaire Troy Cook took to the skies this morning and kicked out his flight instructor, Lucas Murphy, to the curb to flaunt his stuff. Despite weather being deceivingly rocky this morning, Troy came in ready and prepared and dominated the pattern like a skilled and safe pilot. Troy, you’ve been crushing your ground, you’ve been flying to your heart’s content, and today you’ve officially mastered the skies! Awesome job to Troy and Lucas on this incredible achievement! We have no doubt you’ll see more of Troy here in the future. Here’s to the next great adventure!
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​Shawn Plunket is officially a Certified Flight Instructor—because apparently, being a Cal Fire badass, retired Nevada Air National Guard Chief, and full-time family man wasn’t quite enough. If you know Shawn, you know this guy does not stop moving. The man wrapped up his checkride, shook hands, grabbed his temp cert, and was already halfway over the hill before we could even snap a photo. He’s got about 12 things going on at once and somehow crushes all of them, honestly, someone nominate him for mayor.
His checkride got a little sporty, but no surprise, Shawn powered through like a pro. Huge congrats to him, and big shoutout to his CFI, Danny Britson, for getting him checkride-ready. Way to go, Shawn! You’ve officially added “Flight Instructor” to your already stacked résumé, and we’re lucky to have been part of your journey! 
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