Instructor's Corner

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After weeks of battling bad weather and multiple reschedules, the time has come, Kris Bell completed his checkride and earned his private pilot license today! Born in Canada, Kris tapped into his inner Canadian and remained calm in the face of all this tumultuous weather. It’s been a test of patience, but Kris stayed focused, put in the work, and made it happen. Originally, Kris began his flight training in Las Vegas before moving to Reno to study at UNR full time. Since then, he’s been balancing school and flight training, making the most of every opportunity to get in the air. When he’s not flying, he’s either studying hard, hitting the slopes on his snowboard, and having a good time with his friends. Let’s give Kris a huge congratulations on this absolutely amazing accomplishment, and while we’re at it, give his flight instructor, James Morgan, a thank you for guiding Kris along this path. Amazing work Kris! We can’t wait to see where your aviation journey takes you next!
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Noah Perkins just made a slam dunk in his aviation journey, completing his first solo flight at KRTS on runway 8 in N670CS! With aviation running in his blood, it was only a matter of time before Noah took to the skies on his own. His dad, Adam, a Southwest Airlines pilot and GBA renter, undoubtedly inspired Noah’s love for flying—but it’s Noah’s own dedication and hard work that got him to this moment. Balancing flight training with school and basketball, Noah has put in countless hours of preparation, proving his passion for aviation every step of the way. As a member of McQueen High School’s aviation club, he’s always looking for ways to sharpen his skills and deepen his knowledge of flying. Today, all that effort paid off as he took control of the aircraft and experienced the thrill of solo flight. Let’s give a huge congratulations to Noah and his flight instructor, Eric Harned, on this incredible achievement! Noah, we’re beyond proud and can’t wait to see where your aviation journey takes you next. Keep soaring, Noah—this is just the beginning!
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Wait a second… we know this guy? Is he a CFI at GBA? Yes. Does he have a 10-step hair care routine? Almost positive. Does he think he’s cooler than everyone because he drives in from the lake? Oh definitely. And did he just earn his CFII? You better believe it! I think I have my answer… it couldn’t be anyone other than the fantastic Greg Anthenien! That’s right, you know him, you love him, and you’re definitely jealous of his hair, Greg Anthenien passed his CFII checkride today! Greg has truly mastered the art of instruction these last couple of months, but he decided it was time to up his game and navigate through the fog of CFII. While his CFII, Richard Brong, had a blast playing instrument student (even though he can’t hold altitude as is… just kidding!) Greg stayed patient, precise, and now has the ability to walk students through any instrument situation. And while Greg may have some aerodynamic disadvantages compared to Richard in the hair cateogry, I can still see that far off look in Richard’s eyes as he reminisces over the good ol’ days (he definitely had a mullet and it definitely keeps us up at night just thinking about it). Greg, awesome job today! We can’t wait to see you instruct some fine instrument pilots!
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AHHH my eyessss! What is that bright light? A smile? Why, that’s the brightest smile I’ve ever seen!? Well, it’s none other than Michael Abawi’s as he’s cheesing it up in his picture. Why might you ask? Well because he soloed in N670CS at KSPZ on runway 6! Michael Abawi is one of those guys that just exudes positive energy. He never lets anything take him down and he’s incredibly persistent! And I mean, having been burdened- I mean blessed 😉 with 5 siblings, I assume that kind of mentality is required. But enough poking around, Mike has been working diligently to get to this point in his flight training and it’s time to celebrate! Mike, you’ve been flying, you’ve been studying, and today is the day you finally got to kick your flight instructor, Shane Smith, out of the plane! When Mike isn’t being an absolute stud in the airplane, you can find him enjoying some stuffed grape leaves (didn’t even know what those were until today), dominating a pool match, and studying hard at school. Let’s give a huge congratulations to Mike and Shane on this huge accomplishment. That private pilot checkride is just on the horizon!
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It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for… who is this month’s GBA pilot of the month? Well, it’s none other than of course:

⭐️Brayden Bishop⭐️

Brayden Bishop is GBA’s February pilot of the month! If you know Brayden, you know this is truly no surprise. From finishing his ground school, flying like an absolute mad man, and completing his first phase check today with flying colors, it’s apparent that Brayden is a force to be reckoned with. Brayden was truly meant for the skies. When asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up.” He responded with, “I don’t know where I want to end up specifically, but I do know I want to be flying.” Brayden is incredibly kind, soft spoken, and a crazy diligent worker. It’s truly a privilege to celebrate Brayden’s hard work today, so let’s give him the biggest of congratulations on this awesome accomplishment! When he’s not flying like a crazy person, 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, solo is just on the horizon!
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“Put your hands up! We’ve finally got her! The candy thief has been secured. Let me see your driver’s license ma’am… I said your driver’s license, not your private pilot license 😎.” Hold the phone y’all, today’s a fantastic today because the magnificent Hayli Stewart has officially earned her private pilot license! To put it bluntly, Hayli is a character through and through. From stealing GBA’s candy, earning October pilot of the month, heli skiing in Alaska, being an expert line dancer, and now being able to fly as a private pilot, she’s seriously a bad ass. Adventure is this woman’s middle name and it’s truly no surprise to see how incredibly far Hayli has come throughout her flight training. She’s an incredible human being and an incredible pilot. Let’s give this aviatrix a huge round of applause on this absolutely amazing accomplishment. And while we’re at it, let’s give Hayli’s flight instructor, Eric Harned, a huge thank you for supporting Hayli every step of the way through her flight training... even if she called you fat a couple times. Amazing work you guys! Hayli, you can finally start reading your books again (and I’m not talking about the FAR/AIM).
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“Louize! Louize over here— Louize, tell us who you’re wearing tonight— Louize, what an incredible performance in The Hunt for Red October— Louize, what’s even more incredible is the fact that you’re a private pilot now!” You heard it here folks, the fantastic and surely famous Louize Borras has conquered her private pilot checkride! From balancing vacationing in Cabo for her birthday, signing autographs for her fans, and ensuring the safety of her passengers as an Alaska flight attendant, she’s done it all and flight training at the same time! Louize is a fantastic human being. When she’s not making us belly laugh in the office, she’s probably tabbing her FAR/AIM to perfection, flying like a madwoman, or spending time with her lovely doggies. Louize, we are so incredibly proud of you and all the incredible hard work you’ve put into your training. This milestone is every bit deserved, and we can’t wait to see what you achievement next. Let’s give Louize and her flight instructor, Andrew Spanier, who has been with her every step of the way along this journey, a huge round of applause! Congratulations you two! Time to take a hard-earned nap.
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Well, well , well… if it isn’t Elliot Fehr impressing us yet again but now as a private pilot! That’s right, November’s GBA pilot of the month and trouble child (just kidding 😉) has finally done it and conquered the notorious PPL checkride! Battling weather left and right, Elliot has been trying to not lose his mind (alongside us… this guy never leaves us alone) as he patiently waited for the weather to finally break free and allow him to flaunt his stuff. Suffice to say, the day has finally come, and he can now grace the skies of the greater Reno area and beyond as a private pilot. Elliot has been working incredibly hard to get to this point in his training. From balancing home renovations, commuting from the lake, baking to his heart’s content, living his life as a tech wizard and GBA website guru, and spending time with his best friend Oscar (who’s a dog by the way…), all while learning how to fly, Elliot has shown us that with extreme dedication and passion, any goal is achievable. Let’s give Elliot and his princess flight instructor, Andrew Spanier, a huge congratulations on this incredible accomplishment! Amazing work Elliot, now go take a nap and enjoy skies!
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Tommy Kelly, a high-flyer both in the sky and in life, just took his aviation journey to new heights by earning his instrument rating! Hailing from Truckee, California, Tommy has always had a knack for seeing things from a unique perspective—whether it’s capturing star-studded moments as a photographer at the Academy Awards or soaring through the clouds with his kids in tow. His recent achievement in aviation shows that Tommy’s skills go far beyond just pointing a camera; now he’s confidently navigating through clouds with instruments, instead of just focusing on a lens. Between family fun and flight school, this dad is truly ‘taking off’ in every sense. With his instrument rating now in hand, Tommy’s ready to ‘navigate’ the skies with precision, making every flight a first-class adventure! Huge congrats to Tommy and a big shout-out to his CFII, Shane Smith, for helping him reach this sky-high milestone!
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​Heute, we celebrate Jürgen Hirt’s latest achievement in his aviation journey: his Commercial Pilot’s License! Jürgen is ready to take off into the skies, bringing a little German precision to every flight! A recent graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, with a degree in Economics, Jürgen’s journey to aviation has been a smooth ascent—thanks to his knack for detail, which he sharpened as a bassoon player in the UNR orchestra. Originally from Augsburg, Germany, he’s now ready to offer his flying services for hire, ensuring your experience is German-engineered for perfection. Whether you’re looking for a quick flight or a scenic Bavarian-styledetour, Jürgen’s steady hand and calm demeanor will keep you on course. Special thanks to his CFI, Richard Brong, for helping him navigate this milestone with precision! Ready to take off? Jürgen’s here to make your flight experience as smooth as a German beer!
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