Every day we get to do what we love, living our lives off the ground and a lot of times behind a desk too. We maintain a comfortable yet very professional atmosphere, conducive to learning and growing as a pilot and enjoying the fellowship that comes with being an aviator. The team at Great Basin Aviation are skilled professionals with several years of experience preparing students for the aviation industry. 

Jennifer Fonda
Owner

Jennifer is owner of Great Basin Aviation and a licensed pilot. She loves anything and everything aviation and is a proud advocate for it in our schools and communities. Jenn loves being part of the celebration with aviation students from solo to CFII. She also proudly serves in the Navy Reserves. In her spare time she enjoys outdoor activities, attending sporting events with her family, and traveling. ​
Contact Jenn 

Richard Brong
Director of Operations and Academics

Richard has been enamored with all things flying from an early age and earned his pilot's wings here in Reno in 2006. He has continued his training and has been active in many roles of the local aviation community ever since. He has spent 20 years of his working life as an educator and has combined his talents with that and aviation. Richard comes to Great Basin Aviation as an Advanced Ground Instructor and Certified Flight Instructor. Jennifer has promised to keep him busy helping in many capacities around the school, too. He is an aircraft owner and a family guy and also enjoys cycling, running, and just about anything outdoor.
​Contact Richard

Katie Newberry
Office Assistant

Katie's the friendly weekday face here at GBA! Katie has been passionate about aviation ever since she was a little girl watching her dad return home from deployment. She has since then, sought to follow in his footsteps to becoming a mobility pilot. She currently serves in the Nevada Air National Guard with hopes of achieving that goal one day soon. When she's not flying, working hard for GBA students, or serving with the Guard, you can find her hiking, mountain biking, finishing her bachelors degree, or spending time with her family! ​

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Nacayla Franey
​Office Assistant

Nacayla works at Great Basin on the weekends, attends UNR full time during the week, and works on her private pilot's license every chance she gets. She is getting her bachelor's degree in general studies with hopes of pursuing flying commercially. Nacayla has grown up around flying. Her dad is a pilot at Southwest. She recently made the jump into the aviation world, and she's loving every minute of it!

Not actually Noreen

Noreen Leary
​Office Assistant

If Noreen’s in the office it must be Wednesday.  Convinced by her dear friend Jenn to come out of retirement for five hours a week, Noreen is having lots of fun learning about flying and living vicariously through all of the GBA students and instructors.  When asked about getting her pilots license, she said, “Don’t think so, but then again, one never knows.”  Noreen, retired CEO of the Veterans Guest House, is still figuring out what to do with all this free time. She loves getting together with friends, traveling, good scotch, photography and “trying” to play the ukulele.