​Ending the week, and the month on a high note, Reed Bennett passed his private pilot checkride today!! If the checkride doesn’t make you nervous already, Reed not only flew with a new examiner in the right seat, but also a FAA Administrator in the back seat. He showed them his skills as the flew around the Stagecoach/Silver Springs area and then greased his landing back into KRNO and heard the words every private pilot applicant wants to hear, “Congratulations, you are a pilot!” Reed has been flying relentlessly the past couple months to earn this privilege. The added stresses of the checkride didn’t phase Reed. He almost aced his written so he was well prepared for the oral and the flight was next to perfection. Congratulations as well to his instructor Bob Bennett! 

Congratulations to Ethan Chinowsky who earned his Commercial Pilot's License today!! Ethan is on the fast track. Recently earned his Private Pilot and Instrument. However, he has been flying for several years in New Zealand on that license. It is in his blood...Ethan flew a plane before he could drive a car. Ethan is also a full time mechanical engineering student at UNR (Go Pack!!) and a supervisor at the UNR Starbucks. Next step is CFI which he is already working on. Awesome job Ethan and congrats as well to his instructors Matt Stubblefield and Ryan McMaster! ​

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Congratulations to Mark Montague who earned his CFII rating today!! Talk about an accomplished aviator...Mark is a retired United Captain, Gold Seal Instructor, our area's Glider DPE, and also is Great Basin Aviation’s Chief CFI. Mark brings so much experience to GBA, as well as a huge supply of wit and jokes :) We are beyond fortunate to have him as part of the team. We are so happy for Mark and the instruction and experience he can now pass on to instrument students. Congratulations as well to his instructor Eric Tallberg! ​

Congratulations to David Mansfield who now is a licensed pilot!! David passed his checkride in N37JA today as the wind gave him some extra challenges while he showed off his skills for his examiner. It never fails, when David flies, the weather gets a bit crazy. Today was no different. He managed 22 knot gusts in Carson and crosswind landings in Dayton then bounced his way back into Reno and was given his temporary certificate. David’s path to private pilot was a family affair. His four kids (5-11) and his wife sat around the table and learned flight planning and helped him study for his knowledge test and oral exam. There will definitely be a huge Brother’s BBQ celebration at the Mansfield house tonight! Congratulations as well to his instructor Nick Mahan! David is wasting no time and starting right in on his instrument rating. We are so happy for you David!

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A great way to end a Tuesday is with another new private pilot!! Congratulations to Taylor Poulin who earned his private pilot today! Taylor has been flying with instructor Matt Stubblefield the last several months and today all that hard work paid off! Taylor demonstrated his pilot proficiency in N328ME with his examiner as they flew around our practice areas. Taylor currently serves our Country and while he has been flight training with GBA, he also earned a pilot slot so he will be soon have a position in a military cockpit. Congratulations Taylor!! We are very happy for you and your next adventure. Today is definitely worth a celebration!! ​

David Berman is a private pilot!! Congratulations to this Christmas loving, powder shredding, hard working guy! David has been working on his PPL on and off and came back a couple months ago with the goal to get his license and today he did! David almost aced the written exam which helped him breeze through the oral. Then, today, he showed that same proficiency in flight, parked the plane and received that congratulatory handshake from his examiner. Congratulations as well to his instructor Bob Bennett! Enjoy the freedom this awesome achievement now allows! ​

Congratulations to Hobeen Lee, GBA’s newest private pilot!! Hobeen moved to Reno from Tennessee last spring to work on his PPL with his instructor Stephen Weaver. Hobeen loves aviation! Helped in the GBA office and on the line in between his flight and ground lessons. Hobeen demonstrated his flight proficiency in N752DW and greased his landing back into Reno to then hear the great news that he passed!! We are so happy for you Hobeen!! ​

Congratulations to Casey Dwyer who is now licensed to fly the friendly skies!! Casey earned his private pilot today in N670CS as he flew around eastern Nevada showing off his skills. Casey has been dedicated the last 6 months and flying as much as his schedule will allow. His goal is to now have more fun and do some aerobatic flying. Pull a few more G’s than what the Cessna 172 allows :) Congratulations as well to his instructor Stephen Weaver! Awesome job Casey!! ​