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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).  “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.  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!  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!  Reed Bennett has officially earned his Certified Flight Instructor-Instrument (CFII) rating! After months of hard work, determination, and expert guidance from his instructor and dad, Bob Bennett, Reed has reached this impressive milestone in his aviation journey.As Reed prepares to head to Alaska for work, this new achievement couldn’t have come at a better time. With the vast, rugged terrain and unpredictable weather of the Last Frontier ahead, Reed is more than ready for the challenges that await. Whether it’s flying through mountain ranges or navigating tricky weather patterns, this CFII rating is sure to serve him well on every flight. A huge congratulations to Reed for this remarkable accomplishment, and of course, a big shout-out to Bob for his unwavering support and instruction throughout the process. Reed’s journey is just getting started, and with his skills and determination, there’s no doubt he’ll continue to reach new heights. Keep soaring, Reed—Alaska’s skies won’t know what hit them!  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!  Joe Arango: certified Atlantic Aviation line technician, evening line tech for GBA, and now instrument rated pilot! That’s right, everyone! Joe has officially conquered the world of IFR flying, proving once again that his dedication to aviation knows no bounds. From keeping the ramp running smoothly to grinding through endless instrument approaches, he’s been fully immersed in aviation from every angle—and today, it all paid off! If you’ve ever met Joe, you know he doesn’t just dabble in aviation—he lives it. Balancing work, training, and those long nights deciphering approach plates, he’s put in the time, effort, and sheer determination to master the art of flying in the clouds. Whether he was begging his instructor to peek outside or perfecting his approaches, Joe has shown exactly what it takes to succeed in instrument flying: patience, focus, and an unshakable drive. A huge congratulations to Joe and his CFII, Ryan Mill, on this incredible milestone! The skies just got a little smoother with Joe at the controls. We can’t wait to see what he tackles next!  If there’s one thing we know about Taylor Pritchard, it’s that he doesn’t do anything halfway. Whether it’s dominating GeoGuessr, racing his bike, or being the best dog dad to his dachshund, Minnie—Taylor is always chasing the next big adventure. For example, just yesterday he was shredding down the slopes, and today? Well, he’s officially a commercial pilot! That’s right everyone, Taylor is officially a pilot for hire! Taylor’s journey to the skies has been fueled by pure determination, countless hours of training, and an unshakable passion for aviation. From his early days as a flight sim fanatic to becoming a real-world flying machine, he has pushed himself every step of the way. His commitment and love for the craft have set him apart as he continues his path toward becoming a professional pilot. A huge congratulations to Taylor on this massive accomplishment and a big thank you to his flight instructor, Shane Smith, for helping him refine his skills and reach this milestone. Knowing Taylor, this is just another chapter in his adventure-filled life, and we absolutely can’t wait to see what he takes on next! Keep soaring high, Taylor!  Oh lawrd y’all. Say your prayers, because it’s finally happened. The troublemaker you all know and love, Nick Sundstrom, has once again surpassed another incredible milestone and earned his commercial rating today! From the baby steps of solo, the rigor of instrument, the pride in earning pilot of the month, and now being a pilot for hire, Nick Sundstrom has truly shown us all that his unwavering dedication and love for aviation has allowed him to conquer some of the most challenging of aviation goals. Whether he’s flying across the United States in his family’s RV, nailing his power-off 180s, or drilling in his ground, Nick does it all with an insatiable grit and passion. While we thrive off of giving Nick a hard time, it has truly been a privilege to watch him conquer one checkride after the next, making him that much closer to his dream of flying professionally. Let’s give Nick and his partner in crime/ flight instructor, Ryan Mill, a huge congratulations on getting to this amazing milestone. We can’t wait to see what Nick accomplishes next!  |
AuthorAll posts are either written by Great Basin Aviation's staff or shared articles from other aviation sites. Source will be referenced in post. Archives
April 2025
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