With the onset of bug season and decreased window visibility, it is wise to pursue the instrument rating . Not the reason Mustafa Shah took on the challenge, but today he was successful demonstrating he can focus on his instruments as he passed his instrument checkride!! Mustafa flew N752DW around Northern Nevada fulfilling the requirements of this difficult rating. Plus, he reported BREAD (our favorite). If Mustafa was nervous, he did not let it show. He was prepared for this moment. When he started training, he came prepped, having already completed his written and logging some PIC XC time. In the plane he is strictly business, but outside, he talks about his love of flying, especially the technical side. He has been known to get slightly annoyed when he is half a degree off on an approach. Mustafa is always aiming for perfection. Must run in the family because this UNR Alumni is the child of two surgeons. I am sure they are super proud of this awesome accomplishment. Congratulations to Mustafa and his CFII Ethan Chinowsky!


​****To clarify, even with the bugs, you can still see out the window. We do regularly clean them. Meant to be a joke ****

Greg Rudman soloed!! The former NASA cyber security rocket man, turned pilot, soloed at KRTS this morning in N37JA. His CFI, Jack Darlington, stood shivering on the side of the runway watching Greg perform with ease. Greg was in no hurry to let Jack back in as that bit of freedom is an indescribable feeling and you never want it to end. Greg is a pretty accomplished fella. Has his masters in cyber security and still works full time in the industry. When he has time off, he is not out phishing (haha!), he is listening to live ATC, acing his knowledge exam, and flying around northern Nevada. Greg is also a joy to have around the office and ramp. Like the F5 key…so refreshing. As much as he loves flying and he being at the airport, there is no place like 127.0.0.1 where he can study chill with his cats. Another awesome accomplish to add to Greg’s success. That private pilot will be here before you know it. Congratulations to Greg and Jack! And, a friendly PSA, think before you click :) ​

What does it take to be a CFI? Ask Northern Nevada’s newest addition to the instructor pool! Austin White accomplished the next milestone in his aviation career by showing the examiner his ability to maintain calm and cool while a ‘simulated student’ does their best to upset the proverbial apple cart. Austin flew in N495SP, his favorite bird, all around the neighborhood and danced in the less than perfect flight conditions. Once he finished, he heard the hard earned “Congratulations!” from the examiner. I think you may be seeing more of Austin in the future. Excellent work to you and your instructor Danny!

House it going everyone?! Local star realtor and GBA’s best dressed student, Kaitlyn Lera, is on cloud nine this morning because she is officially a soloed pilot! After a couple of successful practice landings, Kaitlyn kicked out her instructor, Ethan Chinowsky, and buttered N37JA onto runway 8 at KRTS! But KRTS obviously wasn’t enough, so with some extra time, Kaitlyn kicked out her instructor, yet again (we don’t blame her), and did another beautiful lap back at KRNO. With her home in Minden, Kaitlyn makes the impressive trek up to Reno to pursue her flight training, and with her success so far, Kaitlyn has interests in potentially making a career within the field! There’s so much to love about Kaitlyn, especially her fashion sense, and here is another impressive accomplishment to add to the list! Congratulations to Kaitlyn and her instructor Ethan Chinowsky!

My name is Tanner Barkowski and I am a Private Pilot…This is the affirmation statement GBA’s newest Private Pilot chanted (was forced to chant) again and again as he was preflighting N495SP for his nerve shaking flight. And it worked, Tanner Barkowski is a Private Pilot!! Tanner has been a figure here at GBA for a couple years as worked to earn his certificate while also finishing his bachelor’s degree, getting married, navigating life, serving in the Nevada Air National Guard, being the office story teller, and learning to fly. Talk about resiliency, he has definitely bounced back from the beatings that sometimes flight training (and the office staff) can throw at you. He is a solid example of hard work and never let us doubt how much he wants to be a career pilot. A huge celebration for completing this first step is in order. Congratulations to Tanner and his sweet wife Dani, who has put up with him as he work toward this goal. Awesome job as well to his CFI Ethan Chinowsky! 

​The Instrument Ground School set to start next week has been pushed back to starting Tuesday May 3rd. This lecture based, Instrument Ground School classes taught by CFI/CFII Bob Bennett, will still run for 6 weeks, every Tuesday and Thursday night from 6pm-9pm. Cost for class and books is $450. This class also requires electronic charts. Basic Foreflight subscription is all that is needed for chart access. Contact GBA for details.

All classes will be held at Atlantic Aviation. Active participation, attendance, and studying are key for class success. Successful completion of either ground school course satisfies the requirement needed in order to be eligible to take the FAA Knowledge Exam. 

Please reach out asap to secure your spot in the Instrument class! We look forward to helping you reach your aviation goals.

If you ever get a knock on your door because you are watering on the wrong day, it might be by the newest instrument rated pilot in Reno, Alex Ramirez!! Local water narc, Alex, put the foggles on and navigated with stability and precision despite the afternoon winds and burbles. He landed back at KRNO and got the congratulatory words that he is now rated for less than ideal visibility. When Alex isn’t friendly reminding you to turn your water off, he is working his other job in the medical field, bugging GBA office staff,  and staying busy being a motivated young aviator. We will let him celebrate tonight but tomorrow he starts hitting the books for his commercial certificate. Alex claims his dream job is to be a CFI/CFII with Great Basin Aviation (can you blame him?) so stay tuned you might his name a bit more in the next serval months. Huge congratulations to Alex and his CFIIs Danny Britson and Cody Lucero. 

And, to translate the above for Alex and anyone else who speaks in text, here you go :) 

If u eva gt a knock on ur door bc ure watering on da rong day, it mite be by da newest instrument rated pilot in Reno, Alex Ramirez!! Local h2o narc, Alex, put da foggles on n navigated w/ stability n precision despite da arvo winds n burbles. He landed bk @ KRNO n got da congratulatory words dat he is now rated 4 less than ideal visibility. wn Alex isn’t friendly reminding u to turn ur h2o off, he is working his other job in da medical field, bugging GBA office staff, n staying bz bng a motivated yng aviator. We wl let him celebrate 2nt but 2mr he starts hitting da books 4 his commercial certificate. Alex claims his drm job is 2b a CFI/CFII w/ gr8 Basin Aviation ( cn u blame him?) so stay tuned u mite his name a bit mor in da nxt serval months. Huge cg to Alex n his CFIIs Danny Britson n Cody Lucero.

While you were buttering your pancakes this morning, Lucas Murphy was buttering his landings at KRTS, runway 32 in N37JA. Lucas soloed!!! You betcha this Minnesota native was loving logging that solo PIC time, maybe throwing a wave or two at his CFI Troy who was proudly watching from the sidelines. Lucas is incredible and not just because he is a 365 day a year Santa, delivering Amazon, but also because he is another example of hard work and focus paying off. This Cheesehead’s favorite radio station is Live ATC, he is crushing it with ground school, and he knows his systems. His flying isn’t half bad either, dontcha know. Awesome way to kick off the weekend. Let the first of many aviation celebrations begin! Huge congratulations to Lucas and Troy Ware on this most memorable milestone. ​