Nicole Gonzalez is a Private Pilot!! The young aviatrix who was the first to call the C152 “Baby Plane,” flew it through her private pilot maneuvers and finished with being issued a temporary certificate! Nicole is relentlessly pursuing her passion for aviation. This is just the starting point for her as she plans to continue until piloting is a career. Just like most of our students, Nicole has overcome the obstacles of managing life, work, flight training, dealing with weather cancellations, etc. But she did it and now can take up her first passenger, her Dad :) In just two days Nicole earned her private pilot and also was offered a new job in the aviation field. We are so happy for you Nicole!! You definitely have taken charge of your own destiny and you're killing it! Congratulations as well to her CFI Ethan Chinowsky! ​

​A soloed student and a new CFI…kinda sounds like the start of a joke, but it is anything but that. Two incredible successes at GBA today! 

First, Jeremy Roberts soloed!! Early this morning he loaded a C172 up with his CFI, wife, and son then kicked them out on the ramp and let them watch as he soloed N328ME on runway 26 at KRTS. No pressure at all with the family watching. He did a great job and now has time logged in that PIC column with much more to come. And he did not even break anything (if you know Jeremy and his CFI, you would understand). Jeremy has been getting lessons in between his work with the State, the incredible Nevada outdoor activities he loves, and spending time with his beautiful family. Huge congratulations to Jeremy and his CFI Tristan Armstrong!! It is an awesome accomplishment and worth losing the back of your shirt over. 


Second, long time Flying Start Aero/GBA pilot Dawsen DiPietro is now a CFI!! He earned his private pilot with John Brown then left for Auburn University. Dawsen has been working hard and completing ratings and certificates during his time in east-central Alabama. He came home for a few weeks this summer and earned his CFI. He will now return to Auburn and start teaching the next group of safe and proficient pilots. We are so excited for this incredible guy and the skills and love of aviation he will be passing onto his students. If you ever ran into Dawsen at the office or ramp, you know his enthusiasm is contagious. Any future pilot is lucky to have him in the right seat. Congratulations to Dawsen and his instructor Danny Britson! We will see you on the next school break. Go Tigers!! 

After the rain comes the rainbows and, in our case, solo flights! Mason Solberg soloed this morning in N37JA at KRTS! Mason took advantage of the calm morning to fly his first few solo laps and start logging time in that no longer empty column, PIC. This hard working young man is spending his summer going to school, ground school, and flying!! He is also one of the line guys responsible for you flying clean planes. He comes in during the off hours a couple times a week washing bellies and getting those plastered bugs off the planes. He is consistent with his lessons and on a great pace to complete his private pilot training before the summer is over. Huge congratulations to Mason on this most memorable flight and awesome job to his instructor Jacob Hetland for teaching him the skills to get there! ​