• Published on

    3,591,360 minutes...we actually sat down and did the math

    Today, we (begrudgingly) say farewell to Kevin Marshall on his last day at GBA. Kevin started with us in October 2018 as a bright-eyed student pilot. Since then, he’s earned his private pilot license, instrument rating, and then we strong-armed him into being our line tech (sorry, not sorry).
    While managing the line and surviving under a notoriously tough office team, Kevin managed to complete his commercial and CFI. He passed the grueling CFI interview and officially became a GBA CFI. Recently, he added a CFII to his list of achievements!
    Now, Kevin is off to bigger things, flying charter in Las Vegas. While we’re sad to see him go, we’re thrilled for his new opportunity and confident he’ll continue to dazzle  and inspire. 
    Thanks for everything, Kevin! Best of luck on your new adventure. 🛫✈️ #GoodRiddanceKevin ​
    Picture
    Picture
  • Published on

    Reminder of Voluntary Noise Abatement for GBA

    You all have been doing really quite well in regards to flying respectfully in and around our flying area! I wanted to make sure everyone, especially our newer instructors, keeps that up. We don't want to saturate any single area with pattern or low altitude ops as that is what tends to get the non-aviators out there worked up. Remember that here at KRNO, GBA has some voluntary noise abatement procedures we'd like you to adhere to. Here is a reminder of what they are.

    • always make safety and ATC compliance a priority
    • avoid pattern work at KRNO before 8:00 AM or after 6:00 PM when possible
    • at all times, minimize unnecessary pattern work at KRNO in general (if you need to do a few laps, fine, but keep it to a minimum - see my old email below)
    • when 17 in use, extend departure leg past Rattlesnake Mountain if possible
    • request right traffic for 17 from time to time
    • maximize climb rate if safe while still over the airport and before turning away from the runway 
    • if you need to mass practice landings, try to do that at one of our satellite airports

    I also want to reshare an email I sent a while back with some thoughts on how you do pattern work. The whole idea was to keep lessons dynamic without getting too saturated in any one area. Here's the email:
    ----------------------------
    This email is coming after additional conversations with the noise analyst for the Airport Authority. I wanted to toss it out for you to consider in the hopes that one thing we can do to help our noise footprint is to consider how we teach landings. I will send out some abbreviated modifications to our procedures on WhatsApp but I also want you to consider how you teach landings. I'm pretty sure everyone would agree that landings are one of the most difficult tasks to master for new pilots.  

    Take a moment and dissect landings in your head. The pilot in training has to balance speed horizontally, speed vertically, engine power, spacing from other traffic, communicating on the radio, adjusting for wind, accuracy of touchdown point, anticipate possible unknowns, etc. Each sub-part is a complex task in itself but all together, whoa! How do we typically teach landings? Oftentimes, we go practice some of the sub-parts a few times then head to the pattern and start banging them out 1000 feet AGL and below in a high-workload, high-stress environment. 

    Often times we're going from Three Blind Mice to Flight of the Bumblebee without a lot of in-between. Educationally, we call that massed practice. I get it. We want students to make progress and there is a place for it. I'm suggesting we lean more on what is known as spaced practice - at least at first. Essentially in that, we divide up those sub-parts more and more expecting mastery with the sub-parts before stringing them altogether. We can practice those anywhere - even relatively low to the ground to gain comfort with ops at low altitudes. 

    If we push landings too hard, too often there will be a point of no return where learning stops and gains are minimal. When that happens, we end up going around and around in the pattern. Where that point of no return is varies by student but I have seen it in everyone. What I'd like to consider instead is something like this: 

    Take off Reno
    For your enroute portion, consider working on navigation skills, VOR, hood time, etc. 
    Fly to SPZ and make a few landings (could be any airport)
    Depart SPZ and head to the dry lake bed for a couple stalls, steeps, etc. 
    While enroute and at a low workload talk about the landings
    Head to CXP for a few more landings (could be any airport)
    Head back to RNO
    If time at RNO, maybe a few more landings

    What we've just done there is to break the lesson into parts keeping numerous skills alive but not to the point of overload. If prep is done efficiently, you can pack that much into a two-hour block. Now consider what we've just done to our impact to any single area. It might be a good way to enhance instruction at the same time as continuing our mission of being good stewards of aviation in the communities where we fly. 

  • Published on

    Sanddon is Instrument Rated!!

    Sanddon Sherwood-Kopko is now instrument-rated! Despite battling the high-pressure system of heat and dodging those turbulent afternoon thunderstorms, he showed the examiner he can navigate through clouds with the precision of a GPS approach but knows to steer clear of those thunderheads. Sanddon has been crushing it in the air and on the ground. As a full-time personal trainer (he's Instagram famous), he's been balancing his workouts with instrument approaches, holding patterns, and some heavy lifting in the form of family time. Between perfecting his glideslope and managing vectors to final, he's also taken his fair share of office harassment—all with a smile and a pretty sweet backpack. This guy's got the stamina of an endurance flight and the determination of a VOR approach in low visibility. Whether he's dodging weather or dodging office banter, Sanddon's dedication is clear: he's here to climb and maintain success. Great job, Sanddon! And a huge shoutout to his CFI, Nathan Morin, for guiding him through the IFR flight plans and the turbulence of training. Keep soaring high, and remember, in both workouts and flights, it's all about the journey and the destination!
    Picture
  • Published on

    Jennifer Won Gold and Got Her Private Pilot License!

    “On your mark, get set, go!” Jennifer Carey has been burning rubber since she was 13 years old and has been an unstoppable drag racing queen ever since! And as if Jennifer wasn’t already cool enough, Jennifer buckled up and brought home gold as she successfully became a private pilot today! That’s right everyone, while she might come off as a gentle soul, Jennifer is truly a forced to be reckoned with. From working as a surgical nurse, being a loving mother, leading Washoe County 4H clubs, and forcing one of our other students to study (her husband, who may or may have not have also gotten his PPL yesterday 😉), she’s proven that whether it be on the ground or in the air, her insurmountable grit and diligence have led her to achieving incredible accomplishments. Now every takeoff will feel like launching off the starting line and every landing will bring the satisfaction of chasing that checkered flag. Awesome work, Jennifer! Huge congratulations to Jennifer and her flight instructor, Nathan Morin, on achieving this incredible accomplishment! Now it’s time to relax and go get some food!
    Picture
  • Published on

    New Voluntary Traffic Flow for KRTS

    I visited with a tower supervisor and controller from KRNO today. They were very complimentary of the pilots and instructors at GBA - as always! Thank you for continuing to teach professionalism and high standards in all you do. They are working on a project to mitigate risk with traffic coming and going from KRTS. As it is now, traffic is often coming or going from Stead but could either be with KRNO Tower outbound from KRNO or on with NORCAL if coming in from KRTS. This is due to the close proximity of the two airports and the way traffic gets handed off. 

    The issue they are seeing is that traffic often gets a frequency switch from ATC (Approach to Tower, for example) but may immediately get a traffic alert due to the nature of this scene. They are trying to reduce the first response from ATC being a traffic alert. GBA is one of the biggest local 'flows' to and from the airport so we brainstormed a procedure I'd like folks to teach and to use. Best part is that it is simple. 

    When going to Stead, expect the normal right, downwind departure. Unless otherwise told, keep downtown on your left then keep Highway 395 on your left once you cross it. Do your thing at Stead. On the way back, leave the pattern at Stead appropriately then head west over Cold Springs. Pass over 395 and stay on the west side of it back inbound. ATC often asks us to fly to downtown then enter a right downwind for 17. Expect that and do it unless instructed otherwise! Keep 395 on your left inbound, too. Basically what we're doing is making an unofficial approach and departure corridor. See my picture here. 

    This should be super simple, easy to do, and not create any undue nonsense. Reach out if you have any questions. As usual, ATC instructions and safety always take priority. This is all just a request and an attempt to mitigate potential situations Reno ATC sees all the time. Thank you! 
    Picture
  • Published on

    Kevin Pulled the Trigger on Private Pilot!

    ​“Ka-caw, ka-caw”… what’s that noise? Well, it’s none other than Kevin Linderman luring in his checkride prey as he aims for the bullseye to success—and a successful hunt it was! That’s right everyone, Kevin Linderman came in calm and ready, channeling the same determination and focus he has when hunting, and became a private pilot today! Although he was a victim of winter weather delays, just as he tracks his game, Kevin pushed through with his hunter’s instinct and never lost sight of the prize right in front of him. From juggling the responsibilities of being a father, working full time, studying hard, and gawking over another one of our students (his wife 😉), Kevin has shown that it's not just about the end result, but the thrill of the hunt. Whatever it may be, from soaring out to the blue yonder to blazing down unexplored trails, Kevin’s newfound freedom will allow him to soar to unparalleled heights. Awesome job Kevin on this thrill-seeking accomplishment! Let’s also give a huge round of applause to his instructor, Nathan Morin, who has guided Kevin to mastery of the skies by aiming him down the path of success. Now it’s time to celebrate, woohoo!
    Picture