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    Brayden Bishop Soloed!!

    He’s fearless, he’s kindhearted, he’s driven, and he’s GBA’s most recent solo pilot! But who could it be? Well, it couldn’t be anyone other than the fantastic Brayden Bishop! If you’re thinking, “Where have I seen this guy before?” it’s probably because he’s quite literally here every day—either studying hard for ground school or flying like the madman he is. And if not that, then you might remember him as our GBA February Pilot of the Month! Brayden is an incredible aviator, and today he faced the ultimate challenge: kicking his flight instructor, Andrew Spanier, out of the plane and taking to the skies solo! He flew to glory in N37JA off Runway 8 at KRTS. When Brayden’s not spending every hour at Atlantic chasing his dreams, you’ll find him soaking up the great outdoors, hanging with his family, cooking up masterpieces in the kitchen, or exploring the open road on his motorcycle. Let’s give Brayden and Andrew a huge round of applause for this awesome milestone. Amazing work, you two! Brayden, we have no doubt that you will absolutely crush your checkride in the coming months! Keep flying!
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    Kiera Grange is an Instrument Rated Pilot!!

    Today marks an illustrious occasion, as the fair and formidable Scholarship Queen herself—Kiera Grange—checks yet another incredible milestone off her ever-impressive docket. That’s right, fellow townsfolk, gather 'round and rejoice, for the queen has officially passed her instrument checkride and can now soar through the clouds with full IFR glory! (Okay, okay—I’ll drop the queen act before Kiera embraces it too quickly and has us all bowing down to her royal highness. Just kidding… mostly 😉.) Let’s be real: Kiera is a whirlwind of drive and determination. She’s always reaching for the next big, bold goal—and more often than not, she gets it, usually while snagging scholarships along the way like it's a competitive sport. In the midst of juggling the demanding world of flight training, devouring study material, conquering Bob’s infamous instrument ground school, training for triathlons, and working approximately a trillion and one jobs, Kiera has conquered her instrument rating. And honestly? No one is surprised. Let’s give a massive round of applause to Kiera—and a heartfelt shoutout to her CFII, Danny Britson, who guided Kiera every step of the way. Incredible work, both of you! Keep soaring, Kiera—that commercial checkride is just around the corner!
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    Alexander Florez is an Instrument Rated Pilot!!

    A huge congratulations to Alex Florez, who successfully passed his instrument checkride today! With his newly polished instrument skills, he’s ready to take on the clouds with confidence and precision. When he’s not soaring through IFR conditions, you can catch him revving up his engines on the ground—whether it’s at the gym, or behind the wheel of a car, Alex is all about horsepower and high performance. One thing’s for sure: this guy doesn’t just lift off, he lifts heavy too. Huge congratulations to Alex and his flight instructor, Shane Smith, who instructed Alex on the ins and outs of navigating through the stormy world of instrument flying. Alex, as you cruise into this new chapter of your flying, one thing is clear: the skies might be overcast, but your future is looking bright!
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    Alex Monroe is Instrument Rated!!

    Alex Monroe, a high-flyer both in the sky and in life, just took his aviation journey to new heights by earning his instrument rating! When he's not out skiing down the slopes or working the line at Stellar Aviation, you can bet he's in his trusty Cub, flying in true bush-pilot style. Whether it’s navigating tricky backcountry airstrips or flying through those low visibility days, Alex now has the skills to handle it all with confidence and precision. 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. After those grueling hours under the foggles, it’s time to take them off and enjoy the views. Let’s give Alex, and his CFII, Ryan Mill, a huge congratulations on this amazing achievement!
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    Yeeeee Haw! Derrick Craine is a Commercial Pilot!

    From Georgia to the sky, Derrick Craine is ready to peach his way to new heights with his commercial pilot’s license! Our line tech warrior, biggest smile award winner, loudest laugh echoing down the hallway, and Waffle House aficionado is now a pilot for hire! Derrick is no stranger to handling pressure, whether it’s on the football field at the University of Tennessee or in the cockpit. When Derrick’s not flying, you’ll find him in South Lake Tahoe, either chasing after his daughter’s latest adventure or swinging for birdies on the golf course—because even when he’s grounded, he’s still aiming high! While we love giving Derrick 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. The next time you see this country fella, give him some of that southern hospitality and wish him a huge congratulations, he’s certainly earned it! Awesome job, Derrick! And a huge shoutout to his CFI Eric Harned! We hear CFI is right around the corner…
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    Mitchell Martin Soloed!!

    *Deep gravely voice* It’s Sunday, Sunday, SUNDAYYY! And today you’re in for a thrill as you watch the epic Mitchell Martin soar to extreme heights as he solos at KRNO on runway 17L in N752DW *crowd cheering*! Mitchell Martin has some pretty amazing motorcycle skills (hence me trying to be a monster truck announcer… just role with it) and today he took to the skies and absolutely dominated the pattern here at KRNO while his flight instructor, Eric Harned, watched form the sidelines with a big smile on his face. Mitchell has been dreaming of this moment for a while now… I mean, when you’re an adrenaline junky like this guy, how can you not? Battling weather delays and fighting the wind, Mitchell finally found his window of opportunity and capitalized on it. When Mitchell isn’t studying hard, flying like a madman, or riding motorcycles, you can find him laying down some smooth saxophone jams, enjoying the powder on his skis, or gorging himself on a big ol’ plate of pizza and wings. Mitchell, it’s so awesome to see you reach this incredible milestone. Let’s give Mitchell and Eric Harned a huge round of applause on this absolutely amazing achievement!! Awesome work, Mitchell! Keep up the momentum! 
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