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    Bryson Soloed!!

    Bryson Gay, GBA’s student pilot/metalhead, soloed!! That’s right, he absolutely rocked KRTS runway 26 in N670CS like a true metal legend. Bryson has been headbanging his way through training, working relentlessly to hit this major milestone, and today, his hard work finally hit all the right notes. But Bryson is no stranger to hard work – he's one of Great Basin Aviation's top plane washers, coming in a few times a month to ensure your planes shine like a freshly polished guitar before a gig. Bryson's dedication is as hardcore as a double bass pedal solo, and his commitment to keeping our planes pristine shows he's not just a rock star in the cockpit but also on the ground. Huge shoutout to his CFI Alex Spencer, the ultimate lead guitarist in this epic aviation band, for guiding Bryson through his journey to the top of the charts! Today, Bryson took to the skies and showed us all what it means to rock and roll. Keep those wings shredding and those engines roaring, Bryson! You're flying high now – keep rocking those skies! ​
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    Eric is a CFII!

    You might be thinking, "Wait a minute, isn’t that Eric Harned?! GBA CFI? " Yes, it is! Eric took a break from teaching all of you today and instead taught the examiner a thing or two about instrument flying. Even in the perils of skyrocketing temperatures, Eric managed to stay cool enough to earn his CFII certificate! As if Eric wasn’t already juggling enough titles—CFI, husband, Dad, and President/Founder of the FAR AIM Tabbers—he now has CFII to add to his ever-growing business card titles. Eric started out at GBA way back when, and we practically had to beg him to come back as a CFI. You know if we begged for him to teach here, he must be pretty great! Just ask anyone who’s flown with him. We love giving Eric a hard time, but if you’ve met him, you know he’s one of the most humble, kindest, and compassionate instructors around (even if he insists on being modest about it). We’re super excited to celebrate this accomplishment with him. Excellent work, Eric—it’s certainly well deserved. And let’s not forget the legendary Jedi Master and CFII, Richard Brong, who guided Eric along his path to victory. Congratulations to both of you! If you see Eric around on the flight line or in the office, make sure to give him a huge congrats on this awesome achievement!
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    Crazy Court is a Private Pilot!

    You know her, you’ve seen her, and you’ve definitely heard her… That’s right everyone, none other than the fantastic Court Salzman is a certified private pilot! There’s so much to talk about when it comes to this lady. From making the trek up from the lake, working two jobs, doing arts and crafts with Hailey, spreading out her one-dollar bills in the office, being the study group queen, and torturing her instructor in the airplane… it’s an understatement to say that Court’s got a passion for flying. Starting before the heat and blooming thunderstorms this afternoon, as much as we’d like to say that she came in calm and collected for her flight, if you know Court, you know she’s the farthest thing from calm (just kidding 😉). She buckled down, put on her flower shoes, and got the job done. When she’s not freeloading at Atlantic or flying to her heart’s content, you can find Court snuggling and hiking with her furry friend, Chewy, or shredding the Sierra Nevada slopes on her snowboard. Huge congratulations to Court on this incredible accomplishment! And we can’t forget to mention her wonderful instructor, Grant Muzzio, who helped her reach this tremendous milestone and who had to endure the most of Court’s crazy! Go celebrate, Court! But please do it in moderation… you’ve got a flight in the morning 😁.

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    C172 to F-22

    While we were all holed up indoors enjoying some A/C during this first hot day in Reno, Couper was soaring to new heights on 17L at KRNO in N37JA. No need to sweat—leave that to the instructor watching from the ramp! Couper, our future Air Force Aviator, gave the tower a show as he imagined himself behind the controls of his future ride, an F-22 Raptor. For now, he'll have to settle for the "fighter jet" of flight training—a C172, zooming through the skies with style and precision. This solo flight is just the beginning for Couper. His determination and skill have already set him on a flight path toward greatness, Air Force Academy and beyond. We can already see him carving through the clouds, performing aerial acrobatics, and mastering the skies in his future Air Force career. Stay tuned—you'll hear more about Couper before he launches into his next big adventure later this summer. This young aviator is destined for great things; we couldn't be prouder! Awesome job, Couper! Great job as well to his CFI, Eric Harned!
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    Chris Soloed!!

    ​Big congrats to Chris Pozarski on his first solo flight! Chris Pozarski just soloed at KRNO, runway 17L, in N37JA! Chris has an incredible spirit and work ethic, and he’s managed to master this amazing milestone despite his busy schedule. When he’s not flying, you can find him rolling and grappling on the Jiu Jitsu mats! Chris’s journey to his first solo flight has been marked by incredible focus and finesse. Just like in Jiu Jitsu, where he expertly navigates through holds and submissions, Chris has applied the same level of concentration and precision to his flight training. His dedication, both in the cockpit and on the mats, is truly inspiring. You’ve choked out every challenge and arm-barred every obstacle in your path to reach this point. Keep flying high, and keep rolling strong! Huge shoutout to his CFI, Alex Spencer, for being an awesome coach both in the sky and on the ground! Here’s to many more successful flights! The sky’s the limit for you, Chris! Keep up the fantastic work and continue to soar!
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    Andrew is a CFII!

    ​Congratulations to Andrew Spanier on earning his CFII! Andrew, our instructor with the perfect locks, now has an extra fancy acronym on his business cards! Not too bad for a flight instructor by day and accountant by night. If you’ve attended the Monday night study groups he leads, you already know and love (or kinda like) him – and if you haven’t, you’re missing out on some top-notch aviation wisdom (and probably some excel spreadsheet tips). Andrew has been with Great Basin Aviation from the beginning, and his story is one of determination and perseverance. He was working full-time as an accountant, helping out on the line on weekends, and leaving some DNA on a flap edge, he was here any free moment he had. And look at him now – living the aviation dream, teaching all of you, whether it be in ground or flight, and looking good while doing it! His story inspires us all, proving that with hard work and passion, you can truly soar to new heights. Huge shoutout to Andrew and a big thanks to his CFII, Richard Brong, for helping him achieve this milestone. We can't wait to see what's next for Andrew – maybe another acronym or two?
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