• Published on

    Alex Soloed!!

    Hold onto your seatbelts because the sky just got a little friendlier—Alex Florez just soloed! Our perpetually positive Alex hopped into N328ME at KSPZ, runway 24, and danced through the clouds like no one was watching (except, well, his CFI, the other pilots in the pattern, and us here in the office watching him on Flight Radar). Now, we all know Alex loves flying, except when the temperatures rival the fiery pits of Mordor. Luckily, today's winter weather spared him the discomfort, and the sky was as cool as the other side of the pillow. The air was calm, the sky was frosty, and Alex's flying skills were smoother than a freshly waxed C172. Alex has been acing his training, all while gracefully dodging Hailey's "motivational" ground school messages (get your ground school done Alex!!) All kidding aside, awesome job Alex!! Huge congratulations as well to his CFI, Shane Smith, for keeping up with this flying sensation.
    Picture
  • Published on

    Court Soloed!!

    ​Did you all survive the seismic event this morning? Oh, wait, that wasn't an earthquake—it was just Court Salzman belting out the victory cry after soloing at KSPZ, runway 24 in N37JA! If you know Court, quiet and mild are not words in her vocabulary. Court, one of our commuting pilots from the Lake, managed to squeeze in lessons leading up to her unforgettable solo flight between attending our "world-famous" Monday night study group and, holding down not one, but two jobs. And, who can forget her pooch, Chewie. Busy is an understatement for this lady. Because, you know, who needs sleep when you're conquering the skies? Kudos to Court for keeping the office entertained. Your 3-D printed wonders are the talk of the town—or at least the talk of our very exclusive GBA circle. Let's not forget Court's stellar CFI, Grant Muzzio, who deserves a round of applause for not pulling his hair out during this wild ride. Congratulations, Court! We're all so excited for your newfound solo status. Just do not break anything 😉
    Picture
  • Published on

    Pablo is Instrument Rated!

    Pablo Stein, the Rochester rocket, has officially mastered the skies in Reno by earning the tough Instrument Rating! Navigating the skies with the finesse of a seasoned pilot, Pablo's journey mirrors the stunning landscapes of the Sierra Nevada. As he takes a moment to savor success, our focus shifts to encouraging him towards the next goal – securing his Commercial certification. In that celebration, we are letting him have a little break so he can travel to Chile for the Holiday and visit family. Then, once he returns, it is back to the books, and sky, for this guy! Kudos to Pablo's CFII, Ryan Mill, for steering him through the clouds with precision. Join us in applauding Pablo Stein, a rising star in Reno's aviation scene. We look forward to witnessing his continued journey towards a Commercial Pilot Certificate.
    Picture
  • Published on

    Dan is a commercial pilot!!

    Breaking through the clouds and making waves in the sky, Dan Newton is now a Commercial Pilot! Between today’s storm cells and moments of sunshine, Dan, our full-time hydrologist, proved he's not just mastering water, land, and sky in his day job. Today, he demonstrated that he can navigate the friendly skies with finesse and within commercial standards, plus, does this guy know his FAA regulations. Amidst the turbulence of hard work, dedication, and countless hours, Dan's achievement shines as brightly as a sunlit river. Dan, you've successfully added 'cloud surfing' to your hydrology toolkit! Here's to conquering new horizons and making a splash in the aviation world. Congratulations on earning your Commercial Pilot wings! Major kudos as well to his CFI, Greg Rudman, for being the co-pilot on this hydrological flight.
    Picture
  • Published on

    Nick Soloed!!

    Not a bad way to end a Tuesday… Nick Sundstrom just earned his solo wings – and not just for his double-jointed thumb skills! This airborne extraordinaire tasted the sweet freedom of solo flight at KRTS, runway 08, in the one and only N328ME. Coming all the way from enchanting Bucharest, Romania, Nick isn't just here for the flight training at GBA – though that's definitely a perk. When he's not dodging Hailey's motivational ground school reminders, Nick is out there, scaling rocks, shredding slopes, and giving gravity a run for its money. And here's the kicker—Nick can now celebrate this awesome milestone with his favorite meal: a burrito. So, not only can he defy gravity, but he can also tackle a burrito the size of a small aircraft! Big shout-out to his CFI and fellow outdoor enthusiast, Ryan Mill, for keeping up with this high-flying, double-jointed maestro. Nick, here's to more solo flights, gravity-defying escapades, and maybe even a few thumb-wrestling championships, all celebrated with a burrito in hand!
    Picture
  • Published on

    Grant Soloed!!

    ​What a beautiful day for some flying, and what an even better day to solo! That’s right everyone, Grant White, aviation fanatic and secret chef who’s on par with Gordan Ramsey, soloed this morning at KRTS on rwy 8 with his instructor, Alex Spencer, watching from the sidelines! After kicking out Alex, Grant made his way to the busy KRTS traffic pattern and handled the pressure with a cool and calm domineer. As if his cooking skills weren’t already impressive, Grant put the cherry on top when he buttered all of his landings with incredible finesse. Thinking he could walk into the office without saying a word, Grant was surely proven wrong as Hailey uncovered the truth and proceeded to scold him and his instructor on their deceit… nothing gets past the GBA crew 😉. When Grant’s not flying, you can find him at home cooking up a storm, hunting, fishing, or enjoying a big plate of Mexican food. Grant has been working diligently to get to this point in his training, and it’s easy to say that that hard work has finally paid off! Huge congratulations to Grant and his instructor, Alex Spencer, on this amazing accomplishment! Now go celebrate, Grant! Next step is checkride prep 😉.
    Picture