​From Cessnas to Cirruses, Pipers to Pilatuses, Multis to Mullets, this newly minted commercial pilot has it all! Today Mason Koonce aced his checkride in N328ME making this the third rating this talented pilot has earned from Great Basin Aviation. When Mason isn’t flying with his family in the bigger toys, you can find him on the golf course or on one of Nevada’s great off-road opportunities. Or, maybe sick in bed because he insists on wearing shorts when it is 30 degrees out. But, what an incredible pilot!! Congratulations to you, Mason, and to your instructor, Kurtis Hornung! Hard work definitely pays off. 

​Trevor Shamblin soloed!!! He was sure to close the baggage door this time before heading out to KRTS and sharing the runway 14 pattern with other GBA airplanes! Trevor is a family man and engineer at the Tahoe-Truckee sanitation plant. He carefully balances his flight training with his work responsibilities and still manages to spend time with his wife and 7-month-old. Trevor arrived at GBA earlier this month with a few hours in his logbook and a ton of ambition, which drove him full steam ahead to achieve this awesome milestone in his piloting career! You will never forget that first taste of freedom. Congratulations to Trevor and his CFI Cody Lucero!!

​What is Beethoven’s favorite fruit? Ba-na-na-naaa…. Yes, terrible joke, but fitting for our newest soloed student Jackson Phillips. Jackson is the Drum major for Spanish Springs High School. Usually, you can find him stirring up treble, but today his flying skills did not skip a beat as Jackson soloed at KRTS, runway 08, in N670CS. He let his CFI Chazz out of the plane on the ramp and was Bach after a few laps. To say Jackson has his bands full is an understatement. He has a huge commitment to his school in leading the marching band, finishing up high school plus ground school and flying. Continue to B sharp and keep in step and private pilot will be here in now time. Amazing accomplishment Jackson!! Congratulations to Jackson and Chazz!

​Our October pilot of the month is Enrique Calderon!  When he's not photographing area events or starring in local commercials, Enrique has been spending a lot of time in the Northern Nevada skies!  Always early and eager to learn, Enrique has completed his solo flight, solo cross-countries, and night flights all in the last month.  Now, the dedicated husband and father is tackling checkride preparations with the same enthusiasm he's shown throughout his training.  It won't be long before there's another GBA private pilot in the air - and that's just the beginning!  Congratulations!