Great Basin Aviation

Grab your gear, pet your dalmatian, and slide down the fireman pole, because Kyle Brazil flew to success today and earned his private pilot license! If you couldn’t tell, Kyle is a local firefighter who’s always ready to save the day, but when he’s not responding to emergencies, he’s been moonlighting as a flight student here at GBA. While his passion for flying and firefighting is clear, Kyle’s also jokingly told us that his real dream is to be an underwater basket weaver when he grows up... just kidding ?? or maybe not, but hey, whatever the case we’ll let him dream! When he’s not working tirelessly towards his flight goals, Kyle spends time with his wonderful family, cooks up something delicious for his wife, and learns the ropes of parenthood. Let’s give a huge congratulations to Kyle and his flight instructor, Grant Muzzio, who’s helped guide him to this incredible achievement. We couldn’t be more proud of you, Kyle, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for you in your aviation adventure. Awesome job, Kyle! Keep up the amazing work!

The man, the legend, the hair (yes, his instructor is just a little jealous). Congratulations to Greg Anthenian on earning his Certified Flight Instructor rating! Greg is the most recent member to join the Zero to CFI club at GBA and has been with us from the very beginning, earning every rating with us! We couldn’t be more proud. What a milestone! From the moment he walked in asking about a Discovery Flight with his legendary locks, Greg’s charisma and drive were undeniable. Balancing a full-time job, long commutes from the lake, and rigorous study sessions, Greg blasted through his ratings and is now ready to teach others to soar. His dedication and self-discipline are exactly what it takes. Under the expert guidance of Richard Brong, his CFI with slightly more follicle challenges, Greg’s hard work has paid off. Here’s to you Greg!! We can’t wait to see you inspire the next generation of pilots!

What to do when weather clears? Take a checkride! Andy Glenn was at it again and is now an instrument rated pilot! Our tee-rific line tech has added yet another impressive skill: flying in the clouds! From fairways to flight plans, Andy’s dedication to precision is second to none. He approached his instrument training with the same focus and determination he brings to every round of golf—because when you’ve mastered the green (needles), navigating the skies is just the next natural step! And we can’t forget to shout out Andy’s amazing partner-in-crime, CFII Nathan Morin, who has been right there with him every step of the way. Great job, you two! Take a moment to savor your success, then get on the next goal – Commercial Pilot certification! On to bigger skies and, hopefully, more hole-in-ones!

??ELLIOT FEHR?? Elliot Fehr is GBA’s November pilot of the month! Geez, this guy again? I mean, I guess he deserves it but still (hehe, just kidding!). Elliot Fehr is one incredible individual. From being a tech wizard, a master baker (regardless of if I’ve yet to receive any bread… the audacity of some people), a meat head- I mean, a regular gym bro, and obviously a Maverick in the airplane. We love to give Elliot a hard time, but we’re super excited to recognize all of his incredible effort that he’s been putting into his training. If he’s not flying, he's either on the ground with his instructor, practicing hard for his written exam, or daydreaming of when the weather will clear out so he can take to the skies again. Let’s give this awesome aviator a huge round of applause in earning this incredible achievement! Don’t make us regret it Elliot… okay I’m dome now ?? (I promise he’s a good student!).

"Alex! Over here! *Flash* *Flash*! Absolutely stunning, darling!” The spotlight is shining brightly on Alex Shaw, who has soared to new heights today and earned her private pilot license! While Alex may have the poise of a star, she’s as driven as they come. Fueled by her insatiable passion for aviation and travel, she’s been an absolute flying machine these last couple of months. Hailing from the sun-kissed shores of Florida, Alex traded the Everglades for—our personal favorite—the gorgeous Sierra Nevada to take on the challenge of mountain flying. After mastering the skies over the Sierras, she’s ready to chase adventures wherever her heart desires! When she’s not in the cockpit, Alex is behind the lens as a professional photographer, capturing life’s most beautiful moments. She’s also known to dream of beachside escapes or enjoy the passenger princess life as her pilot husband takes the controls—though the roles might be switching now! A huge round of applause for Alex and her flight instructor, Andrew Spanier, on this incredible achievement. Way to go, Alex—your aviation journey has only just begun!

GBA’s prime time troublemaker, master of creating perfect storms, certified adventurer, and admirer of his thumbs (I promise I’ll explain), Nick Sundstrom now has another uhhh achievement (?) to add to his growing list: instrument rated pilot! That’s right folks, somehow Nick did it, and while we like to give him a hard time, Nick has been putting in an incredible amount of work to get to this point. Traveling across the United States from Reno to Philly in his family’s RV, Nick had the invaluable experience of seeing nothing the entire time as he was under the foggles with his flight instructor, Ryan Mill, who of course was enjoying the views for him. To say the least, Nick has seen the value of instrument flying and we’re not the slightest bit surprised that he passed with flying colors today! A fun fact about Nick Sundstrom, while he’s out adventuring the great outdoors through skiing, mountain biking, and mountain climbing, you’ll often find him staring at his thumbs. Well, why you may ask? Nick apparently has double jointed thumbs and it’s his favorite quality about himself… just thought you should know :) … Anywayyyy, let’s give a huge congratulations to Nick and Ryan on this incredible accomplishment! Keep it up, Nick!

Rather than jumping out of a perfectly good airplane like Allan would prefer when he’s skydiving, Allan decided that it was time to control the beast that took him thousands of feet above the surface. That’s right everyone, the adrenaline junkie that we know and love, Allan Fox, soared to new heights today and earned his private pilot license! Allan has quite the resume: from studying Russian in Moscow, working with his horses, being a builder at heart, spending time with his amazing grandkids, and now mastering the skies in more ways than one, he’s quite the individual to say the least! Obviously not being a stranger to aviation, Allan came in with an already apt knowledge of the ins and outs of flying an airplane… well jumping out of an airplane, we had to coerce on a couple occasions to put his seat belt back on and to stop eye-balling the door (just kidding ??). With the checkride done and his certificate in hand, Allan will be embracing his newfound freedom and flying in his very own RV. Let’s give a huge congratulations to Allan and his flight instructor, Bob Bennett, who helped Allan navigate the ins and outs of staying in the airplane ??. Awesome work you two!

With gratitude and respect on this Veterans Day. Your community and country thanks you! This year we give special honor to the owner and leader of this awesome flight school, Jenn, who is serving overseas with the Nevada Air National Guard for several months. We stand with you, and all Veterans, in support this day and all days.

David Tole achieved an exciting milestone today, soloing at KRTS on runway 8 in N670CS! This accomplishment marks a significant step in his aviation journey, showcasing his dedication, skill, and determination. A proud father of two and a dedicated member of the Army National Guard, David balances his busy life with his passion for flying and he does it with ease. Throughout his training, he has remained focused and studious, always pushing through challenges with a positive attitude and a smile, even when things get tough. David’s commitment to excellence and his perseverance are evident in every flight he takes, and today’s solo flight is a testament to the hard work he’s put into his training. A big congratulations to David and his flight instructor, Grant Muzzio, for this incredible accomplishment! With his continued focus and determination, we’re excited to see where David’s flying journey takes him next. Congratulations, David—today is just the beginning!

Everybody, let me introduce you to the man, the myth, the legend: Taylor Pritchard. Taylor is truly the man of a million faces. From being a master at the game, GeoGuesser, racing his bicycle competitively like a maniac, to being a proud dog dad of his adorable dachshund puppy, Minnie, there’s truly no predicting the beast that is Taylor. But that’s not all. Taylor has now added another mask to his collection: instrument rated pilot! That’s right everyone, Taylor has dominated the instrument world with flying colors and can now soar gracefully through the clouds! Having had the passion to fly since youth, Taylor has been chasing his goals of becoming a professional pilot with an incredible amount of drive and tenacity. He’s spent countless hours in his simulator and has been a flying fool since starting up his training. It’s safe to say that Taylor is truly an unstoppable force. Let’s give Taylor a huge congratulations on this incredible accomplishment and a huge shutout to his instructor, Nathan Morin, who has helped Taylor along the way to mastering his craft. Awesome work to the both of you! We have no doubt you’ll be seeing more of Taylor in the future ??!