06/01/2026
178 miles.
For a free beer.
(And okay… a medal and a shirt.)
This weekend, some of the GBA crew convinced ourselves that running through the mountains, surviving on caffeine, Nerds Clusters, questionable decisions, and team spirit was a good idea.
26-ish hours later, we’re sore, tired, slightly broken, and already talking about doing it again next year.
To everyone who ran, cheered, drove, volunteered, and kept us moving when our legs stopped cooperating, thank you. The Reno-Tahoe Odyssey is equal parts endurance event, team-building exercise, and proof that aviation people are a special kind of crazy.
Now if you’ll excuse us, we’re going to spend the next week taking the elevator.
05/30/2026
Huge congratulations to Skyler Steele on earning his Instrument Rating👏✈️
If you’ve been around GBA for more than about five minutes, there’s a very good chance Skyler has either helped you on the line, cracked a joke, or somehow made your day a little better. Originally from California, Skyler has become such a huge part of the GBA community and genuinely embodies the kind of atmosphere we try to create here.
Between working two jobs, flight training, being a full-time dog dad, and somehow still always showing up with a positive attitude, Skyler has absolutely earned this accomplishment. Whether he’s helping students get situated, taking care of instructors, running around on the line, or just keeping morale high with his sense of humor, Skyler is one of those people everyone enjoys being around.
Outside of flying, Skyler is also ridiculously talented at videography and has become one of the creative brains behind a lot of the content around here. In fact, one of the recent viral videos on the GBA account was actually his idea, which honestly explains a lot. When he’s not at the airport, there’s a good chance he’s snowboarding, shopping at Costco, or trying to survive life while being gluten intolerant💀
Training with Lucas Murphy, Skyler has made the instrument process look way easier than it actually is. He picks up on things incredibly fast, works hard without complaining, and continues to prove that consistency and effort matter more than anything in aviation. Behind the jokes and easygoing personality is someone who takes flying seriously and has put in a ton of work to get here.
We’re incredibly proud of you Skyler. GBA wouldn’t be the same without you around and we can’t wait to see what’s next✈️👏
05/29/2026
POV: Your flight school staff voluntarily signed up to run 178 miles around Lake Tahoe.
The office will be operating with a skeleton crew this weekend while Team GBA tackles the Reno-Tahoe Odyssey. Yes, we’re aware this sounds like a terrible idea. Yes, we’re doing it anyway.
If response times are a little slower than normal, it’s probably because we’re somewhere between mile 87 and questioning our life choices.
Some say it’s teamwork. Some say it’s dedication. Some say we’ve been exposed to too many avgas fumes.
Either way, wish us luck. 🏃♀️✈️
