Great Basin Aviation: Flight School in Reno, Nevada

Photos via Google Maps; they belong to their authors.

Location: Reno, Nevada
School Type: Local flight school
Training Focus: Pilot training
Google Rating: 4.8 (30 reviews)

Call (775) 856-3655 Get Directions Visit Website

Listing data is maintained editorially and confirmed with schools over time. Programs and pricing change; verify details directly before enrolling.

Hours

Monday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

See It on the Map

What Students and Pilots Say

★★★★★ 6 months ago

I’m currently a student at Great Basin Aviation, and my experience so far has been excellent. The staff is extremely helpful and supportive, especially for students who are still early in their flight training. They offer detailed ground school supplements that do a great job reinforcing what you learn in the air, and they’re also a great way to get to know other students and build connections. Everyone is approacha…
Johnathon Harris via Google

★★★★★ 4 years ago

I came in from out of town and Jennifer was able to help organize a familiarization/scenic flight in a short matter of time. I flew a beautifully maintained 172 equipped with a G1000 with Jake helping me out. We flew down to South Lake Tahoe and back, giving me the ability to take it all in from 10,000 feet. Before the flight, I got to sit on some of the CFis and students chatting away. Lovely folks who are passion…
Shuo Wang via Google

★★★★★ 9 months ago

Loving my time spent here. Soon, I'll take my checkride, and I couldn't have asked for better people. Everyone is nice, my instructor Lucas has been very helpful (even when I make us fly at 5 a.m.), and I'm confident I'm going to pass because of the teaching they gave me! 10/10 will fly again.
Tyler Shelton via Google

★★★★★ 6 months ago

I've flown here for the past 4 years. This flight school is at the top of my list for many reasons. Friendly and constructive staff. Their fleet is clean and well maintained. Prices are very reasonable. It's a safe and professional environment!
trey casini via Google

Reviews via Google Maps; they belong to their authors and are not our endorsement.

Planning Your Training Here

Planning training at a local school like Great Basin Aviation trades the academy's speed for flexibility and often meaningfully lower total cost. The pay-as-you-fly model keeps your money in your control, and training two to three lessons weekly around work is the proven rhythm, enough frequency to retain skills without the academy's all-in schedule. The variable to manage is momentum: local-school students who succeed book standing lesson slots, fly year-round, and treat ground study as homework rather than something that happens at the airport. Ask about aircraft scheduling depth, instructor availability on your target days, and examiner wait times in Reno, the three friction points that stretch part-time timelines.

What Flying in Nevada Teaches You

Nevada training happens in high desert air where density altitude is a daily calculation, not a checkride question. Las Vegas wraps its Bravo around one of the busiest tour economies anywhere, Reno adds mountain wave off the Sierra, and year-round VFR keeps schedules dense.

How to Evaluate Great Basin Aviation on Your Tour

Every school on this directory gets the same advice from us, because the fundamentals don't move. Walk the ramp and count how many aircraft are down for maintenance. Ask how many lessons a week they can actually schedule you, and how far out the booking calendar runs. Ask for first-attempt checkride pass rates and how long students wait for an examiner. And keep your money in your control: pay as you fly, or in small blocks with clear refund terms.

Then weigh the location itself. Training in Reno means building your early hours in Nevada weather and airspace, and both become part of your airmanship. Our school-selection guide covers the full vetting checklist, and the financing page maps scholarships and loans that apply at schools like this one.

Common Questions About Training at Great Basin Aviation

How long would my training take here?

Part-time students flying two to three lessons weekly typically earn a private certificate in six to twelve months and a commercial certificate in two to three years, with pace set by your calendar and the weather. Consistency decides everything: standing lesson slots beat sporadic bursts by months.

What will it cost, and can I get help paying?

Get Great Basin Aviation's current rates directly; published numbers age fast in this industry. Nationally, plan on $80,000 to $120,000 from zero time to commercial certificates before instructing pay starts offsetting costs. Our financing guide maps the loans, scholarships, and airline cadet programs that apply here, and several scholarship cycles go undersubscribed every single year.

How should I arrange a visit?

Call ahead and ask for a tour on a normal training day, not a quiet one. Use the directions button above to plan the drive to Reno, arrive early enough to watch ramp operations, and bring the vetting checklist from this page. A school proud of its operation will show you everything; hesitation is itself an answer.

Get Matched

Considering Great Basin Aviation? Tell us your goal and timeline and we'll line this school up against comparable options near you, with the financing routes and scholarship deadlines that fit. One form, no spam, a real reply within a business day.