Stories of the FTS People
Carl Suttle
President - Sales, Engineering and
New Product Development
Carl Suttle
President - Sales, Engineering and
New Product Development
It took 4 years for him to write the code so that others can build simulated GPS driven flight decks like the Garmin 1000 without having to write code.
More
Carl Suttle
Co-Founder
Carl has been designing, engineering and managing flight simulator projects for past 35 years. So when he bought his own aircraft a few years ago the obvious thing to do was builda training device for it. He co-founded FlyThisSim in 2007 and since then designed and developed SimAVIO software, its instrumentation modelling system and interface to flight simulators. It took 4 years for him to write the code so that others can build simulated GPS driven flight decks like the Garmin 1000 without having to write code. He is passionate about the use of flight simulation in general aviation and will freely give his opinion even if you don't ask for it, he is instrument rated with 1000+ hours in his Cirrus. Carl currently looks after sales, building the engineering team and leading the company with Eric.
It took 4 years for Carl to write the codE
Eric Paton
President - Production,
Supply Chain and Logistics
Eric Paton
President - Production,
Supply Chain and Logistics
Eric has been working tirelessly since co-founded FlyThisSim, he spent 4 years to produce the G1000, GNS 430W and G500 models that interface with SimAVIO software.
More
Eric Paton
Co-Founder
Since co-founding FlyThisSim Eric has been working tirelessly to build the company infrastructure as well as creating a tremendous amount of content. He labored for 4 years to produce the G1000, GNS 430W and G500 models that interface with SimAVIO software. Until last year Eric single handedly created all the instruments, switches and instrument panels for SimAVIO and the TouchTrainer. Eric is instrument rated, co-owns a Cirrus SR 20 and runs the local chapter of the IFR club. He was smart enough to recruit the rest of the San Luis Obispo team to replace him. Currently he manages the company infrastructure as well as marketing and development of our scenario system.
Eric labored for 4 years to produce the G1000, GNS 430W and G500 models
Allen Rohr
Production Technician
Allen Rohr
Production Technician
Allen is an aerospace engineering graduate at Cal Poly State University, he puts in long hours at FTS, and never cuts corners with quality.
More
Allen Rohr
Production Technician
Allen puts in long hours at FTS. He serves an integral function in manufacturing, shipping, receiving, quality control and documentation. As an aerospace engineering graduate at Cal Poly State University, he tests flies many of the aircraft before they go out the door. Somehow, Allen manages to excel at getting things done, without cutting corners with quality.
Allen puts in long hours at FTS, and never cuts corners with quality.
Chris Marino
Director of Operations
Chris Marino
Director of Operations
Chris knows more about aircraft dynamics and engineering than most, thanks to his time at Cal Poly and the software engineers out whenever needed.
More
Chris Marino
Production
Chris is our production manager. Responsibilities include (but not limited to) inventory, purchasing, logistics, accounts payable/receivable, customer support and quality control. Chris knows more about aircraft dynamics and engineering than most, thanks to his time at Cal Poly and the software engineers out whenever needed. He created and constantly improves the TouchTrainer assembly, product improvement and test program to ensure that nothing is missed in the assembly process.
Chris knows more about aircraft dynamics and engineering than most.
Carson Buckley
Production Manager
Carson Buckley
Production Manager
Carson, pilot, product assembly and test technician. If you want to know how to do something the right way, first time, ask Carson. We do.
More
Carson Buckley
Production Technician
Carson, pilot, product assembly and test technician. If you want to know how to do something the right way, first time, ask Carson. We do.
If you want to know how to do something the right way, first time, ask Carson.
Liz Andrews
Instrument and Panel Designer
Liz Andrews
Instrument and Panel Designer
Liz uses her skills in computer art to create the textures for our instrumentation, and constructed the Beech, Robinson and Avidyne C400 panels for the TouchTrainer.
More
Liz Andrews
Computer Graphics
Liz started work at FlyThisSim so we could use her skills in computer art to create the textures for our instrumentation. However, she has taken to the instrumentation logic and gets a buzz out of animating instruments and learning about the aircraft. She was responsible for the Beech, Robinson and Avidyne C400 panels constructed for the TouchTrainer.
Liz used her computer art skills to construct the Beech, Robinson and Avidyne C400 panels.
Michael Smith
Support Services Manager
Michael Smith
Support Services Manager
our computer assembly and test guru, constantly improving their build and test to ensure our computers withstand the shipping to the customer.
More
Michael Smith
Manager of Support
Michael has been flying and maintaining a passion for aircraft simulators for 15 years, starting with the Air force ROTC program. He is our computer assembly and test guru, constantly improving their build and test to ensure our computers withstand the shipping to the customer, work first time when they get there and continue to work for a long time. Michael also provides first line support for TouchTrainer and premium support customers.
Michael is our computer assembly and test guru.
Martin Bialy
New Product Design Engineer
Martin Bialy
New Product Design Engineer
Martin is an aerospace engineer and our CAD Design expert. He is responsible for the great fit function and build quality of our TouchTrainers, and created the new Piper panels for the Arrow, Warrior and Malibu.
More
Martin Bialy
CAD Design
Martin is an aerospace engineer and our CAD man. He is responsible for the great fit function and build quality of our TouchTrainers as well as many of the CAD diagrams in ourdocumentation. If we need some new animations for our simulation panels Martin can often build them in CAD and turn them into images faster than anyone we know. Martin created the new Piper panels for the Arrow, Warrior and Malibu.
Martin created the new Piper panels for the Arrow, Warrior and Malibu.
NEIL PATON, PHD
Science Director
NEIL PATON, PHD
Science Director
Neil was first person to buy a TouchTrainer, and he has been working his entire life as an aerospace engineer. At FlyThisSim, his primary function is public relations, and he writes and publishes in major aviation journals, with a focus towards safety and training.
More
NEIL PATON, PHD
Public Relations
Neil was first person to buy a TouchTrainer, still flying serial number ONE from hishome. With his entire life working as an aerospace engineer, he certainly has a passion and dedication to the industry. At FTS, his primary function is public relations, however he also manages to fit in some sales work for us. He writes and publishes in major aviation journals, with a focus towards safety and training. As an IFR pilot, he has more than two thousand hours flying experience.
Neil writes and publishes in major aviation journals, with a focus towards safety and training.
Kristi Smith
sales
Kristi Smith
sales
Krisit is a dedicated FTS sales person she can get a simulator through the FTS factory, to you, fast.
More
Kristi Smith
sales
Our no bones straight talking sales person. Want the facts call Kristi. Kristi has been successful in all her previous careers as a poker dealer and then trauma nurse. Now a dedicated FTS sales person she can get a simulator through the FTS factory, to you, fast.
Kristi is our no bones straight talking sales person.
Kathy Grimes
ACCOUNTING
Kathy Grimes
ACCOUNTING
Kathy has been a bookkeeper for many years, she runs a tight ship and stops our internal practices from drifting away from optimal.
More
Kathy Grimes
ACCOUNTING
Kathy has been a bookkeeper for many years, she runs a tight ship and stops our internal practices from drifting away from optimal.
Kathy runs a tight ship and stops our internal practices from drifting away from optimal.