Meet our flight instructors
The quality of your flight instruction is only as good as the quality of your instructor. Which is why we select seasoned, active pilots who are experienced in the plane they’re instructing in. Together, they have nearly 100,000 hours of flying and teaching experience under their belts. That means you have access to the most qualified, knowledgeable instructors in the Northeast.
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Lead Instructor
Eric Gancarz
Eric is a corporate pilot with 5,000 hours of flight experience. He holds a CFII for SEL and MEL and currently flies the Cessna Citation 750 and 560 XL. He has experience in the Gulfstream IV, Piaggio P180, PC 12, MU 2B, and King Air 200.
King Air Recurrent Training Instructors
William Goldstein
Bill is an Advanced Instrument Ground Instructor and retired airline captain with 23,000 hours. His previous duty was as an instructor with Flight Safety International in the DA 2000, Training Center 61.58 Examiner, and type rated in the Boeing 727.
Forrest Nelson
Forrest is a retired airline captain with an ATP, multi-commercial, CFII SEL/MEL with type ratings in the FA-27, FA 227, DC 9, B-727, B 757, and B 777. He has over 26,000 hours of flight experience and currently flies a Cessna 180 and a Piper Pacer.
Eric Schoneberger
Eric is a former US Navy pilot and retired airline captain with more than 12,000 hours. He holds an ATP, commercial MEL, and SEL instrument ratings. His type ratings include the B767, B757, and DC9 (MD-88). Eric has been a command pilot in the P3C Orion and has flown the King Air and the Cessna 310 while serving on active duty in the US Navy and US Navy Reserves.
Scott Wharem
Scott is a 18,350+ hour pilot who graduated from Embry-Riddle and has been involved with various Part 135 operations and Corporate Flight Operations since 1978. He has extensive time in King Air 90, 200, and 300 series, and with the pressurized Baron 58P and he’s type rated in the Lear 35/36.
Mark Henry
Mark is a 4,600-hour charter and corporate pilot with experience in the Piper Cheyenne, King Air, Pilatus PC 12, and the Cirrus SR 22. He holds an ATP AMEL, a CFII-MEII (Gold Seal) with AGI and IGI certificates, a commercial ASEL, and is type rated in the CE 500. plus the Cirrus CSIP instructor.
James Malone
Jim is a former corporate pilot and regional airline pilot. He has 6,100 hours, is type rated in the HS-125, and holds an ATP in MEL, SEL, CFII, and MEII. Jim has over 800 hours in the Hawker 800 (Part 91) and extensive time in the Piper Seneca (Part 135), BE 1900D, and BE1900C (non-type rated). He also served as a flight instructor with the Vermont Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.
Takanori Mitsui
Taka has over 2,030 hours and previously served as the Chief Flight Instructor for the USAF Flight Training Center at the Yokota Air Base in Japan. He holds a commercial certificate with instrument, CFII, MEII, AGI, and IGI. He is type rated SIC in the HS-125 with Cheyenne 1A experience.
Mary Rutherford-Baker
Mary, a corporate pilot with a Part 135 operation, has more than 1,800 hours and holds an SEL, MEL, instrument, and ATP with an AGI and IGI. She is type rated in the Cessna CE 550 and has significant time in the Pilatus PC 12, Cheyenne 1A, Citation II, and Citation SII.
Gena Adams
Gena is a 3,000+ hour pilot who holds an ATP MEL, CFI, CFII ASEL, and AMEL. She’s type rated in the LR 60 and CE 500 and is currently serving as a Citation pilot for a leading fractional air service. She also holds a current pilot proficiency from SimCom in the Super King Air 200, Cessna Citation CE 500, and TBM 700.
Eric Nyberg
Eric is a 19,000-hour former regional airline pilot with an ATP, ME, and CFI ratings with extensive time in the BE 1900, the BE 300, along with the EMJ 145, SF 340, and the DO 228.
SEL/MEL Training Instructors
Nashua Flight Simulator’s team of experienced instructors is strengthened by additional CFIs with instrument and multi-engine endorsements, and instrument ground and advanced ground instructors.
Rita Castonguay
Rita, a 1,200-hour pilot and former Pilatus PC 12 pilot with a fractional, holds CFII and MEII certificates. She’s currently in a management position with a mid-size flight school and charter operator.
Stephen Parsons
Steve is a 2,200+ hour pilot who holds a CFI/CFII with commercial and instrument ratings. Additionally, he’s a principal of New England Flight Operations.
Stephen Cunningham
Steve holds a commercial certificate with an instrument rating and has logged more than 1,400 hours. He is an IGI about to take the CFI check ride. Additionally, he is the Managing Partner of Nashua Flight Simulator and F & C Marketing Group of NH, LLC.
Neil Harmon
Neil Harmon is a NAFI member who has been a certified Advanced and Instrument Ground Instructor for over 30 years. Neil graduated from the Aviation program at Northeastern University and was a member of the National Champion Northeastern flying team. He is an active instrument pilot and flies a Piper Arrow.
Cheryl Liss
Cheryl holds a commercial pilot certificate with more than 1,900 hours in SEL and MEL aircraft. She has been an instructor, CFI-AI/SE, AGI, and IGI, for over 16 years. Cheryl is a Senior Principal Engineer with a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University and co-owns a Piper Archer based in Nashua.
Brett Portalla
Brett is a private multi- and instrument-rated pilot with an AGI and IGI rating. He served as a dispatcher for a large flight school and has several years of administrative experience in the United States Marine Corps. Brett is currently completing his commercial and CFI/CFII ratings.
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