All FlightOne pilots have extensive mountain flying experience, a minimum of 6,000 hours flight time, and land at the Telluride airport hundreds of times each year. Our maintenance personnel keep our fleet in topnotch airworthy condition. Our highly skilled and experience management team includes:
Michael E. Gardner – Director of Sales and Marketing
Michael Gardner was born and raised in England and has lived in Colorado since 1988. Michael brings an extensive business background, as well as a life long love of aviation. Michael learned to fly at the age of 17 and earned a British commercial rating and helicopter ratings before he was 20. His commercial flying experience includes flying in many parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, including ferry trips from the United States to Europe. Michael’s business background includes startup businesses in Africa, the Middle East, and London, as well as formal business training in London and San Francisco. Upon moving to Telluride, Michael co-founded a local resort property management company that became a founding company of ResortQuest International, a New York Stock Exchange firm.
Brent Smith – Director of Operations
Born and raised in Southern California. Over 6,000 flight hours as an Airline Transport Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor including extensive Mountain Flying experience. Served as Chief Pilot of FAR 135 Air Taxi. Management background having coordinated aircraft maintenance, airplane equipment modifications and upgrades, exterior repainting of airframe and interior cabin refurbishment. Flown multiple corporate aircraft including Cessna Citation, King Air 200, King Air 90, Cessna 421 in Air Taxi Operations and Life Guard organ and surgical team transportation.
John McClelland – Director of Maintenance
John has lived in the Grand Junction area for years and spent over twenty years maintaining military helicopters and coporate jet and turboprop aircraft. He has overall responsibility for ensuring that our aircraft are in excellent operating condition by applying preventive and corrective maintenance measures in compliance with FAA and Aircraft Manufacturer directives. He owns and operates Grand Valley Aircraft Services maintaining Beechcraft King Air, Cessna Citation and most light-single engine piston aircaft. He maintains FlightOne’s meticulous records and is an integral part of our management team.
Jayne Kruse – Citatiation Ultra Captain
Over 5,000 flight hours as an Airline Transport Pilot including extensive Mountain Flying experience. Graduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University CUM LAUDE. Extensive management background having owned an Air Freight Company using large aircraft. Flown multiple corporate aircraft including Cessna Citation, Falcon Series, G2, L60, BAE 125-800, Convair 340/440/580 and DHC-6. Helped develop NexGen Air Transportation systems using B777 simulator as Research Subject. Extensive Volunteer work with various non-profits including Wings for Charity, United Way, San Francisco Samoyed Rescue, Girls Club of America and Northern California Business Aviation Association.
David L. Cole - Captain, Business Development
David is a native Coloradan who has lived in Meeker, CO for the past 25 years. He has extensive background in aviation holds most every pilot certificate and flight instructor certificate available with over 24,000 flight hours including:
- Airline Operations – Line Captain, Line Check Airman, Pilot Instructor flying various Boeing, McDonald Douglas and Airbus aircraft up to the Boeing 747-400. He helped to develop United Airlines special operating procedures into mountain airports at Eagle, Gunnison, Jackson Hole, and Hayden.
- FAA Inspector – Served two years in the Denver Flight Standards District Office as an Aviation Safety Inspector monitoring all aspects of Airline Operations in and out of Denver International Airport.
- Accident Investigator – After being trained by the FAA in accident investigation, he has served on several high profile aviation accident cases of both general aviation and large aircraft as an expert witness.
- General Aviation – He has served as Chief Pilot and Program Director for a College flight training program, Chief Pilot for Air Charter Companies and maintained currency as an FAA Flight Instructor and Pilot having continuously owned and operated various personal aircraft. He is currently qualified as Pilot in Command of the King Air B200.