Here's Something Fun!
05-12-2009, 08:37 PM
#1
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Mar 2005
Posts: 9
Here's Something Fun!
Hey guys I am in charge of designing a pilot lounge for my FBO. I would like to find out from you, what are the must-have items, those WOW items and things you would not put in there. Currently, we have the Big Screen TV, Cable DVD player, Chairs and tables. Thanks Mark
05-12-2009, 09:21 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2009
Position: PA-44 Left Seat :P
Posts: 219
you are a lucky lad.
Definitely need a gaming console. Probably a Wii since its just a pilot lounge, its not like people will do hardcore gaming online and whatnot but you do need guitar hero or rock band.
You could also add posters and stuff.
Gifts & Artwork
But personally, all I need is a la-z-boy and I will be a happy lad.
What I would not put in there?
possibly an unchained refrigerator with lots of food inside. I don't really know. Pilots can be entertained with anything, hell put a box with legos and in a few days you will find a 1/7th scale 737 or something.
But always remember the key feature in every pilot lounge; 10 year old Flying magazines.
Definitely need a gaming console. Probably a Wii since its just a pilot lounge, its not like people will do hardcore gaming online and whatnot but you do need guitar hero or rock band.
You could also add posters and stuff.
Gifts & Artwork
But personally, all I need is a la-z-boy and I will be a happy lad.
What I would not put in there?
possibly an unchained refrigerator with lots of food inside. I don't really know. Pilots can be entertained with anything, hell put a box with legos and in a few days you will find a 1/7th scale 737 or something.
But always remember the key feature in every pilot lounge; 10 year old Flying magazines.
05-13-2009, 02:30 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2005
Position: B-757/767 Capt.
Posts: 120
Just hire some smoking hot female attendants to work there and have a good high speed wifi... oh and food simulators that actually have stuff in them that are somewhat edible. Forget the guitar hero stuff, the twenty-somethings might enjoy it but they'll just annoy the rest of us.
05-13-2009, 07:45 AM
#6
Moderate Moderator
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: Curator at Static Display
Posts: 5,681
Ideal Set-Up
astro:
When I was flying air ambulance in a Lear, I often started a flight by flying the medical team to an FBO around midnight. They offload into an ambulance, and go to get the patient.
What to do for the next hour and a half to two hours?
Here's what I needed most, and often didn't have:
1. Coffee. There's usually coffee, but quality was a huge variable. If your boss is OK with it, get something like Starbucks. Most FBO coffee is just hot black water, or else it has been brewing into its third trimester.
Just get a quality coffee and brew it strong. If it's too strong, pilots can put water in it to suit their taste. But you can't make weak coffee strong by avaporating the water out of it.
2. Something to eat. I'm stuck in the FBO for the next two hours.....can't leave; the ambulance might come back. I'm hungry. Popcorn machine is always welcome. Plate of cookies works, even if they're cheap. Vending machine? Maybe. A bowl of fruit in the main lobby was always a welcome sight (apples, bananas, oranges).
3. A desk or table to do paperwork on (flight planning, weight and balance, Jeppesons revisions).
4. Two computer terminals. You need two, because invariably, one has a guy on there for an hour when you need it to flight-plan, or, if one is down for maintenance.
5. A sleep area:
a. It needs recliners or sofas that are comfortable enough you can sleep on them. That means you have to try them out...not just order something you saw in an office-furniture catalog that looked nice.
Had to add this on: leather is OK if it doesn't squeak. Otherwise, when two of you are sleeping, you will hesitate to shift/turn because he'll either wake-up, or think you ripped one.
b. BLANKETS. I don't know how many times I used my uniform jacket as a makeshift blanket because the FBO's air conditioning was set on "Ice-Age." Pillows, too.
c. The Ability to Dim the Lights and/or Muzak. On the wall, and clearly labelled.
d. The TV should not be in the sleep area. Just like the computer: one guy wants to watch TV; the other is trying to sleep. This, unfortunately, is how 80% of all FBOs seem to be set-up.
(Attractive and Intelligent local talent at the front desk will make you a stand-out FBO, and draw a lot of business or lookie-loos your way. Just human nature. And you don't see both those qualities at the same time, very often).
When I was flying air ambulance in a Lear, I often started a flight by flying the medical team to an FBO around midnight. They offload into an ambulance, and go to get the patient.
What to do for the next hour and a half to two hours?
Here's what I needed most, and often didn't have:
1. Coffee. There's usually coffee, but quality was a huge variable. If your boss is OK with it, get something like Starbucks. Most FBO coffee is just hot black water, or else it has been brewing into its third trimester.
Just get a quality coffee and brew it strong. If it's too strong, pilots can put water in it to suit their taste. But you can't make weak coffee strong by avaporating the water out of it.
2. Something to eat. I'm stuck in the FBO for the next two hours.....can't leave; the ambulance might come back. I'm hungry. Popcorn machine is always welcome. Plate of cookies works, even if they're cheap. Vending machine? Maybe. A bowl of fruit in the main lobby was always a welcome sight (apples, bananas, oranges).
3. A desk or table to do paperwork on (flight planning, weight and balance, Jeppesons revisions).
4. Two computer terminals. You need two, because invariably, one has a guy on there for an hour when you need it to flight-plan, or, if one is down for maintenance.
5. A sleep area:
a. It needs recliners or sofas that are comfortable enough you can sleep on them. That means you have to try them out...not just order something you saw in an office-furniture catalog that looked nice.
Had to add this on: leather is OK if it doesn't squeak. Otherwise, when two of you are sleeping, you will hesitate to shift/turn because he'll either wake-up, or think you ripped one.
b. BLANKETS. I don't know how many times I used my uniform jacket as a makeshift blanket because the FBO's air conditioning was set on "Ice-Age." Pillows, too.
c. The Ability to Dim the Lights and/or Muzak. On the wall, and clearly labelled.
d. The TV should not be in the sleep area. Just like the computer: one guy wants to watch TV; the other is trying to sleep. This, unfortunately, is how 80% of all FBOs seem to be set-up.
(Attractive and Intelligent local talent at the front desk will make you a stand-out FBO, and draw a lot of business or lookie-loos your way. Just human nature. And you don't see both those qualities at the same time, very often).
Last edited by UAL T38 Phlyer; 05-13-2009 at 10:15 AM.
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