In the December 2012 issue, I commented on what renters had a right to expect at an FBO when they make the decision to exchange their money for flying time. The feedback I received ranged from recitations of unpleasant experiences at unscrupulous or indifferent FBOs to pilots trying to find the right place to rent. What struck me was that number of the pilots looking for a place to rent weren’t so much trying to find an FBO that had well-maintained airplanes with reasonably clean interiors as they wanted a place where they could not only fly, but spend time with others who shared their passion for the sky. They were in aviation for the fun of it, had a budget to pay for it and socializing with other pilots meant they flew more.
I also learned of an innovative few FBOs and flying clubs that reached out to the local pilot community and organized events. Gatherings included safety seminar evenings, fly outs for a morning or weekend, adult beverages in the hangar with the airplanes locked up or cook outs at the FBO. The pilots I spoke with—twice at dinners organized to get area pilots together—were unanimously in favor of the idea. I observed pilots encouraging student pilots to get their ratings, pilots clustered around iPads discussing aviation apps and pilots making flying plans with each other for an upcoming weekend.