Airport picnics

Flying to an airport to eat at the restaurant on the field is fun, but when that’s the sole purpose of the flight, the novelty quickly loses its luster. After all, you can only eat so many aviation-themed burgers or omelets in a noisy, crowded restaurant where everyone wants a window view before the airport eateries blend together.

Pack a picnic with your favorite foods and dining becomes one of many memorable highlights in a larger adventure. Maybe it’s a cheese, cracker, and fruit platter as you stargaze during a meteor shower (the airport is the darkest place in a city); sub sandwiches before you hike a bird-spotting trail; or finger foods while your kids giggle and ride their scooters on empty ramp space. Maybe it’s Mexican food from your significant other’s favorite restaurant while you enjoy a breathtaking sunset from the picnic table, the only two at the airport except for one airplane performing takeoffs and landings. The airport environment can transform to provide the perfect ambiance for your picnic for nearly any occasion.

A picnic can also be a time-saver on long, across-the-country flights. When you fly long distances VFR, chances are you won’t be able to land at every planned stop. Inevitably, you’ll end up at airports without a restaurant on the field, and you won’t always have the time to take a courtesy car into town. Sometimes, particularly in the evening, the FBO might also be closed. After getting bounced around in the heat of the day in a light airplane for three hours at a time, sitting on the solid, unmoving ramp in the shade of your wing will feel refreshing as you feast on a picnic.

You don’t even have to fly for an airport picnic. Invite a bunch of friends and family to join you at your home base’s picnic shelter or even your hangar. Good food and lots of laughs are interrupted only by aircraft operations as everyone stops momentarily to watch a touchdown or follow a takeoff. This is a great way to build positive memories at airports with people who aren’t around general aviation much.